The Cambrian

fit Crabniriaii. FSIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1906. NOTES ON MEN & THINGS | Dean Smith of St. David's says he has I prepared his own epitaph. It reads "And the beggar died!" "There would be no such thing as truth in the world to-day if its existence depended upon the crowd."—(Rev. Teifion Richards at Fforestfach.) Councillor Cadwalladr toured Argyle- street on Wednesday investigating the flood. He saw enough to fire aim with renewed en- thusiasm for the big reform in drainage which he has for so long persistently ad- vocated. --+ II M ss Annette Kellerman, the champion lady swimmer, who is at present the guest of Mr. H. A. Chapman in Swansea, is to appear presently as the "star" in a produc- tion at the London Hippodrome, appearing in the role of a. mermaid. It is by no mea.D6 rare to find lawyers who started as solicitors finding their way to high legal places. Mr. S. T. Evans, K.C., now recorder of Swansea, was once a solici- tor, and so was Mr. Frederick Low, K.C., the new recorder of Ipswich. The audience were the judges for the best developed man at the physical culture lec- ture at Swansea, and by their favour the prizes went. It must have been a bit dis- concerting for one of the contestants, after taking the trouble to undress and pose, not to receive a single "hand." Staff-Captain Manton, from Canada, grows sarcastic when you suggest to him that there's anything the matter with the trans- atlantic climate. "I think your's is the least pLeasant I ever knew. I prefer the Canadian dammy atmosphere anybow," he told the Salvation Army people at Swansea on Sunday afternoon. There is no limit to the woes of Mr, Bir- rell. He now complains that he is much There is no limit to the woes of Mr, Bir- rell. He now complains that he is much pestered with deputations. It is no rare ex- perience for him, he says, to receive in the course of the same day deputations L-om dif- ferent interests, although sometimes com- posed of the s-ame persons, who put before him diametrically opposite views. Is this a hit at Swansea? Mr. Bernarr Macfadden, an advocate of physical culture, told a Swansea audience the other night that if he had lived like an ordinary individual he should have been dead ten years ago. He is a thorough fresh-air enthusiast, and says when he goes to bed at night and feels a nice cold draaught on his face he is about as happy as he can be. An easy chair, nearly covered with eea- weed, has been washed up on the beach at Loughor. A sea-sick passenger relieves himself of many things whilst in the throes of mal-de-mer, but an easy chair is an un- common Tibation to the gcd of the sea. Perhaps it was a gentle !át that the "cradle of the deep" was rocking more than was desirable for comfort. The poi-traitirf Mr. J. E. Jones, the doyen of West Wales Schoolmasters, re- cently presented him, has been subscribed for by old Heolfawr bovs all over the world. Mr. Jones had a successful scholastic I career, aud pupils of his are occupying honourable positions all over the globe. It was stated on Friday night that two old boys are millionaires. Appropriate mottos adorn the walls of the Ystradgynlais Police Court. "Na dd-wg gam dystiolaeth yn erbyn dy gymmydog" (thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbour), ancf "A false witness shall not go unpunished." They are neatly j framed, and were the contribution of Mr. ) E. Benthall, J.P., one of the sitting magis- trates. Col. G. W. Williams, after 27 years' service in the l&t Glamorgan Artillery, has retired, arl,(T advantage has been taken of the occasion by the officers and men to testify in a practical form to their appre- ciation of his service to the corps during that long period. Highly eulogistic ad- dTeaics were delivered. Col. Williams made one amusing statement in the co-urae of his reply. He declared that he had never married because he thought it was easier to manage 640 men who obeyed him, than one woman who probably would not. 1 A successful meeting was held by the Swansea Women's Temperance Society on Tw-sday evening, when addressee were de- livered hy Mrs Lioycl-George and Mrs. Herbert Lewis, the wives of two prominent Welsh Parliamentarians. The ladies spoke with quiet effect, and the whole proceed- ings were extremiy interesting. Among the other speakers were Mr. Richard Martin, I. who suggested that tite best. way to counter- act the drinking evil was for the churches and chapels to cater to a greater extent than they did for the public recreation and I entertainment. There is a deal of truth in j this. but up to the present, at all events ) Puritanical prejudices have been permitted to completely neutralise the powers of the religious bodies to make provision for the people in this lighter mood. We're going to Law to see if we can't 1 get justice."—(Mr. Harry Williams.) I "Y Brytbon" announces with pride that Llanelly contains nineteen Welsh places of worship to seven English ones. A gramophone is to be presented to Swan- sea Fever Hospital. As a means of keeping that building satisfactorily empty (writes a "Sufferer"), nothing better could have been thought of. The Corporation deputation that went to Derby last week did not see the directors 1 of the Midland Railway Co., but only the Genera! Manager. What happened at the conference has not transpired, but some idea of the character of the reply received may be gathered from the inspired state- ment that the deputation do n<Tt consider it expedient to furnish the Council with a report. If they did, it would probably be found that the hostile criticism directed at this wholly useless and mischievous move- ment was fWlly justified. Unless Swansea's Chief Constable is more outimistic than the facts warrant, the house- holders in the borough may sleep at night with a fuller sense of security than has been enjoyed for some time paist. For, if Capt. Cotlquhoun is to be believed, all the perpe- trators of house-breaking jobs, which have caused so much alarm recently, are now safe under lock and key. What appears to support the Chief Constable in his reassur- ing statement is the circumstance that dur- ing the last week or 00 there has been a oorTvnlete surcease in the activity of mid- night marauders in the borough. Three Welsh teams were engaged against formidable opponents in England last Sat- urday. In no case was. victory confidently anticipated, but. either because of the higher quality of Welsh football, or by reason of a coincidence, the three won victories. Swansea defeated Devonport Albions, New- port Gloucester, and Llanelly Leicester. By winning against the Albions, and draw- ing with Plymouth, the Swansea team have successfully gone through their most critical ordeal; apparently now the record is not in any cerious danger until the Cardiff team is met towards the end of March. But the. unexpected frequently happens. At Cardiff r. number of estimable ladies waited until La Milo's engagement was vir- tually at an end before asking the Mayor to attempt the impossible in securing the omission of a turn that crowded the Cardiff Empire. We believe there is no justifica- tion for the belief that the protest was en- gineered in the interests of the famous beauty. When a play which had a long run in London was stigmatised as improper, at I Swansea the theatre could not hold the peo- ple who flocked to see. La Milo's posing to, represent certain statuary is an object of I- natural physical beauty, except to those who bring prurient minds to the situation. "Evil he (or she) who evil thinks." If his Worship the Mayor of Swansea can maintain the standard reached by his pre- sent civic reception of the South African footballers, he will be able lay down the badges of office next November with a con- sciousness that he has deserved weil of the town. By a happy inspiration the people invited to meet the visitors consisted al- most exclusively of men. who at. pome time or another had been actively identified with the srame of football. All the old Interna- tional players in West Wales were invited. and also all the present and old members of the Swansea- team. The Mayor and Sir Griffith Thomas spo-ke briefly, but to the point, and Mr. Garden and MT. Rocs, speaking for the Afrikanders, were equally pointed and incisive. As a result the com- panv had a quartette of pithy little ad- dresses, excellent in taste and in substance. Considerable disappointment was felt locally on Wednesday, when the official announcement was made that a match be- tween the South Africans and Swansea could not possibly oe arranged. Consequently the Afrikanders will return home with a know- ledge that they have failed to encounter the finest club side in the Kingdom. The original omission appears to be practically traceable to the absence of effective repre- sentation of Swansea on the Welsh Rugby Union Committee. W nen the fixtures were under consideration not a single representa- tive of the Swansea dub was present, al- though Cardiff, Newport and Llanelly were strongly represented. The difficulty in making gc-od the defect consists in the fact that before starting the South Africans pre- pared a fixture list, -with the determination not to depart from it, and that all their arrangements have been made with that idea. An enormous influx of people is expected into Swansea on Saturday, especially after the defeat of the Irish team by the South Africans. The game at Belfast was brimful of excitement from start to finish, and within a few minutes of the call of time the scores were exactly even—12 points each. It was by a supreme effort literally at the last moment that the visitors seized a victory. There is a general disposition among Welsh footballers to anticipate with confidence the issue of to-morrows's con- test the fact thai the South Africans were defeated by Scotland (under conditions which placed them at a serious disadvant- age), and that the Irish came very near drawing with them, tends to minimise the danger of a Welsh defeat. The Scotch and Irish forwards were responsible for the principal difficulties encountered by the Springboks. Is it quite certain that the Welsh forwards are as good? If not, then very easily the Welsh may have to rue a reverse. Mr. Prusmann, the Swansea borough elec- trical engineer, in his interesting "Epis- odes" at Morriston on Thursday, alluded to the time when he and his chief assistant were new to the town. A few days after Mr. Prusmann arrived, the 9th oi November came along, when Sir Griffith Thomas turn- ed on the street arc lighting for the first time. Naturally it was thonght the stores were all right; but at the eleventh hour, so to speak, it was discovered that the quan- tity of coal available was altogether inade- quate. It was a Saturday this memorable 9th, and as everyone in the "oal trade had given over work for the afternoon to see the football match chiefly, Mr. Prusmann was in a tight corner. He dashed round the town In a han-om hoping to find a stray merchant who would be able to supply the necessity. No, none. There was only one chance—the railway. Outside Victoria Station he no- ticed two carts load;ng from trucks. The drivers, questioned, said the destination of the coal was Sketty. He never knew where Sketty was then, and didn't care either, and informed them the coal was meant for the Electrical Station, and there it went, the situation being saved just in time. The stolen coal was taken out of tracks belonging to a firm, one of the partners being at the present time a prominent Town Councillor. Seven members of Parliament, a bishop, and a mayor are down to speak at a tem- perance convention at Cardiff next Satur- day. It looks like a plot to keep them from attending the Springbok match at Swansea. Two amateur actors in the sketch at Mum- bles Kursaal were so eager to get on and off the stage that they accidentally took the door with them. This effort, literally speaking, "brought down the house"—or a substantial portion of it. [Lord Cawdor said that Mr. Lbyd-Grorge has flooded the country with intimidation.] Lord Cawdor makes our fears come faster. The country's undeiTheath a curse, For to escape from one disaster She must take refuge in a worse. For if indeed this hapless nation tWe cry. with hearts and sorrows erammedj. Is flooded with intimidation. Then to be saved"! it must be dammed. "Daily Chronicle." The Christmas number of the "Wide World Magazine" includes ir) its pages an article written by Mr. Frederick Sears, Lon- don, on "Searching for Caraways." Mr. Sears, who is the fatheT of Mr. Will Sears, of the "Daily Post" illustrating depart- ment, graphically describes the voyage of a Government steamer rescuing a party of shipwrecked men from one of the lonely is- lands of the Southern Ocean. The article is splendidly written and contains some ex- cellent illustrations. The housebreakers who have been paying attention to the west end of Swansea are palpably 'prentice hands of unequal merit. At one hocse window-pane cut out cleanly as if diamond had been used at another a stone employed, with a lofty disregard for noise, which suggests the silent burglar of the music-hall stage. In neither case was an entry effected. The whole household turned out at one residence attacked, and as the family is large the demonstration of force was effective. The nett results of three actual or attempted burglaries was repre- sented by a waterproof coat, which the thief or thieves cannot tttFise without appreciably increasing the risks of detection. The Paris correspondent of "Troth, -n commenting upon the divorcing of Count Boni de CastcIIane by the lady once known as Miss Anna Gould, alluded to the French custom in such cases of selling the furniture, etc. of the parties and dividing the pro- ceeds equally between them, and goes on to remark :—"When Patti obtained her divorce from Dhe M&rqivs de Canx, all her jewels and every wardrobe article belonging to her that could not be set down ae among the necessaries was put up to auction, and the price it fetched halved with the discarded huaband. He thus pocketted 500.009 frames. She had confided her most valuable jewels to an American lady for safe keeping and some priceless furs." Evidence of the closeness with which the exploits of the Colonials in South Afnca are followed in South Africa is shown by a cutting from the South African News for October 29th, which Mr. F. Organ sends us from Simons Town, near Cape Town. A good three-quarters of a column description of the Springboks match against Newport is reproduced, cabled from London by Ren- ter's Agency. Notes on the game are g'ven besides the account of the play, and the re- mainder of the column is filled up by re- cords of the Afrikanders received to date, the comparative scores of the New Zealan- ders, etc., etc. When it is recalled that the mere cabling of every word costs several shillings, this journalistic enterprise will be appreciated. Swansea shipments for the third succes- sive week has failed to maintain the high standard which previously had been reached. Last week the total imports and exports only nsa.hed 86,305 tons as compared with 99,510 tons the previous week. Fortunately for purposes of comparison the xrade for the corresponding week of last yea? was excep- tionally low, only 72,550 tons being handled, tr 13.000 tons less than last week. There were heav yshipments of tinplates, the ag- gregate reaching 80, toO boxes, whilst 76,021 boxes were received from the works. The reduced aggregate is attributed to the un- settled weather causing a shortage of ton- nage. But surely this cannot be wholly re- sponsible, since the vesesls delayed by one spell of bad weather would arrive to swell the returns for the subsequent week. The accident to Mr. W. H. QuentTall an Sundav evening enforces onoe more the old, old moral, that it is an extremely danger- ous proceeding to attempt to board a train in motion. The temptation is great, but the frequency with which a slip of the foot brings about tragic consequences, ought to, but in reaiity does not. act as an effective preventative of the practice. Mr. Quen- tralil, who was a gentleman of fine physique, apears to have reached the Oystermouth Station just as the train was moving out, and made wha.t seemed at the moment an easy jump upon the side Sotep, but failed to secure a footing. The Stationmaister very piuckily rushed forward to try and help, and the upshot of it all was that the wheels passed over Mr. Quentrall's legs, and he'died the following day at the Hospital. The greatest sympathy is Mt for the members of his family, upon whom this great trouble fell so suddenly. MT. C. H. Glascodme, the barrister, and deputy-dork of arraigns for the county, has done more than many Welshmen who pro- fess to be great admirers of the Cymric language. An Englishman, he has himself for literary purposes, mastered the Welsh language, so that he cannot be reproached with either want of knowledge of the sub- ject, or lack of sympathy with the WeL-h people, when he raises his voice against making the teaching of WTclsh compulsory in the daily schools. This action, in his opinion, would be "an abominable cruelty-' to the children, the more so as Welsh has no practical value. At Cardiff the lead has been taken in this direction, principally, it may be assumed, to dispel the suspicion that Cardiff, which aspires to be the capital of Wales, has very little of the Welsh spirit. There is no valid reason why other boroughs or districts, which cannot W be ac- cused of being cosmopolitan, should make the same mistake. Many Welshmen, who in everything affecting their native country are as patriotic as the best of their neighbours, hold substantially the same view as Mr. Glascodine. If a knowledge of Welsh has little or no commercial value, if for literacy purposes, it unlocks the door of only a very limited literature worthy the name, the conclusion follows that when every moment in a child's school life is re- quired for useful studies, the cultivation of the Welsh language must severely handi- cap the pupil. We are living in a severely utilitarian age, and there is much to be said for the opinion that the time which it is proposed to apply to Welsh might veiy advantageously be employed in learning one of the principal modern languages like. French or German. We can be patriotic without being foolish and unbusinesslike. In his youthful days the Mayor of Swan- sea (Mr. David Harris), who welcomed the South African team on Wednesday, was severely injured whilst playing in a. football match on the Lan Field, Morriston. The result of that accidcnt compelled his Wor- ship to keep his bed for several weeks. The Mayor, even at this period (26 years after) believes that it affectcd his constitution. There is probably more humour than fact in tho good stories told by abolitionists on the p'atform. In a temperance sermon on Sunday the Rev. James Owen, of Swansea, undermined the gravity of the congregation with this story: —A little boy was walking along the street, when he came upon a drunken man who had fallen down in the gutter outside a public-house. Tho bov im- mediaAely Tan into the public-house and shouted to the landlord, "Your sign has fallen down, master." 6- Judging by the opinions of the Press Gal- lery representatives of the London Press in the House of Lords, Earl Cawdor has "cut the largest swathe" in the debate on the Welsh Council clause of the Education Bill. Other gentlemen, of more local prominence, who participated in the discussion are sim- ply ignored by the Fourth Estate. It is amusing to note that the Bishop of Hereford gets the credit of belonging to the Welsh episcopate on the strength of the most Eng- lish part of Wales—whose connection with Wales is merely nominal—being included in his diocese. Composers in the past, said Sir Frederick Bridge in Tuesday night's lecture at Swan- sea, ur-ed to introduce popular airs into their compositions. In one ditty, entitled "The Armed Man," the Church had, in fact— though he did not mention it—to issue some- thing like a threat of excommunication be- fore tiie composers of the day—who nearly all worked on themes for Church purposes— ceased worrying the wretched tune and in- troducing it into most solemn works. How would a melody of Sullivan sound in an an- them to-day, ho asked. Well, we can vouch few it that "Bill Bailey" would not sound so very far out of placs sandwiched in between an arrangement of the Welsh revival hymn-tune as a chorale. -+- A (speaker at the annual dinner of the Swansea Dog Society suggested a subsidy from the Corporation towards the show, and a member of the Council, who was pre- sent, threw out a hint that assiduity in application for such a subsidy would be re- warded in time. Another speaker, an offi- cial, however, thought the society should stand or faill by its own merits. The reason which would be advanced for such a grant is, one presumes, the familiar one, that it "brings people into the town." Perhaps 50; but dog-fancying is a speciality which is not widely popular in South Wales, and there is no particular reason why the general public should be called upon to finance an undertaking which appeals to a limited class. The line would have to be drawn somewhere;, and it is not desirable that the idea should go forth that it is possible to get anything out of the Council by suffi- ciently patient badgering. A correspondent of a contemporary writes:—"Is it true that the Swansea Col- lege costs something about £3,000 per an. num, and is it true that there are only about twenty students there? If so, in my opinion, it is iniquitous Also, is it true that this college asked for powers to con- fer degrees? If so, it is a burlesque, 'is this another success of the chairman's?" Leaving the chairmmp out of the question, and accepting the correspondent's states nients as correct, they still do not furnish an indictment of the authorities for wasting, as he implies, j35,000 annually, in providing technical education for a handful of twenty students. It is an indictment rather of the obtuseness of Swansea parents in not making the fullest use of the facilities pro- vided, for which the education authority is least of all to blame. Whatever the attend- ance, it would be manifestly absurd for the sake of the small econo-my to deprive a town which is the centre of such a multipl city of industries of the technical education mechanism which is vital nowadays. The House of Lords has, in the course of its remoulding of the Education Bill, reach- ed the Welsh Council Clause, and ripped it out with a very heavy majority on a rather sma'l attendance at that particular stage. JJaturally this has added fuel to the fire which is burning through the medium of the oratory of Mr. Lloyd-Geoige and other fer- vid denounoerrs of the tvpper chamber. Earl Cawdor increased a reputation which he has been creating as a politician. His speech was not lacking i- down-right earnestness —"blustering'- is the favourite adjective ap- plied by the gallerymen of the Government press-but vigour is the most desirable of qualities in an opposition of numerical help- lessness. The "Westminster Gazette," a paper of sound judgment and insight, has, however, consented to admit that "Conser- vatives regard the late chairman of the Great Western Railway as 'one of their ris- ing hopes.' Should the warfare ensoie that threatens between Government and Peers, we may expect to find Earl Cawdor in the thick of the fray, laying on hard blows, and earning the popularity which strenuousness and hard-hitting always ensure Ü1 British politics A report on ^he condition of Crabbe's. court, High-etrapt, Swansea, or rather the ■mental and moral defeneration of its in- habitants, created some small stir at cVwansea a couple of months ngo. But not until this week has a letter been published from the daughter of the owner, Miss Cra-bbe, WITO complains that the age of her father— who is 83, and a clergyman at Nuneaton— and his 'lack of any member of the family .1 whom he could depute for a tour of investi- gation. are the reasons why the property has not received the attention that should have been accorded to it. She add«? that it is a "most abounding state of things that such a disgraceful state of affairs should exist," and tha.t the owner of the cottages referred to should remain in utter ignorance of the procoodings until over seven weeks afterwards, and then hear iu ws only by chance. The last statement is certainly remarkable. It alle?es that no- }.oclv took the trouble to communicate the state of things, described in smell sensa- tional language, to the person chiefly in- --xl. the absent owner of t he prope.rty." Negligence is here visible on the part of somebody at the Guildhall. But the whole origin of the commotion was over the state of the tenants' morals, rather than the con- dition of the floors and ceilings* and land- lords, as a rule, are more cou^ermd with the regular payment of the rent than the regular observance or tenant's duties tcxsocial conventions and religious oibservrwns. The cry of a "clergyman as owner of 6Imn pro- perty" wotrid he a pretty ca-tchw-caml tor opponents erf the clergy. But it will not bear examination. What is it suggested Mr. Crabbe should do with his property? Mr. Wm. Coutts has managed to make 1 a financial success of his Sunday evening concerts at the Star Theatre. In Bver; 1 other sense they have been remarkediy nic- t cessful also. /During the past winter the 1 collections amounted to £362; various charities have received between JB70 and £ 80 and the band £ 100. So that besides besides providing the public with a whole- some, elevating, entertainment on Sunday evenings., the manager of the Star Theatre has been able to do something for charity, i The purchase of the Pont Henry Anthra- cite Collieries near Llanelly by the Bar- goed Company for the sum of 445,000, is one of several indications pointing to the steady growth in the influx of outside capi- ta.l into West Wales. Anthracite is becom- ing more and more appreciated every year, and enormous developments are expected in the immediate future. The new proprietor^ of the Pont Henry Collieries purpose to 1"'Y out capital froaly in increasing the output which now averages between 000 and 300 tons a day, a.nd is expected to reach about 1,000 tons daily during the next year or 60. Bishop Owen's palace at Abergwili, is tiros described in tie "Treasury" "The grounds are much the same as in Thirlwall's time. Them are the lawns on which he taJked to his peacocks, the sundials on which he placed crumbs for the binds, the poind where his geese lived, the beds oil which he grew ca.r- nations for the hares to eat. His three pikes, I fear, no longer inhabit the pond- at least, I can answer for one. The present Bishop's son hooked and landed it, and its terrible head now keeps guard over the cha.p- lain's study. It is disappointing to find no trace of the Laud Chapel, but you can still gee in tihe topmost stone of Abcrgwili parish chtrrch the very stone to which Bishop Fa»r- rar was burned in Carmarthen town. So, at least, they say." The present wveek has been a remarkable one for Swansea in one respect. A perfect galaxy of celebrities ha-ve visited the town. Sinoe Wednesday the team of the South African footballers have been in residence here; La Milo, said to be one of the most perfectly formed women in the world has been giving exhibitions of statuary posing at the Empire; Miss Dedma. Moore, ths famo us actress, has been at the Grand Theatre; Miss Annette Kellerman, the champion lady swimmer, was at Swansea Baths on Wednesday evening; and such celebrated musicians as Sir Frederick Bridge, the famous organist and cofmposer Madame Albani, and Mr. Ffrancgon Davies, have also been with ns. In politics, Mrs. Lloyd-George and Mrs. Herbert Lewis were on Tuesday lecturing on temperance at tie Albert Hall. Mumbles licensing area is one of the little "purple patches" upon which Swansea tem- perance folk have now fixed their attention. The ubiquitous Mr. Richard Wafckins, the stormy petrel of licensing sessions, intro- duced to the last session of the Swansea County Licensing Authority a deputation of thimbles residents, who were anxious that next 'year the Mumbles area should be taken in hand and carefully weeded out. Past experience should give the Lioerrse- koMens of Oystermouth many sleepless nights between now and the "appointed day" of 1907. Havoc amongst the seven- day licenses, of which Miss Dlllwyn com- plained that there was a superfluity, is aty- sured. Her own experience was that the bulk of the Sunday custom at a miblic house near her own residence was solely through a desire to get driilk. Otners would contend £ ha:t the drinking keeps within fairly moderate bounds, and that the pleasure afforded by the journey and change of scene is just as strong an induce- ment to cause Sunday traffic. When a drama of religious character visited the Swansea Star Theatre recently there was an animated controversy as to whether the treatment of religious themes ( on the stage was permissible. Tha.t historic- a'1 sanction exists was demonstrated in a lecture on the birth of orato-rio, given by Sir Frederick Bridge, the organist of West- minster Abbey, at Swansea on Tuesday. He traced the development of both oratorio and opera from miracle and mystery pla-ys which were originally employed by the church to visualise religions morals and teachings for the benefit of the people who in the dark ages were most forcibly im- pressed by s\jch representations. But re- ligious plays of an unmistakably histrionic type are very much older than the middle ages. Will we ever work back to the old conception of the play, with or without mnisical accompaniment, as an auxiliary or even as an actual -portion of religious ser- vices? Sir Frederick Bridge, whose word is of weight, expressed himself pretty plain- ly in favour of music being made the hand- maid of religion to a far greater extent than is customary to-day, a.nd certainly this art is the most valuable ally the Church could find in attracting and maintaining that popular patronage which is as essential to the fullest success of its work the quality is to other and secular enterprises. Swansea has, during the latter portion of the week, an opportunity of seeing the famous Springboks "intime"; and compar- isons of the personnel of the team with other football combinations which have visited the town are already being insti- tuted. Though invidious, they favour our latest visitors, whose general sobriety of demeanour, arising from the stolid Dutch temperament, is in pleasing contrast to a boisterousncss cf conduct npnrorxhmg hooli- ganism which has characterised others. All appear to be good samples of the more modern type of Cape Dutch, who ha.ve had rubbed away the narrowness and prejudices of the veldt life j have received exoelJent educations, possess a high standard of in- tellect, and are sincere in their resolve— for they can be considered representatives of a considerable class—to make the best tif the political situation ot the day in South Africa. But they are nevertheless, treating them as types, not thoroughly representa- tive of the Cape Dutch as a people, how- ever well they may exemplify the possibili- ties of that race when impregnated with the spirit of modernity and culture. They approximate rather to the better educated classes of he Orange River Colony, who in their turn are far in advance, in education, of the Transvaal Dutch, who are the rudest and most primitive of all.- Paul Rooe, the captain, speaking at the Mayoral reception at Swansea, laid stress upon the appreciable political value which the tour possessed. Certainly it has brought the British public face to face with the most acceptable depu- tation which one coo.1d imagine of types of the Dutch, whose numerical sup^'JoritT is so great, a feature of Cape politics. Nothing I could be better adapted to dispel our own prejudices and create a truer opinion of the Dutch subjects of the Empire. "American choirs for the Swansea Eis- teddfod" is an item of news now recurring with monotonous regularity. Tlie "Dry.ch, the Welsh journal of the States, states in the current number that two male voice choirs are now rehearsing in Philadelphia alone. The principal objection which has been urged against the materialising of these choirs, which are now getting as numerous as waves in the herring pond, has been the financial one. Wages are paid on I a generous scale in the States, however., even if living expenses are high, and the opportunity which presents itself of a plaus- ible excuse for saving up for a trip to the homeland at the most opportune of periods for the patriotic Welshman, may after all lead to American competitors appearing in the Eisteddfod area of 1907. Mr. Birrell, being heckled in the House of Commons respecting the educational situ- ation in Swansea, suggests a politician struggling with adversity. It is evident that the Minister of Education commenced his relations with the Swansea L-ELA. in a spirit of determination to discountenance petty persecution, and ensure for the tea- chers equitable treatment. Up to a. point, the correspondence is firm in this respect, and there is no evidence whatever of waver- ing untii the L.E.A. assumed an attitude of open revolt, and brought the machinery of the Welsh National Party to bear upon Mr. Birrell. The latter was palpably un- equal to successful resistance to the inter- ference from his own party. In his replies to Lord Robert Cecil and others, Mr. Bir- redl speaks as if some highly complicated legal points were involved, and as if these had not been imported merely to obscure the policy of the L.E.A. to discriminate against the Voluntary teachers. The fact that the points have been referred to the law officers of the Crown indicates the ex- aggerated importance attached to them. Meanwhile, Mr. BirrdI is promising in a general way that the unfair differentiation will be dealt with. As he can-not without affecting a right-about-face sanction or con- done the differentiation, it is a reasonable presumption, that sooner or later the Board of Education will msist upon this grievance being removed. Human fortitude is capable of some re- markable feats of endurance, under circum- stances which one would imagine to be of agonising pain. The late Mr. Quentrall, the victim of Sunday night's accident on the Mumbles Railway, though both legs were fearfully crushed and one foot hanging by the 6kin, stopped the cab on his journey to the Hospital to ask for a cigarette, and con- versed rationally within a few minutes of receiving his mortal injuries. But there have been many other cases of a parallel nature in the locality. One man at a Lan- dore works, who had his arm torn off, was still able to descend a ladder and walk to his home, after first aid treatment. The reoent accident, to the unfortunate Neath surveyor, near Cwmavon, found a duplicate a few months ago, when a veterinary sur- geon in the Rhondda was knocked down at night on the railway, and had both legs cut off. He was found hours afterwarrs still holding the stumps crect toO avoiH as much effusion of blood as possible, and as in- the case of unfortunate Mr. Quentrall, one of his first requests was for a cigarette. The complainant in the remarkable com- pensation claim against the Taff Vale Rail- way, heard in a. Tecent Swansea Assists, in which the defence was put forward that he had deliberately arranged to be the vic- tim of some such accident for the sake of the compensation, though both limbs were practically severed, was discovered con- scious and rational. Many other examples oould be quoted to confirm the comforting belief that in cases of such extreme mis- adventure merciful Nature interposes to alleviate the agonies of the strickcn during the period that intervenes before artificial aid can be summoned to assuage their suf- ferings. A general topic of conversation in Swan- sea during the wedt ban been the repre- sentation of famous scuflpture and paintings in a local music hall by a lady artiste, sty- ling herself "La Milo." One of the very few women in the world who possess a truly classical figure, her poses have been of the chastest beauty and most refining character. Yet it is undeniable that were the actual cold marble or canvas employed to convey some idea of the masterpieces de- picted far less notice would have been de- voted to the "turn," which would suffer the fate of being voted "dull" by numbers of those who have made a special effort this week to witness "La Milo." For there are few more inartistic individuals in the world than the middle and lower class Britishers. It cannot honestly be pretended that love of art, for its own sake, served as the motive animating a large proportion of the audiences during the week, who have never heard of the subjects treated more than once or twice in their life, and would be woefully unable to appreciate them oould they see the genuine painting or statuary. But the exhibition has been nevertheless a¡ most valuable object lesson in appreciation of the beautiful, and as siuch it has been received throughout London and the provinces. "La Milo"—-who must ex- perience some difficulty in retaining the correct proportions of her figure-is the nearest, approach to perfection of form known to-day. Conscientious artists of the first rank have usually to employ the ser- vices of a number of models for their works, each possessing his or her special excellence in arm, leg, toreo, or shoulders. "La Milo" embodies nearly all the perfections.

NEARLY 200 PRESENTS. PRETTY CARMARTHEN WEDDING. At Tabernacle Baptist ChapeL Carmar- then, on Thursday, the wedding took place of Dr Edwin H. T. Davies. youngest son of Captain J- Davies, Cloth Hall. and Miss Polly E. Jones, only daughter of Mr Z. D. Jones. 22. Francis-terrace. Rev. E. N. Thomas, assisted by Rev. D. Williams, Blaina, officiated. The best man was Mr J- Davies (brother of the bride- groom), and bridesmaids, Miss May Davies (sister of the bridegroom), and Miss Ethel Ivy Evans (cousin of the bride). Thfl haopy couple, who were the recipi- ents of nearly 200 presents, left by the 12.32 train for Brecon for their honeymoon.

CREMATED BABY. CHARGE AGAINST EDMONTON WOMAN. At Tottenham on Wednesday Jessie By- ers (40), married, Edmonton, was remanded charged under the Cremation Act with having burnt the body of a child which died whilst in her care on November 6th. Evidence of arrest was given, it being stated that Byers told the polioe that she had five other "nurse children," one, of whom bad died. She burnt the body men- tioned in the charge because of the smell.

OLD SWANSEA CUSTOMS OFFICIAL. The death occurred on Sunday evening at Walters-terrace, Walter-road. Swansea, of Mr Geo. Sheppard, at the ripe old age of 73. Deceased had been aiilng for some time, but it was not anticipated that the end was 80 near. Dr. Humphreys had been in con- stant attendance. Mr Sheppard, who had been a Swansea customs official, retired a few years ago. Prior to coming to Swansea he was sta- customs official, retired a few years ago. Prior to coming to Swansea he was sta. tioned at Port Ta.lbot.

THE SOUTH AFRICANS AT SWANSEA. To a town so wedded as Swansea has been to football, for over a quarter of a century, the visit of the famous South African team could not fail to be an event of general interest. What appreciably adds to the latter and widens its scope is the circumstance that the visitors belong to a Tace with whom we were quite recently at war, and whom the British desire to conciliate and win over to be loyal subjects of the Crown, and whole-hearted participa- tors in the development. of the Empire. Thus football, viewed in this light, is dis- closed as an imperial asset—as a. medium whereby the young men of both races may oement the bonds of union. This, "the deeper note" of the visit, as described by Mr. Roas, the captain of the South African team, at the Mayor's reception, has become increasingly Tesonant with the progress of the tour. The Afrikanders, in the language of their captain, began the journey with no idea beyond that of playing football against the teams of the United Kingdom. But the kindness everywhere shown to them, the public desire to show them respect | a.rsd do fem honour, had insensibly en- larged their mission. The evident convic- tion and earnestness with which Mr. Rooe spoke precluded the idea that he was pay- ing only a lip obeisance to the occasion- returning compliment for compliment. We hope and beilieve with him that the thirty- five Afrikanders constituting the party will return home with happy memories of their visit to the British Isles, and will, in a sense, serve as ambasfc>iadors in the service of good-will between Briton and Boer. To appreciate the importance of the role which we would fain see them assume—a role they seem eager to aBSITme-it must be realised that the Afrikanders now at Swansea are not, as were the majority of the New Zealanders, young men possessed of no status or distinction or influence outside football. They are nearly to a man college-trained students, recruited from the best Dutch and Huguenot families in South Africa. From their class must be drawn the future leaders of the Boer people. One or two already occupy public positions of trust and responsibility, and the majority are thoughtful, religious men, embodying the most distinctive virtues of the Boer raoe. Consequently the effect of the tour upon their minds is of considerable import- ance, and if it induces them to carry a message of friendship and peace to their countrymen, football will have achieved its greatest triumph. Both as players and as gentlemen, the Afrikanders have produced a most favourable impression, and we can but trust that the impressions they will have gathered of the British people will be equally agreeable.

Jrstxoe ~Waiton dined with Mr. Grahaim ■civian at dyne Castle on Saturday.

LABOUR DISPUTE AT SWANSEA DOCKS. L Swansea Harbour Trustees found themselvw; last week committed to a false attitude towards Trades Unionism, before they even knew that any labour difficulty existed. The General Manager, when ap- proached by M-r. Harry Williams, as the secretary of the Union to which the Har- bour, employes belong, refused to treat with the official, but intimated that he was pre- pared to receive any deputation selected bv the men, to put before him their de- mands. It probably did not occur to Mr. IJåw that the position assumed by him raised a question of principle which has been repeatedly thread out in recent years. The fact that Mr. Williams was personally objectionable to him might have seemed a sufficient reason for n-sking that some of the men themselves should take charge of the negotiations, and in extenua- tion of this, it must be admitted that the letters written by the Labour Leader were couched in language needlessly dictatorial and offensive. But when every" reasonable allowance has been made for that. we have still the fact that one of the elementary rights claimed by, and usually conceded to Trades Unionism, is that of eelecting their I own spokesman or spokesmen. In collec- tive bargaining between employers and em- ployed, the latter are obviously handi- capped if their cause has to be argued bv members of their own class, who stand in the relation of servants in the employ of the other side. Consequently, Mr. Law committed a grievous blunder when he permitted himself to be provoked into a refusal to meet Mr. Harry Williams. And the Harbour Trustees repeated it. From a sense of loyalty to their chief executive officer they upheld Mr. Law's decision. As the men say they will not negotiate except through their Trades Union secre- tary—and, indeed, are unlikely to do so it follows that unless the Harbour Trustees give way, a serious situation may be created locally. What renders this the more deplorable is the circumstance that the battle will be joined on a side issue which ought never to have been raised. The sooner tlie better the Harbour Trustees clear the I way of this impediment to a settlement, and begin seriously considering the tariff of charges asked for by the men. No one's persona- pride should be allowed to prevent a prompt settlement.

MELVILLE MELODRAMA AT THE "STAR," Another of Mr Walter Melville's dramas occupies the boards, of the "Star Theatre Swansea, in the appearance of *The Girl who lost her character," a play replete with all those sensational incidents for which this author is famous. Although con- structed on conventional lines, there is much pathos in it, as well as the usual amount of comic relief and a well-filled house on Monday night testified unmistak- able appreciation of the piece. Mr W. Standing as Jack England, the hero, gave TtoS iUrtrayal and Mr H. McCart- ney as the Rev. Robert Everton gave a manly interpretation. As the repentant forger. James Sutton. Mr Geo. Mitchell acted with telling effect. Mr Geo. H. As- nnin eave a humorous study of Dick Punch. Miss Ethel Bracewell as Molly Vernon, the "girl who lost her character," gave an ac- ceptable rendering and Miss Bertha Ncr- ♦ w™ WJLS a winsoma Rose Seymour, a weaUhy heiress. Other parts include Miss V Oakley, as Lucy Vere; Miss Lydia Man- nineton as the adverturess. etc; Mr Prank "2°as Captain Caversham. the evil-doer. gaV6 a particularly strong representation.

In connection with Messrs Ben Evans and Co's Christmas Bazaar, there is in one iftteir windows in Temple-sreet a novel ShSSL of the latest ^gn to hSid-»<>Aed s<wi"g To sh"" their easy mechanism the machines are all Sf working by eLectnc contact supplied from the company's mainsupply, and hun- dreds of people watch the process. ,he machines are of the Frister and Rossmann make, for which Messrs. Ben Evans and Co. are the sole agents for Swansea, and they are claimed to be an improvement upon the old standard, being also cheaper.

SWANSEA DOCK DEATH-TRAPS. Swansea Harbour Trust have at last te- coonised the high percentage of deaths through falling into the Swansea Docks, and are constructing railings round all the cor- ners of the various docks.

LA MILO'S VISIT TO SWANSEA, HER PROTEST AGAINST THE "PURISTS'" CRUSADE. ASKS THE CRITICS TO COME AND SEP HER. ] ACTION TO BE TAKEN AGAINST CARDIFF LADIES. "When people speak of 'nude women' and all that sort of thing, it upsets me—I don't like it." Thus "La. Milo," that beautiful and accomplished exponent of all that is most expressive and artistic in the world's sculpture. She was seen at her temporary residence in De-la-Beche-street by a "Daily Post" representative, who was highly in*- pressed with the lady's perfect womanly and unaffected demeanour. A few minutes' !chat with Miss Montagu—who is "La MHor* j —would convince the most rabid of "pur ists" that she implicitly believes in and con- scientiously endeavours to bring about realisation of the most noble conceptions of perfect womanhood. Off the stage as well as on "La Milo" is a study in statuesque femininity. There is not a semblance of staginess in her deport- ment—divinely fair and tall, yet not too tall. Miss Montagu has only been in her pre- sent role since June, 1905, in Sydney. Then, fearing would-be imitators, Mr. Alec Cruik- shank, her cousin, who engineers the pro- duction and is one of the foremost caricutur- ists in the Antipodes, brought Miss Monta- gu over to England while the furore caused by the act was still fresh, and the sensation her act aroused at the London Pavilion will be vividly recollected. "Your poses, Miss Montagu, entails a cer- tain amount of physical effort?" "Oh, yes," was the response, "and I find the holding of the arm rigidly very trying. I was for two years rehearsing my poses, and I frequented the Melbourne and Sydney art galleries continually in order to study every contour of the beautiful statues theTe. "Your favourite study?" -j "The Venus de Milo, and the most ex- acting. Some people think I was formerly an artiste's model. That is not so. I was in opera for some time—that is alL" Then the conversation drifted to the con- troversial, and Miss Montagu's thoroughly womanly protest at the head of this inter- view was voiced. "I should so much like those people who condemn my turn to come and see me," said Miss Montagu, with deep feeling; "that is all I ask. Why should they object to some- thing they have never seen? It is so un- fair." On Tuesday she received a signed letter from Cardiff warmly protesting against ttM attacks of the local "purity brigade," and expressing warm appreciation of the pur* ity and loveliness" of the act. "And the best repudiation of these at- tacks, which I feel very much," continued "La Milo," "lies in the fact that, contrary to what some have said (that only men flock to see me), largo numbers of women and children of the better class swell the au- diences." Those who have been to the Swansea. Em. pire this week will corroborate this. Miss Montagu has a very high opinion of Swansea audiences. "How it hurts me to hear titters whilst I am yosing, and how the almost silent appreciation here touches and pleases me," she said. ACTION AGAINST CARDIFF LADIES. During the interview with "La Milo" at. Swansea on Wednesday a "Daily Post" re- presentative was informed by Mr. Alec Cruikshank, the lady's business manager, that their solicitor, Hon. Charles Russell, had been instructed to take action against certain Cardiff ladies: and members of the Cardiff Y.W.C.A., in connection with the expression, "a perfectly nude woman, al- leged to have been made use of in a petition to° the Lord Mayor of Cardiff while "La Milo" was performing there last week. 9

LATE MR. H. QUENTRALL. FUNERAL AT THE MUMBLES CEMETERY. In such mournful weather as suited the sad occasion, trvs remains were buried at Mumbles Cemetery on Thursday morning of Mr. R. H. Quentrall, No. 7, Oaklands- terrace, Swansea, agent to Mr. Graham Vivian, who died from injuries received in a deeply regretted accident at the Dunns Station on Sunday evening. A service was conducted by Rev. J. H. Watkins Jones, vicar of Christ Church, at the house, which the members of the famny attended, and the cortege commenced its journey to Mumbles at half-past eleven tt thick, misty rain. Rev. Watkins Jones alfvo officiated at the Mumbles Cemetery. The mourners were: Misses Gwen, Muriel and Dorothy Quentrall, the elder daughters of the deceased gentleman; Mr. and Mrs. Harding, uncle and aunt; and Mr. G. Jones, Newport. Several of Mr. Quen- trall's close friends were present, among them being Messrs. T. Cheetham, W. Legg, Dd. Morgan, T. Murray, S. E. Thompson, W. James (auctioneer), W. and A. Puddi- ûOmbe, J. T. Trew, and several other col- leagues of the late agent at Messrs. Vivian's Hafod Works. Mr. Graham Vivia.n "eat his carriage. The following amongst others, met: the nrocession at the Mumbles: Dr. Edgar Evans, Dr. Lloyd Jones, Messrs. H. W. Hansard, F. Dowman, Evan Rees (Oy- stermouth Hotel}, John Dyer, b. P- Wills, D. D. Richards Ifaooomitajrt), — Waring (West Cross), W. MiJIar (stationmastsr), T. "R-own (Fiirh-street.), T. Kneat-h, Alex. Sin- clair, — Morris, Newton, — Johns (Grange Farm), Douglas Davies, J. Harries (Black. pill), and others. Someexquiisite wreaths ware received from sorrowing friends. The senders were — ''Mother and girls," the servants at Clyne, and estate workmen, Hafod Office sta>ft, Brynau Parish Council, male staff at Swan- sea Telegraph Office, girls at Swansea leie- graph Office, Mr. and Mrs. Harding, Mr. Charles Eden. Mr. and Mrs. Kneath, Mr. and Mrs. Hernaman James, MT. and Mrs. David Morgan, Mrs. Small and Miss Pnd- dicombe, Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Rouse. Mr. and Mrs. W. Legge, 1\fT. and Mrs. Parrott (London), Mrs. Clarke, Miss Crofts and Mrs. Jones (Newport), Mr. Gill (Newport), Mr. and MTS. T. Barrow, Mr. and Mrs. T» Bowen, Mr. and Mns. Ja.mes (Goedwig), Mr. and Mns. Nicholls and Mifes Dowman; Mr. and Mrs. F. Dickens, Mrs. Jenkins (Osborne Hotel, Mumbles), MT. and Mrs. James Harries (Bleokpill), Mr. and Mrs. T. Cheet- ham, Miss Elt, Mr. and Mrs. T. Murray, Mr. and Mrs. George (Blackpill). Mr. and Mrs. J. R. T>Svies, Mre. Hocrg (BlflckpilT), Miss Ragprait, Mrs. Hayes, Lily, and Frank, Mr. and Mrs. Passmore a.nd i-rs. Davies, Mr. J- Probert and children. Yt-s. Maddams !\1",t family. Mr. and MTS. G. H. Maywu. Thp arrangements were carried ont ry Mr. Josenh Gwvn, Post. Office. Sketty.

WELL-TO-DO PAUPER. GUARDIANS IGNORANT OF HER INCOME. At Swansea Guardians' Relief Commiiitee meeting on Thursday, it was reported that a widow had for months received 4s. 6d. a week in respect, of her three children, but lately t'he relieving officer learnt that from February she was earning at the rate of £42 10s. a, year. The woman, who attended, said she thought, the should help her with the children whatever she was earning by her own exertions. She was ordered to repay the £8 received in relief, in instalments of 4s. a month. MUMBLES EISTEDDFOD. Children's Choir competition was won by Pwllcwm Choir, conductress. Miss Edith Jones; second prize, Mr. Phil Beynon's Choir, Mumbles.

SWANSEA AND THE MIDLAND RAILWAY. The deputation appointed by the Swan- sea Corporation, and which included the Mayor, ex-Mayor, Aid. Martin and others, left on Thursday for London to interview the Midland Railway directors to try and induce them to open up the Amman Valley coalfield by bringing the minaEat tcaSo to their railway.