The Cambrian

POOR CHILDREN'S DINNER. Picturesque Scenes in the Swan- sea Market. Thirteen Hundred Hungry Little Ones Filled. A casual passer-by on Thursday asked tl,è constable on duty outside Swansea Market whether Poole's had found the Albert Hall too small for their requirements, and had migrated suddenly to the capacious Oxford- street building. He was, so far as appear- ances went, not far off the mark, because the interior of the big mart was kaleidoscop'c with flags, bunting mottoes and seasonable devices. The brogue of the Gower farmer was no longer heard in the land, neither were the shrill accents of the Penclawdd cockle- vendor distinguishable. Truth to tell, the change was a pleasant one, and if there were more nodse than usual, it took the form of juvenile joy, children's cheer, and the din of dishes. It was the occasion of the now- happily annual Swansea Poor Children's Dinner, and if the elements conduced to- gether to chattering teeth, the gallant band of helpers (altogether too numerous to men- tion individually, but headed by the ener- getic Mr. Hugh Tamlin, hon. secretary) used every physical and moral endeavour to com- pensate the clamorous crowd. And it was well done, too. It is no easy matter to cater effectively anid simultaneously for 1,341 hungry urchins, but it was done, and the Deus ex machina, Mr. J. E. Fútt, of the Grand Hotel, is to be congratulated on the success of his efforts to solve the problem. THE FEAST At 2.30 there was an elaborate queue of youngsters lined along Oxford-street as fat as Yvater!oo-street, and it looked as if the en- tire police force of the borough were out for an airing. Each bc.y and girl clutched a ticket, and each little blue face eagerly scru- tinised the immovable sergeants at the sacred portals. Some carried banners with devices such as "Feed My laaibs," etc., and all— nearly all—carried an aching void expressly manufactured for tho occasion, either by ne- cessity or anticipation. Then *.he gates swung open, and m double file they filed into the sawd.isfed and comfortably-screened dining-hall. There were ten tables of tre- mendous proportions, and in front of each child was a roll. knife and fork, spoon and mug. And there were actually tablecloths. Such a spread surelv never gladdened the hearts of rags and tatters before. They were not all ragged or tattered, however. Some were res- pectably dressed, and a pathetic trio were three wee mites all in mourning, beautifully clean and inexpressibly sad. They tud lost their mother. There were red and blue tam o' shanters, and there were boots minus soles, and coats full of holes. There were shock-heads and close cropped heads, and many various kinds of voices, but the Jrngs were all good and sound. Before the rist course was served, Mr. H. A. Chapman cadcd for silenot-futilc effort. However, he at ■one end and Mr. Bennett at the other, eon- ducted a choral grucc, and every urclim sicod up obediently, and sang to the best of his or her ability. The "Amen" was really wonder- fully intoned. Then caane a roui.d of cheering as the willing waiters commenced a personally-conducted tcur with roast beef, peas, cabbage, and poia- toes. Oh 1 the gravy! It got everywhere. It was ubiquitous. Second helpings ot t.( et were fashionable, and everyone obtained suf- ficient. It was wonderful. One small boy let las cap drop in the excitement, and ns anxious glance at his plate as lie enuvged from under the tuble showed how much he trusted his fellow. Loud cries of 'Hi! Missisand "Here, Teacher!" assailed th" ear. and the street musicians, whose genti- osity prompted them to give a gratuitous show, were h!:ir*dly audible. After the beei plum puddings of gigantic a<spect, and rice ditto, of equillv imposing proportions, were produced, and the glee was intensified. >e utmost good humour prevailed, and the po.leg- men entering into the t?pirit of largesse were bonhomie itself. "A jolly sight (better feed than I get. myself," said one constable. "noed job your missis can't hear you," ictortod another, as he planked a recalcitrant young- ster down in his place again. However, all good things must have an end, and it was late when the banquet wis over. An orange, sweets, and a. toy a child finished a lemark- ablo afternoon, on which all concerned are to be congratulated. It was estimated by Mr. Tamlin that he had collected about £ 65 or £ 70. There will not be a big surplus, but it might have been less had not the Postal and Telegraph Band given their services.

I THEATRE HOLOCAUST- jj^adful Catastrophe in Chicago. Nearly Hundred Lives Lost, Fire and Panle'g Jemble Death- roIIø Chicago, Wednesday night.-— A Reuter'» teiegram says:—The Iroquois Theatre, a magnificent new structure modelled on the Opera. Comique in Paris, was burned down this (Wednesday) evening. The. fire bnoke out while the second act of "Blue Beard, Juinior" was in progress, and a pernio ensued, during which many people were crushed. It is feared that there has been great loss of life. The fire broke out in the flimsy stage settings, and the cry of "Fire," wMch was at once raised, created a panic. The audience made (I. wild rush for tlhe doors. The passages leading to these speedily became blocked. The fire- men raised ladders and rescued maaiy of those in the gallery in a state of unconsciousness. Some were suffocated, and many orushed. The fire-marshal himself went up to the bal- cony, where it is thought between three and four hundred people are piled up, though it is not yet known whether they a,re. alive or j dead. So far about 60 dead bodies have been taken out. The greatest loss of life took place at the foot of the stairways leading to Uie upper balcony, where bodies are Ivins — (Reuter.) OVER FIVE HUNDRED VICTIMS. Chdcago (Later).—The poldoe have now an- nounced that 537 bodies had been taken from the ruins.—Reuter. BODIES TRAMPLED OUT OF HUMAN SHAPE. The Press Association's Chicago corres- pondent cables on Thursday morning- Dozens of the bodies lying at the morgues, the undertakers', and the police stations, are denuded of nearly everything by which they .1 could be identified. The clothing is torn to rags or burnt to cinders, while the faces are trampled beyond recognition. The fire broke out in the second act of the pantomime. A-i counts given ot its origin are conflictin', some stating that it was due to a defective eieetrical wire, while the management attri- bute it to the bursting of a calcium tank. Ihe performers all escaped when the fire broke out on the stage. Attempts were made to lowN- the asbestos curtain; it how- ever stuck half-way down, thereby making, in conjunction with the open doors in from of the theatre, a pea-feet flue. The flames shot out with a roar from the opening under- neath the curtain over the heads of the peo- ple in the stalls, and, reaching the firet 0.11- cony caught and burned to death the people sitting there. Immediately following the flames came an explosion of tho rras reser- voire, lifting the entire roof. Many were as- phyxiated by the gas which thus escaped. When the flames first appeared a man at the back of the house shouted "Fire r' The en- tire audience, numbering about 1,300, at once made a. rush for the doors. The greatest number of fatalities occurred in the fr-st and second balconies. When the fireman ente-»d the building they found the dead reached from the head of tho stairway at least eight feet outside the door of the balcony to -ive f^t inside. A mass of bodies in the centre ot the doorway reached within two leet of the ceiling of the passage-way They were all those of women and children. Only a faint idea of the horro: of the oc^irreVe could be gathered from the aspect of piles of bodies. SIGHTS OF INCREDIBLE HORROR The women on tho top of tin mass had been oveicome while crawling on their hands and knees over those who had died already Others lay with their arms stretched out in the direction of safety, holding in their hands fiagmt nts of garments evidently torn fron the clothing of others whom they had ei deavuurcd to thrust aside. The dead were so tightly jammed between the sides of ihe door and the walls that it was impossible to lift them singly, and it was necessvy to seize a limb and pull them out by she^- force. In the aisles of the balconies the dead were m a number of places piled up < hree or four feet deep. In the aisles nearest the doors the scenes were most harrowrio-. Bodies lay in every conceivable attitude, mostly half-nakfd, the faccis reveling some of the agony that had been suffered ° There were scores Lpon scores whose face., had been completely trampled away. One man's body had been cut into mincemeat, and beheaded. LOOKING FOR LOVED ONES. News of the lire spread with great rapid it r snd in a short time. hundreds of men, wom-m and children were entreating the lines of police outside the theatre and fighting for admittance m order to search, for their loved onos. Many finally broke through tho lines, rushed into the theatre, and did valiant work m assisting to extricate the injured and the dead. Bisnop Fallows, of Chicago, who was passing, rushed in and helped m'the work of rescue. God forbid," he said, 'that I should sec such a sight again. I have been on a Moody battlefield, but I have never seen any- thing half so gruesome.One ma.n who, finding his own children safe, rushed into the balconies to save ethers, said the sight of mothers and little children with clenched fists raised as though trying to beat a wav of safety, and stricken down in the very act, was too horrible to att^mnt to describe. EYEWITNESS'S TALE. One of the most remarkable escapes was that of Miss Planiondon's party, who occu- pied a box. Sho was the first of her party to see the flames, and called the attention of the others to it. She says one of the actors appeared before the curtain and requested the audience to keep their seats. "I looked at the faces of the audience and remarked how many children there were present. I could see their faces filled with interest and their eyes wide open as they watched the burning curtain. Just then the people in the balconies arose and crowded forward in order to obtain a better view of the fire. At that instant a woman in the rear of the house screamed 'Fire!' The entire audience rose'. filled with uncontrollable horror, and rushed madly from the danger. Few men were 'n the theatre, but I saw several pulling and pushing women and children aside. I saw a number of children trampled under foot. They never rose again. In the balcony the scene was beyond description. It was a block of human beings apparently fighting each oth-sr The balcony was so steep that many fell before reaching the first four rows of seats. The speed with which the flames through the seen cry -was simply incre- dible. In explaining how she escarped, Miss Plamoindoii added: "As I look at it now I mwu have walked on the prostrate bodies as they struggled at tlhe main entrance, where 1 saw people fall, fainting ailmost within touch- ing distance of safety. All our panity escaped in the same manner, but so bereft of clothing that the fiist thing we did was to rush to the shops to buy wraps." Over a d'oz-e'ii thieves and pickpockets were arrested, charged with robbing the dead and injured. Two of tihem were provided with baskets to carry the plun- der. Many others were detected, but were allowed to go wiflh a warning bv the rescuers. PANIC ON THE STAGE. There seem to have been a worse panic among the amateur firemen on the stage than among the audience, terror rendering them in- capable of utilising the men™ provided for extinguishing the flames and protecting the people in the auditorium. When a tiny ribbon ef fire appeared, stroams of patent fire extin- guishers were directed upon it, but entirely without effect. When the attempt was made to lower the asbestos fire curtain, the a:r draught caused it to press against the sides of the proscenium, and the stage hands there- upon abandoned it half-lowered and fled for their lives. The actors and actresses took refuge in an alley behind the theatre, many of the latter being only partlv dressed. Scores of chorus girls escaped in tights, and the sixty supernumeraries in the basement es- caped through a. coal-hole to the pavement. It is melancholy to reflect upon the needless loss of ldfe that occurred. NEEDLESS LOSS OF LIFE. With forty ample exits, the audience fought amid darkness and smoke to reach the light and air through the three or four doors they knew When fire escapes were provided, the crowd was so great that many persons were pretipitatejl to ti:e ground and killed. Jt ap- pears thnt th3 building was not quiite com- plete and that some of the emergency escapes 1 were not finished. One of these was built on the side of the building fifty feet above a stone paved alley. There was, however, no ladder. by which to reach the ground. This escape was crowded with women, who the frantic ctpwd behind gradually pushed over the railing tu their deaths on the flags be- neath, to be thei^elves in tbeir turn ,tmrle<1 down. The oceupanw" °- an bulld; ing succeeded in bride*.1g lbe g^p w 1 planks, and saved a few V""01^ w 7 after more than twenty persons thenir J lives. The firemen succeeded iit many from the top balcony by m^stas Of. dert> to the roof. To many victiffvs Ikiith must lhZye come suddenly, as scores were? fotmd by 11':« firemen still seated facing the1 stage, having evidently been asphyxiated < Among tie bodies .pf the dead land out at f the mortuary and elst where, a strange uni- formity was observed. In nearly every case the victim's Beft arm was held stiff and c'ose to the side, while the right arm was s'tretelied out as if wardring off the peril. When the firemen arrived, the building was so full of smoke that they did not realise the extent of the oatastrophe. Firemen and reporters crawled together up the stairs leading to the balcony. When the door was reached, a fireman turned round and exclaimed "üood God, don't walk on thedr faces 1" FIREMEN'S HORRIBLE DISCOVERY. The doorway was jammed with dead bodies of women piled higher than the heads of the rescuers. The chief of the fire brigade was at onoo notified, and the work of rescue began. The damage to property done by the fire amounted to 260,000 dollars, the anterior decorations of the house having been burnt, and the glass and woodwork broken. The proprietors of the theatre attribute the heavy loss of life to the fact that the asbestos cur- tain could not be towered. THE FINAL ROLL-CALL OF DEATH. Chicago, Thursday.—According to a unal computation there are 564 dead and 159 in- jured.—Reuter.

COTTON TRADE CRISIS. Hope of Intervention by the Premier. The Press Association's MaEiohjeeiier corres- pondent telegTO.pifis: -—The grave position of affairs in the Lancashire cotton trade Is fully realised at Manchester, where the hope is ex- pressed that the Prime Minister, durimg his visit t.o his constituents next, month, may be able to receive a deputaitjian which was ap- pointed to wait upon him by Tuesday's mass meeting of the trade. Cotton gambling, it is pointed out, is not confined to the other side of the Atlantic, a-nidf it is asserted that it is not unknown at Liverpool. President Roosevelt, it is believed, will do all he QlIll to restore ttiie American tra'de in raw material to lcigitiimaie cha.ninels, and .:t was anticipated tijjait Mr. Bidfour will sfhow himseif equally willing to co-operate in this couinltry. One of the chief dangers of the situation is that in the proseiat portion of affairs the extra- (crdiniary high price of cotton compells spin- ners and manufacturers to decrease oapatul accoinnfte, and the banks are beginlning to view the increasing demands with arxiiety.

ABERAVON WEDDING. Marriage of Capt. Mansel Hunter At noon on Tuesday, St. Mary's Church, Aberavon, was crowded, when members of two of the best known families were married. The contracting parties were Captain Mansel Hunter, of Brito.1 Ferry, son of the late Mr. Hunter. Lord Jersey's estate agent, and iss Ethel Howell, second daughter of Mr. Llew- elyn Howell, J.P., Brynhvfryd House, Aber- avon. Long before the appointed time of the wedding large numbers of people had con- gregated around the approaches, and the edi- fice itself was filled. As the bride, escorted (by her father, entered the church she rrc- sented a striking picture in her beautiful dress of white duchesse satin, embroidered in a raised design of chiffon roses and parvae velvet leaves, with true lovers' knot on the trains intermixed with roses and leaves. The head ornaments consisted of an embroidered veil of a coronet of orange blossom, and she cirried a shower bouquet, and also wore a gold necklace set with pearls, the gift of the bridegroom. She was accompanied by three bridesmaids—Miss Oonnie ILoulell (sifter), Miss Katie Coat-h, and Miss Nellie Coattt cousins)—each of whom wore drosses of white crepe de chine, inlet with medallions of Mal- tese lace and white sitin sashes wore large white picture hats with ostrich feathers re- lieved with knots of red velvet. Each car- ried bouquets of red tulips and wore gold bangles set with pearls, the gifts of the bride- groom. Other members of wedding party were: Mr. and Mre. 1..1. Howell, J.P., Lieut. Lyn Howell, Mr. Frank Howell, and Mr. Cuthbert Howell, Miss Hunter, Dr. Hunter (London), Mr. Howard Hunter (Briton Ferry). Capt. and Mrs. Ooath (Bridgend), Lieut. Fred Coath, Miss Jeffreys (Briton Ferry), Miss Ethel Griffiths (Neath), Mr. Elmer Jenkins (Cork), Mr. Glyn Richards. The bride was given away by her father, and Mr. Trevor Hunter, solicitor, was his brother's best man. Rev. Lloyd Williams (vicar of Briton Ferry) officiated. At tie conclusion of the ceremony the Wedding March was played on the organ. The happy couple were the recipients of showers of good wishes and a deluge of confetti. The j-arty drove to "Brynhvfryd. where the wedding breakfast was partaken ot. At one o'c;o<k Mr. and Mrs. Hunter drove to Neath, where they entrained for London for the honey- moon. There was a large number of valuable and pretty presents.

Gifts to the Royal Institution. Recent gifts to the Royal Institution of South Wales include a handsome polished mahogany case, fitted with trays containing a large coHcetion of flint implements, ancient British pottery, etc., collected by the donor, Mr. W. Riley, Castle House, Bridgend, in the neighbourhood of Mertliyr Mawr. Mr. A. J. Chappell, fishmonger, Wind-street, has also given a Brama Raii or Ray's Bream, while the Swansea Steam Trawling Company has pre- sented a fine specimen of a sand launce.

MORE HIDDEN TREASURE. Quite a number of lucky people have re- cently been fortunate enlouign to find the golden hoards which v&ri-Duo enterprising journals have hiddeu in out of the way places. A golden discovery witiliki the reach, of our readers is Dr. Slater's Wood tablets, which liitwo no equaJ for bringing that lieiiMi whiich is beitter than all the welalth liD the world. Mrs. H. H. Qcttle, of 25, Cora-street., Banry Dock, said to a "Barry Dock News'' reporter "I was in iUJhealth for miaaiy years, and thought it must be kidney trouble, or severe debility. For weeks together I was unable to stand on my feet or CÙ01 my work about the house. My back was so weiak aaid painful tlirat I feared I was suffering from a. form of spinal disease that would cling to me for Life. iMy appetite completely failed me, and I grew so weak that nothing seemed left for me but t,) despair of eveir getting better. Then, reading about Dr. Slater's blood tablets, I wai; induced1 to try them. Before finishing toe second box I experienced mii(tei ial benefit, a.nd this improvement steadily continued untiil now I feel as well as possible—a luxutry I have not before experienced for years. I both eat and sleep well, and the black pains have com- pletely disappeared. Once more I feel strong, i get alb,out witih ease, and I hluve got rid of that languid out-of-sorts feeling which up- sets so majiy wives and mothers at this part (of the year." Dr. Slater's bla.ad-making tab- lets are unrivalled for nervous and general debility, back piaiins, rheumatism, g: ut, lum- bago, sciatica, pains in loins, neuralgia., paralysis, locomotor ataxia, St. Vitus (LmCB spinal disease, indigestion, palpitatioai, heart' weakness, ansemia, fainting, exhaustion, and they are also a preventative of cioids and in- I fluenza. Of all chemists, or direct from the Slater Laboratories, Greek-street, Leeds, two a.nd nine per box, large size, five times the quantity ait few times the cost, viz., eleven1 shillings. They are within the reatdh of all.

MR. J. R. LEAVER, Mr. J. R. Leaver, T P., president of the Swansea Chamber of Commerce, will attend the Newport banquet on January 29th, in honour of Lord Strathcona, the High COlll-

——— L THREE EMBEZZLEMENT CHARGES. Ex-Swansea Traveller in Trouble at Neath. Case Sent to the Assizes. At Neath on Thursday, Mr. Wm. Leyson was occupied several hours on Thursday in dealing with charges of embezzlement and false pretences preferred against Dd. Thomas | ?(« "s> Henbark Farm, Skew en, on vari- '"j", r^ie cliarges were set out as fol- fwlezzlinS £ 2 13s. 0d., as a tra- fn t 'ei-a 4 nrrkv- Ovarian Brewery Co. Vlfer fm ilfd Anglo-^ (Swansea /Kvsch), durTn* the mont is of Augtfefc an<* SvfAtfkiber, A903 ;,2) obtaining a truck of swedes Ot vaVu°. *-■ from Messrs. Harold and WaK 'r Sessio.s« 01 Ifton Manor, Rogiet, wear STeirpOi'tj by means :■ of false pretences on the JOth irwi, and (3) ( obtaining credit by meins of false pe and fraud from Messrs. Daniel Dario an" Co., Taff Vale Iron Works, Cardiff, 13th October, to the amount o>f £ 7 135. (fc. George Bell, of 2, Kensingioii^rewce'Mt, I Swansea, said that on July 7th he was man- ager for the Anglo-Bavarian Brewery Co. at Swansea. He appointed prisoner a, traveller on commission only at the time, instruct rag him not to collect any monies unless he had an official receipt book. He received several orders from prisoner, the orders being written en postcards in prisoner's handwriting. He executed the orders, but received no money in respect of them. From something witness heard he caused a letter to be sent prisoner in September, and he had a. reply from him, ex- pressing regret tilitt he had not accounted for what he had received, and asking witness to be lenient with him, to give him time, and he would pay everything. <; Rowland Hill, of 22, Norfolk-street, Swan. sea, succeeded previous witness on September 5th as manager of the Swansea branch < f the Anglo-Bavarian Brewery. In reply to Superintendent Menheruiick, witness said that the amounts in respect of the orders had not been paid to the firm. When hi took ebarge lie saw that the amounts were outstanding, visited the customers, one of which presented an unofficial receipt—^ receipt written by the prisoner. Thomas Jones, Drymma Farm, Birchgrove, said lie gave the prisoner an order in July last for 18 gallons of beer. In August he gave him another order, and subsequently at the Red House, Morriston, he met prisoner by appointment, and pud him 18s., prisoner giving him the receipt produced. Henry John Williams, statlonmaster on the Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway, at Jersey Marine, slid his wife gave prisoner an nrder for 9 gallons of oeer, which was delivered, j In September witness' wife paid prisoner 5s. on account, and received the receipt produced. Alexander Gorveti, Pensais Farm, Briton Ferry-road, gave similar evidence. P.C. Walters, stationed at Blackpill, proved arresting prisoner, and charged him. In an- swer he sard "I wrote to Mr. Bell asking him not to prosecute I will pay the money and I hope you will call and see Mr. Bell for me and beg him not to prosecute." Prisoner now said "I admit I received the money I don't know what is my commission that has to come to me." He was then committed for trial at t.he Quar- ter Sessions. The court then proceeded to investigate the charge of obtaining a. truck of swedes by false pretences from Messrs. Sessions. Wal- ter Sessions, a member of the. firm, said on the 8th of December he received the postcard produced, and took the. writer to be the far- mer living at 'Henbt^h Farm. Ha sent 6 tons 3 cwt. of swedes to Neath Abbey, and an invoice to the prisoner for £ 7 136. 9d., -m December 16th He received the postcard produced from the prisoner. He, went to Henbash Farm, and saw a cart there with the name David Lake upon it. He expected to see prisoner's name. He saw prisoner in a field closo by, and said that he had come for the money for the swedes. Prisoner in replv to the question said he wanted the swedes to sell again, and told witness he was a farm bailiff. He referred witness to Mr. Bowden, merchant, Neath —Witnesses were then called to prove the carriage of the goods from Severn Junction and the delivery of the same to prisoner at Neat.i Abbey. 'The prisoner paid £ 3 Is, carriage, and then rslced the station master to send the swedes to Neath. He did so.—John Bowden, mer- chant, Neath, gave similar evidence.—John Daniel Jones, coal merchant, 2, Wellington- stieet, Canton, Cardiff, said he received die postcard produced on December 29. Front the address he thought that prisoner was a tenant of a. farm. A few days after the date specified he^ sent prisoner a truck of coal, va: ue R8 17s. 2d. He had received ;:o pay- ment. # Thethard charge was then pioceeded with. Daniel David, semicr partner of the Taff Vale Inn Works. Cardiff, said that on the 29th September he received a postcard from the prisoner asking for certain articles and stating that 1 e would send cash on receipt of the goods which included barbed! wire, net- ting, galvanised sheeting, staples, etc. The goods were consign^ to prisoner at Jersey Marine Station. On the 18th of October he received another postcard from the prisoner. i' He sent twenty rolls of wire netting, valued at L4 lis. He had not received payment. Wm. Henry Grossman, manager for Messrs. Cross Bros., managers, Cardiff, said he re- teived a postcard from prisoner on Decern- ber 14th asking for 3.000 galvanised nails three inches long and 3,000 washers for fix- dng. From the address, "Henbark Farm,' witness thought the prisoner was a farmer. The value of the goods was JBl 12s. lid. In consequence of soniot'Lang he heard from the police he wired the railway authorities at Neath Abbey stopping delivery. WiUdams James Brett, manager for Messrs. Turner, St: Peters and Greyfriars Work's, Ipswich, milling engineers, gave evidence as to a hoist being sent to Neath valued £ 7 19s. 9d. The firm had not received payment. OL(lirks Hezekiaih Davenport, order clerk with Mr. Andrew Pot ten, Melbourne Works, Wolverhampton, sa.id that in October lie, re- ceiverl four postcards from the prisoner. He sent two iron wheelbarrows. That was the first cOI1B,igmaeu't. Later he sent 12 gallons of oil. The value of the whole of tiha goods was E6 17s- fllie num had not beeai pa-ML P.S. Jones, sitatooraed at, Skewem, stiid that I'll from inquiries made, he seairdbed prisoner, and found one sixpenny pi ere, one penny, nmd a pocket-book containing 16 blank postcards, The 'officer cautioned the prisoner, and then read the wan-aMf over to him. In reply to the cfatirgc, he said "1 don't defraud them, lllw gentlemen were here with me to-day, and I gP'ye t'»-em a note to go to M'r. Bowfcteni to get t<ne money. He searched prisoner's boxes, and found a Lirge quantity of unpaid bills, which he prodiaced, price lists and calba- llogues. He conveys -tlhse. prisoner to tlhta Seat'h Station-. On Saturday, the 19bh inst., witness vfcitea Henbark Farm, Skewen, a.nd tlierw saw eigaft rolls of 'barbed wire, 20 rolls of netting, onc tn'Ctt:on sack h ist, two wheel- barrows, Ollc' C:Hl of oil, fairing the words "Potter. YWeriiaoipton," <dx live geese, and a quantity Of galvanised ircm sheetiiimg. The magi'S^ates clerk: What about the geese? I suppose there's some other case which you don. fc proceed with to-day? Sup't. MerJaiennick The telegrama, explains. The witness missed the train. In reply to the. charges, siidi: "I am not gafaity of Obtaining- them under faJse pretences- j He "tIS committed to the Quarter Sessions on bo.a charges of alleged false pretences. 11 11

The Midland Railway Co. announces several changes in its train service for January, prin- cipally on the Midland and northern routes. The death, occurred recently of Miss Jennie C. Lewis, "Riviera," Langland Bay, Mum- bles. She was the eldest daughter of the late Mr. John Lewis, of Walter House, \Va,}- ter-road, Swansea, and sister of Mr. W. G. Lewis, collector of H.M. Customs, New- castle. She passed peacefully away at the residence of her brother-in-law, Mr. E. R. Jonei- 87. Brynymor-ixxid, \fter a short but painful illness. The deceased lady was ail- ing for same time, and on Tuesday, the 22nd inst., came up to Swansea, but w-.i? taken seriously ill, and she died the following day from an acute attack of pleuro pneumonia. The funeral, which was strictly private, took place on Tuesday at the Mumbles Ce nete y, j Rev. Lewis Prosser, Christ Church, offieiat- ing. Mid 1'1I0. Tsrs

NEATH NOTES. When the Wine was Red. Xmas Sayings and Doings of Neath Young Men. Councillors Who Have Joined the Buffs." How Neath's Poor Fared. T j 1 t another case of loss of hntJfr -e a man went 'n r -ked of the up to the ladies favourite ma am 1? ^ue ho am I?" and 1Even the brainy repree;ntative o{ {he Jaw militant couldn't solve the problem'. Rut 3!6u hf'?»-1n't go as far as the Midlands'. Rut 3!6u hf'?»-1n't go as far as the Midlands'. -No, dear reader,, there is no mi.-sofi io Wan- der farther tlutn your next door neighbour or thereabouts to find equally astounding lapses of memory. For instance, I know of v young gentleman, who on Clmstmas nig^ht- wo.;e up at a certain local institution and ¡.lJOUh'd: "Put on ten, marker." And say- ing he lu'd neither been sleeping Or dreaming, he started^ playing billiards on his right knee, with the brutt-end of a blacklead p^sircil. And can there be ot heN: ? Yes, tli-ie are many others. There is another gad case, the authenticity of which I will vouch for. A most respectable young ma.n, whose funeral will certainly be largely attended, knocked' at the door of the Casual Ward' of a workhouse, not a. hundred miles from historic Neath oii Boxing Night, and when the porter opened it, he exclaimed in sweet melting tones '"Ducky, I'll try another. Not all the soda this time." And yet another. A local celebrity, whose fame has oft been recorded in the newspapers, did unto himself that which lie ought not to have done on Christmas Eve, and was placed in durance, commfortable and cosy. In the morning he was found sleeping the sleep of the desert, his boots beneath his liead, and his stockings drawn over his hands. When arou800 by a kindly copper, lie remarked: "Just so. Pleased to meet you. How are you? Merry Christmas. 'Scuse my glove." And can there are others? Yes, there are. A young man of usually sobar habits broke out on Christmas Eve. He had made up his mind to have zL jolly good time. Well, it may have been jolly for a time, but the re- sults were not exactly what such a nice young fellow would have chosen had he any voice in the later stages of the proceedings. Well, to cut a long and painful story short, he wandered, and, just as dawn was breaking on Christmas morn, he awoke in a field near the Duffryn. He said "Cgh and shivered, adding: "Mary, you have kicked all the clothes off again." Then lie gazed about him, wondered, and made good resolutions, one of which shared the fate of its fore- fathers when lie reached the nearest licensed house. And the good young man, who came to him- self, or nearly so, on Christmas morn in Rectory-road, remarked, as lie heard the church bells chiming: ''Hurry up Doll, or we shall be late for church." Well, such things must be after every famous holiday. And now we live in a period of resolutions. We have all made 'em. We have all re- viewed the weaknesses of the passing year, and we have solemnly said to ourselves :"Such things must, and shall be ended. When the new vear comes in I'll make a fresh start. No more of it." "My old Sunday School superintendent (God rest his soulj, used to sav that good resolutions paved the road to a certain place, with which none of us are exactly desirous to become acquainted. It seems that there is some truth in what he said. Yet I don't know that there is any harm in making good resolutions. These resolutions to do better in the future may be kept in part by some. If only this, then, the institution deserves to be perpetuated. W e are also at this period rounding on the old year, and doffing our caps to the young gentleman who made his appearance this morning. Of course, he is a fine, healthy child, and we expect much of him. He will grow up hearty and strong, and' will be a Lrue friend to all of us. And we forget that wo said the same about 1903. For my part, I refuse to believe in the youngster until I have tried him. Ask me on the 31st of December, 1904, what I think of him, and I shall be in a position to give you an opinion. But after all the old year has not been so bad. We are living, and fairly prosperous and, besides, has lie not given unto us the Fiscal Policy ? What should we have done during the gloomy days of November aid December without a Fiscal Policy? What would the newspapers have done? What the ]>oliticiansAnd what the man in the street? Again, when quite young he gave us the Education Act. What would the Noncon- formists have done without it? What the Churchmen and Homan Catholics? And out of the Education Act has evolved that quaint- est, most ludicrous creature of modern times -the Passive Resistor. What could any of us have done without him" See the fun he has given us. See how he has brightened up the consciences of those who slumbered of those in fact who, as far as we know before, had no consciences at all. Then he gave us plenty of rain, and there was no famine in the land. And the medical fraternity tell Uiel that the copious downfall of rain was the means of keeping the country free from disease—a fact which enabled the Neath Medical Officer of Health to coin a word as thick as a. Scotch mist. And 1903, by giving as the Education Act, showed us that we have the blessed martyr with us still. For what did one reverend gentleman say 'at a local conference ? "Bre- thren," said he, "We must array ourselves in the armour of conscience, and be prepared to fight and bleed-nay, even die for the sacred cau.se for which our ancestors suffered so much." And with all these things before you, you are slinging mud at poor old 1903, You ought to be ashamed of yourselves. Beside all this, 1903 gave some of us a lunch with the. Chairman of the Neath Boaid of Guardians, a good Mayor and £ 1,000 to- wards the Public Library, an increase in the police force and in the number of cases for trial, a town council election, which made many bad friends, and kept with us Mr. John Taylor, whose munificent gift of £ 2,000 will provide a much-needed institution—a cot- tage hospital. .+-+- And we still have to pay rates. What should we do without them? So after all' the "old mnn" has not been so bad. Of course, lie has had his faults. But lie lived a fast Me-only 365 days. And he did a lot in the time. 1904 will have a longer life. I wonder J wliat he'll do? With rumours of war be- tween Russia and Japan, he does not start very auspiciously. May the war clouds pass away. It is not comfortable to live ruidlr the shadow of the sword. There may be some who expect advice. To them and1 to all others would I sav "DO WHAT YOU CAN FOR 1904. AND YOU'LL FIND HE'LL PROYB THE BEST OF ALL HIS PREDECESSORS." Yes*, readers, the issue re.sts with you and I, and all those who have the misfortune to lie strangers to the "Cambrian." The few words I wrote just now respecting conscience reminds me of a conversation I which I had with three gentlemen connected with Insurance one day this week. -+- ''Insurance is a great blessing," said one. He was a superintendent. ({It may be," said another. He was just starting the business. I "Hav-e had some," remarked a. third. H( had finished with it. "What are the principal qualifications?" ] asked. Replied the Superintendent: "You must be honest and conscientious." And then the third retorted with acidity: "T hen you'll be a failure at it." My readers will be glad to hear that Coun- cillor E. S. Phillips has joined the Buffs. It is unkindly said that. he therefore expects buffetting next November. And Alderman W. B. Trick has done ditto. The election ot Guardians and District Councilors will take place in April next, and "f County Councillors in March. W/'at' a fUT!rV- wor'^ we liye i" to be sure, f Vet witlx :1'' t'!€ ••■atemerttjt of tradesmen. renting"4 .tf^e>. tllert of inoiK^ Aunt tKs Christmas. At the Cadox- ion B.vw^-v titers ™ not a t;an1d of beer left, the- i*>vision ^^hants had sleepier nights, arid took Coin* (>t .tlu; than thev Jvad done f,yf n-v, a Tff'VT s-*m; while Mr. Coo,n6^ Jns^taSTat, th.e Neath Post Otfke, beat' af? 1 j- Ui6 been favoured with some iW a 0 the latter, and as I think 111 esting, I embody th-sm in my no<*3.. The Christmas cardf and parcel fiaVom'^ showed no aign of diminishing at XeatlV. ;llnd judging Irom the pressure of work du'iiiigr Christmas w^*k, they wouIW appear t.o become increasingly popular. A special feature, the picture post card, numbering several thousands, was also str;sf2gly in evid- ence. Prom Tuesday to Friday the stream ot letters posted ijilut-eased in everv hour, and the ruA for stamps at the office counter could not have been more -M-ger had prizes been given away. From the 40 branch offices and letter boxes, bags heavily laden with letters, were brought to the baid office, which formed the "dumping" ground of the district. Here the regular istafF, doubly increased by temporary force, was taxed to the utmost in dealing with corres- pondence. It had been foreseen that tltoe head office would not afford accommodation for the work, and with a view to meet the pressure of the parcel post business, the As- rfu 7 Roo511s were engaged some time before wd fir* we*k; aha> was a staff deal- wiht the parcel, the numbe^of which ex- ceeded ad iecords. By one- despatch alone, 35 baskets, containing some hundreds of parcels were sent oft by tram. Notwithstanding the exceptional pressure, there was no block of work, the correspondence of each morning mail being se'nt. out bv the next delivery. Clear despatches were also made by each out- going mail. (In Christmas morning, not- withstanding the fact that the mail train ran two and a half hours late, and that the cor- resjjondence exceeded the usual number by ma.ny thousands, the delivery of letters was made at the usual hour, a,nd' befol'<:O noon the town delivery had been completed. This achievement was obtained by duplicating the deliveries, 24 men being employed instead cf 12, and reflects great credit on the local ar- rangements and the staff. On Christmas Day the staff, numbering about 40, sat down to an enjoyable repast, which was admirably served up by Mr. Gale, The Parade, Neath. At the Workhouse, thanks to the Mayor and Mayoress, the inmates had a real jolly time 011 Boxing Day. An excellent dinner was provided, under the personal supervision of Mrs. Mills, the worthy matron, and there was plenty of everything, including the Cad- oxton famous bitter beer, roast beef, vege- tables, plum pudding, sweets, fruit, tobacco, and snuff. And the Guardians didn't wrangle over the beer question either. They didn't have the chance. Following the repast the Mavor and Mayoress were accorded a hearty vote of thanks for their kindness, and their good healths were honoured with, enthusiasm. Neither did Mr. and Mrs, J. E. Moore Gwyn, of Duifryn, forget the children of the Cottage Homes, for on Christmas Dav they had a good dinner and .such toothsome trifles as delight the young, supplemented by a big jxircel of sweeis and fruits from the Mayor. The arrangements were in the hands of Mr. and Mrs. Sair, and the trouble the*' took was well repaid in the happy faces of the eiuldren. I'm sure all the readers of the "Cambrian" will join with me in wishing the Mayor and Mayoress and Mr. and Mrs. Moore-Gwyn a happy new year. The Xeath Education Committee held an imuortant meeting on Tuesday, all the mem- bers being present with the exception of Mrs. Cribb, for whom the vice-chair, the seat her husband so long and honourably occupied was revived. There/ was a long and, varied "programme," and business was greatly fa- cilitated by the forethought of the Clerk (Mr. A. Russell Thomas), who had everything in apnte-pie order. At the beginning I was the only pressman in the room, and as a motion was to be put before the meeting as to the admission of the Press, I was asked to retire, a feat which I performed as grace- fully as my "avoirdupois" would permit. However, they were not long over it. Mr. J. R. Jones and Mr. E. S. Phillips advocated the admission of the Press, and after Mr. Hopkin Morgan had made certain reserva- tions, a.nd the Cnairman had spoken on the subject, the motion was carried unanimously, and I was asked to grace the new educational authority with my presence. And I did. The three most important nutters dealt with were in relation to the staffing of the Melyn Schools, to certain sums of money earned prior to the birth of the Committee by Aid. Da vies* and the Catholic Schools, and to the tad; ing over of Alderman Da vies' .schools, These matters are dealt with in a report which arrears elsewhere, and it remains for me to say that Head-master W. J. Da vies had his way, the money was handed over, and a sensible decision arrived at respecting the taking over of Alderman Davies' schools. But in regard to the hist item one could see the cloven hoof of Xonconformity. I hope it'll be the last time we shall see it. The old board were conspicuously successful in avoiding sectarian differences. I trust the mew committee will recognise the fact, and act up to It that the primary duty they have is to care for and educate the children; the second to see that the ratepayers' money is expended properly. No educationalist be- lieves in false economy, but all the same there is much needless waste in the conduct of educational work. Talking of the Cottage Homes reminds me of an incident which took place away back in the summer. Some boys wished to go to Canada, and thither they were sent, under the auspices of a London Philantrophic As- sociation—Dr. Bamardo's Homes. The Chairman of the Guardians asked one of the boys what he would like to be and he replied "A Member of Parliament." Mr. Edward Powell, one of the clerks to the Guardians, has just received a letter from that boy, a letter which I think will prove interesting. So below I give an exact copy:— Dulton, Ontario, Canada, Dec. 6th, 1903. Dear Sir,—I write you these few lines, hoping you are quite well, as it leaves me at present. I know you wll be wondering who this letter is from. It is from the biggest boy you gave that shilling to. I am very sorry I did not write before. I have been in another place before the one I am in now, but they did not treat me well, so I wrote to the Homes and told them about it. I have got a good home now, and a. nice master. Dear sir, I think by the time you have had my letter it will be Christmas. I wish you and all the Guardians a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Dear sir, you must excuse the shoit letter. I am not a very good one in writing letters. So now I must close my letter to vou.—I remain, I yours truly, ANEURTN J. REES. That lad may become a. member of Parlia- ment. Many more unlikely things: than that have happened. 'FR "OBSERVER."

_r 1 IS YOUR RAZOR DULL? T3AZORINE is guararteed to impart to any Bat l-jiz >r the keenest possible rdtre. Try it! If it f .il: pesr.s your rnznr and we will g-ind hone, =)n 1 polish it free of all chsre-es Bound to impr^v your razor, earn of. injure it Six- pence, withViirocHouP. at nil CVlr-rs and Irr.n rnoi» £ fei*K —iRAZv'THNE COiMPANY, 7"5 and 76 High Holbora, London,

| £ 11 IN LIGHTIB yIIN. I In opposition to the Glamorgan County Council's new bye-law, Swansea trad^ij, may fairly claim to have led the Yam Swansea has no pantomime this year—bu £ don't let West Wales hang down its head in IShauH:-there's one at Briton Ferrv j New flour milk are to be erected at Cardiff by a Arm of Hull importers. Are Tiger Bay and 1 emperancetown about to become flowery lands ? Poole's are much in evidence in Swansea stieets this week, despite the nipping frost. Nevertheless, they have received a "warm" reception. f The chief supporters of Mr. W. JJ Edwards in the recent election, were of the manufacturing class. Nevertheless, the re- tW J'/ 'if r" *hmmi prct,>" co'nelusive!y tliat the Harbour could Trust him. Newport critics are indignant at th* U cWn „,xicMi6 ,Ild '•ink there1'00^ ink there is altogether too much old wine And enough New-port in the fifteen. I J1 ÍM .1id Jliitt Ikirdti'e versions of some forty Welsh national air- have been dis- covered. 'Tplans/' who has had five dif- ferent parti.<* pf "waits" on hi.? .nerves over Christmas, wrikj ftnquirwg whether Haydn is deid or not ? Mi-, Henry Bosto'Ji,. eqie of the latest se- ditions to Mr. Chnm'Vietjain's Tariff Com- mission, iW described as a, manufacturer of books. II t!4e inclusion of a; Ijtiok-niaker does not set the teeth of the UIK<V guid on edge, what will ? Meanwhile we aw"it, the news of the Ant 1-GamWing League's decision to affili- ate itself with tLr: Free Foooers. ♦* » » -+~- Enternrise for ev«r I In the window of a noted Swansea west-end news vend uv is dis- played, in brilliant b?ne letters on a. white ground the legend, "Christmas Gird*: Pick them early If that advice is faithfully fol- lowed, we can assure prospective customed they will be in ibui)da,nc(-, of time. P.C." Yes, Swansea "d.and d. V', riso anxious that the new van bye-L ot tJH" Glamorgan County Council s\ioul be ex tended to cover '■ M arie la Norir. T; sug gest, however, as a modification,, tlu.t* me«t should be two windows in the sides, 1:0' a4 the top or in front, and no door affix.-1 to the place of entrance-and exit. There are a. White and a Green on he committee of Swansea tradesmen who hive undertaken to defend the interests of the class as regards the County Council's Valk bye-law. The committee is also prepared t.> iigfit until it is Blue in the face to resist tho introduction of t.he regulation. During a wreck of a barque with a cargo !OJ wine an Pembrey Sands some veajts azo, ao old woman tapped a cask and drank IK r self into stupefaction. She mistook the surging wive as it feU upon. the shore for the in- viting voice of a. barmfin, and murmured. m- colbiereiitly: "-No more, th-aaik yiiat. n eo more." Heard at Greenhill, tune 2 a.m. on Boxing Dad morning "Have ye heard of the accident to Mr. Doolan, agra?" "No, but 'ti# sorry for it I am, for he was a dacent man. Well he locked the door of his bedroom on Christ- mas Eve, musha, irom the inside, and forgot all about it till next morning; so lie broke his wrist in trying to bash 'th door open ;and the kay in his pocket the whole tonne I" A gentleman named Chiozza Money has been endeavouring, in the interests of Freo Trade, to prove Colonel Wright inaccurate in his statements regarding recent dumpings of iron. But how cane he, when the worthy Colonel is always Wright? We fectf, how- eYelr, the Gowerton gentleman will have to take Iesson.s in Italian before Mr. Chiozza is answered in a manner lie can fully under- stand. Scene The "Pig and Pumpkin" in Little Madoc-street. Dramatis personae, gaily be- i ibl>oned_ recruiting sergeant and a. very raw prospective recruit. The sergeant has just gone out after three-quarters of an hour's discussion on tho "advantages of the Army," punctuated with numerous ghuss-s of the amber liquid. "He seemed pretiy sure of you, Dai," observes a friend to the pro- spective recruit. "Ay, Bil], but none so sure of me as I am of his beer!" A wedding in a. farmer's family of the village of Friedland, in East Prussia, has just been celebrated in the good old style. During three days in which the fetes were kept up the 150 wedding guests consumed one ox. four pigs, three calves, five sheep, 30 geese, 25 ducks, and 20 fowls. They drank five barrels of beer, f«even gallons of rum, six gallons of brandy, four gallons ,.f Danish spirits, a hundred bottles of wine, and 200 bottles of soda-water and lemonade. After this, an Irish wake must take a back seat. Scene:, Swansea's Irish quarter: lime, somewhere after "stop-tap." MacLeavy (inebriated), lying prone in the gutter and thinking of gorgeous scraps in the good old days of orange v. green in Belfast: "To — with the —! 1" A Friend (? He was of the '•'Green" persuasion), bending over the half- conscious MacLoavy, in an insinuating coo—• "To where with whom MacLeavyP' "Ah, get along wid ye to blazes," cries the latter, rolling over on his side and sitting bolt up- right, wideawake now, "I'm not to be catched so aisy as all that me dailin' 1 here is at least one Swansea man who will never—no never- again indulge in a raffle. In his last venture a bottle of whiskoj was the prize at stake, and the luck of the lottery fell to him. After his friends had ooanpe lied him to stand drinks all round to celebrate his luck, they parted. Next day, he and a select circle of choice spirits (friends, not "the cratur") pledged the toast "Confusion to our Employers"—and not until the glasses tilted their contents simultaneously down half a dozen throats was it discovered that the "whiskey" was not the genuine "Yellow Peril (as the Tempemnce man loves to call it, with a wealth of intemperate language), but an artful concoction of stale and water. A gleod story is told in connection with the Newport v. Swansea match. A gentleman missed his train back, a.nd had to tiarel down to Swansea by the- early morning mail. At ■Landjore lie wos forcibly ejected by four por- ters, and to his chagrin saw the train leave without him. There was only one thing, viz., to walk to Swansea. On leaving the station he started on his tramp, and after walking a considerable distance asked a police-mail how miucih fuirt/her it was to Swansea. Tlhe man in blue smilingly replied, "It's a long way you've got to go this way. You'ine walking away from iit." There was nothing to do but huni back and make the best of a mistake. When the Rev. Gomer Lewis was recently in Londocr. and riding on the top of a 'bus in a busy tliorougfhfare, he espied a Welshman who had promised him a subscription towards tue cliapel fund. The doctor svurg out lustily 'Hi! hi! and the driver at onoe pulled up, beliodng a fare to be at haind. Dr. lewis, however, entered into a loud conversation in Welsh, his compatriot the while standi'i-g on toe edge of the pavement. At first the driver and conductor bore the ordeal pataentcv. but | at lengrh tJicy mutually gave way to the kind of expletives for wibidh the Occin.y Jei,j,U is notorious The crowning remark wat an un- pleasant adjective added to "Germans, which effectually brought Dr. Gomer and his friend to the gravity of the delay. On the oont;TM- ance of the journey the driver refused to be reconciled, and gave a sidelong look of con- tempt as the worthy doctor disappeared I,'Om the tail-board near a West End hotel.