Weekly Mail

THE WOODS ARE FULL OF THEM. Some people go travelling and see the sights of the world as many people have seen the great World's Fair in Chicago, Rushing through the streets and buildings, taking but a hasty look at this and that, they have gone away after one day with a jumble of ideas in their mind, so mixed and intermingled that chaos is the only word to describe the condition of the brain. Think of people rosing1 through Paris, the Beautiful; Genoa, the Superb; Rome, the Antique; and Pompeii, the Sad, in such a manner; and yet the woods are full of people who see the world in just that way. They come home and talk about their tour, but" it only takes a little questioning to discover how very little they really know of the scenes thev have visited. In the first place tihey had but little conception of what they wanted to see or what they should see, and then they had no idea of how to see it to the best advantage. That is where such a work as our Port- .¡. S 11 folio of Photographs finds its greatest iield of usefulness. It is an educator. Between the covers of each series there are sixteen grand lessons, taught in so interesting a manner' that what might ordinarily be a task becomes- a, pleasure. These magni- ficent photographs embrace all that is worth seeing in every paft of the world. The selection having been made by Mr. John L. Stodidiard, who is to-day the most enter- ta.ining lecturer on travel in the world, it goes without saying that the views are faithful reproductions of what they represent. One cannot study these photographs and read Mr. Stoddard's graphic description without absorbing a measure of information, calculated to be of the greatest pos-sjible service to any tourist, either in foreign lands or at home. These views are 11 x 13 inches iin size, sixteen of them being con- tained in each series. Read our plan 0.11 another page and see how simply and cheaply you can obtain them through us."

'll'1b. Judge Ignorance of the law excuses no one. Prisoner: Humph! Den the jury's dead sure to find my lawyer guilty. Should Professor Garner, in his Simian studies, go so far as to get at the monkey literature, a collection of their tales might catch on. Jones: Don't you think tha.t Spudkins is a very stingy man? Brown: He is. He doesn't even enjoy a. joke at his own expense. Mathilde: Mr. Hungerford is a, man who thoroughly believes in himself. Elaine: How very gullible he must bf. Father: Do you really desire to make my daughter happy? Suitor: Certainly. Father: Then don't marry her.

ABEBYSTWITH. THE QUEEN OF WATERING PLACES Mr. Daniel Owen, J.P., Ash Hall, writes* as follows under date July 21 from the Belle Vue Hotel, Aberystwith: — Within the past 33 years Aberystwith has made such rapid strides in its attractiveness as a watering-place that the visitor is constrained to admit that at the present time it bears favourable comparison with any of the well- known English seaside resorts. The air is, moreover, so pure and invigorating that, as is well known, the late Sir Andrew Clark declared a considerable time ago that a fortnight spent at the little town on the shores of Cardigan Bay was equivalent to a month at most watering- places. Further, the scenery which abounds in the immediate district is exceedingly charm- ing. As early as 1861 I was a, visitor to Aber- ystwith, and in that yeaJr made a stay of four months, viz., from July to November. It was then my habit, as it has been each year sincc until the present year, invariably to take a "header" in the early morning at a spot opposite the present Queen's Hotel. I very soon became much impressed with the health-giving qualities of the town on the Y stwith, and at once con- cluded that it was one of the best health resorts I had visited. The accommodation at that time, however, was of an inferior character. True, there were a few comfortable lodging-houses, but the conveniences for visitors at the hotels were not of a high order. The Queen's Hotel was not erected at that time, while the Belle Vue did not offer any special attractions. How- ever, since these hotels have been under tlie management of the proprietor, Mr. W. H. Palmer, a great improvement lias taken place, and there are now to be obtained all the com- forts visitors desire. It is not many years since the Crescent has been completed, for I can in remember that the portion extending from No. 55, opposite Penbryn House Baths, to the end of the Parade was green fields. Indeed, at a spot opposite the Queen's Hotel was a hillock, called enbryn Dioddef (the Hill of Suffer- ing), and when the foundations were being dug for the houses now called Albert- terrace the excavators came across some human skeletons, .which were-, it is supposed, the bones of wrong-doers, executed, it is surmised, at the time when the old castle was inhabited and in a flourishing state. Thirty-three years ago, I am informed, the magnificent Parade, of which Aberystwith is now justly proud, was not contemplated. There were then only a few rusty iron seats fixed in the shingles, upon which visitors could take a short rest, and at that time those shingles came up to the kerb-stone, situate between the present Parade and the road in front of the Marine-parade. The supply of water was also scanty and bad, the town being supplied from the old reservoir, while the drainage was in a primitive state, and the outlet being on the beach north of the present pier, the, stench j at times was abominable and almost- overpower- ing. This state of things continued for many years, and I often felt enraged with the authorities for not making an effort to popu- larise the town. There was a great lack of enterprise. But now the order of things has changed, and I must say, as do several of my friends, that Aberystwith is coming to the front. During the last few years a wonderful change has come over the scene, both with regard to the appearance of the town and the sanitary arrangements, the latter being now entirely satisfactory. Nine years ago 1 paid a visit to Plyiiiimmo-n to view, among other things, Llyn Llygard Iiheidol (the Lake of the Eye of the Rheidol), from which the town is at present supplied with water, and, although I have been almost all over the world, .the view from the summit was superbly orand and one of the finest I have ever gazed upon. From this point I could see the source of the Severn, the Wye, and the RheidoL The water in the lake is as clear as crystal, and I am convinced that the inhabitants of Aberystwith have at the present time a water supply which can-not be surpassed in the United Kingdom. be surpassed in the United Kingdom. The pier is also a. great acquisition. It is now being thoroughly overhauled at a great cost, and will in a sort time be again open to the public. With regard to the Parade, it is, un- doubtedly, one of the finest in the United Kingdom, being over half a mile long, and in several places from 80ft. to 100ft. in width. Substantial and comfortable seats have been placed in convenient positions for the whole of the distance, and, to add to its at artistic flower beds, which emit a delightful perfume, have been laid down between the seats for nearly the whole length. The seats for nearly the whole length. The Parade itself is a "home production," the nags having been manufactured in the town from the pebbles found on the beach, which, after being ground down and mixed with cement, make a splendid granolithic flag. The eleot-rio light will shortly illuminate the town, as Messrs,. Bourne and Grant, elecr-cal engineers, London, who have in hand, the re- construction of the pier and other ^improve- ments, have commenced to lay down the neces- sary plant. The same firm has also.^ started the erection of a pavilion on Constitution-hill, together with a promenade, which, when the work has been completed, will be reached by a hydraulic lift. There is no doubt that this last undertaking of these gentlemen will prove a great attraction to visitors. A steam laundry has also been established by this firm, in which a number of hands. are employed. A complete transformation has, therefore-, taken place, and I know of no better resort for the jaded business man, or, indeed, fur the matter of that, for the young, who c-a-n not only inhale the pure breezes of the At- lantic, 'but- can enjoy themselves to riieir hearts' content, for, besides other attractions, two excellent bands perform at inter- vals, and there is also a very good troupe of niggers, whose comicalities are highly amusing, In order to glean a, few facts respecting the water supply, I have just paid. a visit to the borough offices, where I had an interesting j conversation with Mr. Rees Jones, the borough surveyor, and Mr.. Evans, the borough accountant. Mr. Peter Jones, J.P., and Mr. H. W. Palmer, J.P., kindly aceom- panied me, in order to introduce, me to the gentlemen named. I also had the services of a shorthand writer. The history of the water supply extends back ttiany years, and' j many proposals have from time to time been under the consideration of the council, the CIVIl Llygad Rheidol, situate on Mount Plyn- limm<jn, being eventually adopted. The area of the lake- is eleven and a half acres, :ts greatest depth 60ft.. and. the available storage capacity, if only 15ft. of water is drawn off. is nearly 40,000,000 gallons. The water from the lake to Aberystwith is conveyed in an iron main, 3in. in diameter, with three break valves on the line of pipes. Such :1,. mail), with the minimum gradient obtainable, for it, will deliver more than the required half- million gallons daily. The water, before being distributed in the town is dis- cha.rged into a service reservoir two-thirds of a mile from Aberystwith, and 130ft. above the top cistern in the university buildings, the highest house in the place. The general pressure throughout the town i-s equal to a head of about 200ft. The capacity of the reservoir is 1.000,000 gallons. There is nothing peculiar about its construction that should- call for any remarks of mine. "What is the size of the lake?" "About thirteen acres," replied the sur- veyor. "In Major Tullock's report it is stated to be eleven and a half acres, but since the embankment has been raised it is, as I have stated, thirteen acres in extent." stated, thirteen acres in extent." "What is the depth?" "Sixty feet," was tile reply. "What!" 1 said, being greatly surprised, "Did you say 60 feet?" "Yes," said Mr. Jones, "60 feet." "How much do you consider you draw?" "About twenty feet." "Oh! only twenty feet! You tap the lake, then, as you tap a cask of whisky?" "Yes," interpolated Mr. Palmer, with a smile. "We leave the 'old water' at the bottom." "What is the geological formation?" "Lower Silurian," was the reply. "Can you hear the water rustling down the rocks into the lake?" "Sometimes it comes under the surface for a long distance." "And you can hear it?" "Yes." "What is the distance^ from the lake to the summit of Plynlimmon?" "About 800 feet." "What size pipes did you use from the lake?" "For a few hundred yards pipes ten inches in diameter have been used, and then eight- inch pipes." Do you irv the distance the ten-inch pipes cover r "About 300 yards from the lake, and from that point to, the service reservoir eight-inch pipes." "What is the size from the service reservoir to the town T" "Ten-iiiah." "What is the distance from the lake to the town ?" "Sixteen and a- half miles." "Have you any idea as to the quantity of water tapped from the reservoir daily"" "About 430,000 gallons." "Have you ever noticed that in dry weather the water goes down in the lake?" "Oh, yes; it does- somewhat, but we have an unlimited supply." "I remember," I said, "the old place from which the town was supplied, which I call a pond. The water was then very bad. Indeed, I did not relish drinking it. That was about 33 years ago. Is the water in it used now?" "Not at aill, sir; but the old reservoir is still intact." Mr. Peter Jones: "But the water could be used, in connection with our present water supply, in watering the streets, &c." "But, said the surveyor, "the old reservoir is quite inadequate for our requirements. It will hardly hold sufficient water to supply sven the demand made upon us by the Queen's and Bellevue Hotels. In olden times the old reservoir was supple- mented daily by from 120,000 to 155,000 gallons from the Llanbadarn Flats. Within the past year," continued the surveyor, "we have also succeeded in effecting a great im- provement in the consumption of water, by adopting the waste-meter system." At this moment Mr. Peter Jones called in Mr. Evans, the borough accountant, to state the financial position of the town when the new water scheme was taken in hand and the town's present indebtedness. But before giving the figures cited by the accountant it would, perhaps, be well to give the follow- ing extract from the report of Major Tul- iock with regard to the financial position of the corporation, and which was submitted to the Local Government Board in December of 1879.:—"The ratable value of the borough for sanitary purposes is £ 23,425. The total debt amounts to £28,944, leaving a balance of borrowing power of £ 17,906. In addition, however, to the, rates, the town council have other sources of income. One is a valuable property in the town, assessed at £ 12,000 (more than half the ratable value of the borough), but at present let on leases. These leases, however, will expire in from fifteen to 30 years. The ground rents from this pro- perty now yield £ 650 a year. The lands purchased by the town council a few years ago with the view to carry out the Llan- oadarn Flats water supply scheme, since a-ba-n- doned by them, yield £ 170 a year, and they receive £ 200 a year from the Cambrian Raii- way Company for supplying the Aberystwith station with water. The total of these yearlv recsipts is £1,020, bat from this must be deauotea £176, the interest on a, mortgage fcifected on part of their property, so that -:e:i0^aa- mcomej besides the rates, amounts 10 £ »84* a year. Aberystwith is a growing town, the ratable value increasing at the rate 01 about- £ 500 a year." Mr. Evans first of all stated that the cost of t'118 old waterworks and drainage was ±.15,5c4, aud on the completion of the Plyn- limmon Ik mi in the year 1882, the indebted- ness n.K 2* 4." "Wli i) t n-e-paid of our debt?" asked Mr. Peter Ioj^ "Well," 1 d Mr. Evans, "up to March, 1894. we to payoff £ 12,576." "I "Impact- ypars," said Mr. Jones, "our prede- cessors did nut- provide a sinking fund, the con- sequence being that we had to pay about £ 8,000 m re-payment of the principal in connection with the water scheme." "What was the rental of the old corporation estate?"—"About £ 300." "What are the receipts at the present time from corporation property?"—"About £ 1,700. "What do you expect them to be in ten years' time?"—"About JM.OOO." "I am quite pleased with the information you have given me, and am quite-satisfied with the, l[ way in which you have carried out your scheme. What with your splendid supply of water.' your financial status, your Parade, and the University College-, you ought to be proud that you live at Aberystwith. The old college is one of the oldest, and the position it has attained is due to the foresight and energy of my old friend Dr. Edwards, now of the Theological Collegia, Bala, who has a worthy successor in Prinoipal Roberts, who was a permanent pro- feasor at the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire at Cardiff." J"

WHAT MAKES MEN COWARDS ? If one lacks that "boldmss which prevaileth witii wise men at weak times," it is usually a result of shallowness of judgment or weakness in courage. Is it possible that we axe, in danger of an epidemic of moral cowardice? We are surely not less bold, fearless, intrepid, and brave to face danger ilJan in the past, -he rapid progress of civilisation, mcreasiag Is -012' our capabilities, has not lessened the example;' of heroism, nor depreciated our r.everjnce for exhibitions of skill, endurance, r.a-nly strength, valour, and courage. The greatest present danger is from "moral cowardice." Too many fear the force of cus- tom tremble at the voice of criticism hesi- tate to brave public opinion; waver in the popular balance, lacking that strength of £or.:e and character which enables them to bravely1 and boldly stand up for and defend all virtues, in. the face of proud, courtly, even blindlv. ignorant prejudice. The Rev. H. Elwyri Thomas, Pastor of Tolmer's-square Church, London, is not one of these who bow before the voice of unbelievers ngainst tlie dictates of his conscience and knowledge, but boldlv, fear- lessly stands up for, and unhesitatingly per- petuatts the memory of, Warner's Safe Cure, admitting the principle, Moderate praise used with opportunity is not vulgar." "As a rule," he says, I put very little faith in the much advertised patent medicines of the day. The more advertised they are, and the more numerous the testimonials published con- In cerning them, the weaker is my faith in their efficiency. There are exceptions, however, to every rule. The modest and straight iurward manner in which Warner's Safe Cere is made known to. the public convinced me long ago that its proprietors had a stronger faith in what they asserted concerning its properties than the general run of public advertisers. Being at the time a constant sufferer from liver com- plaints, I acted on my conviction, and tried the cure,' with the result.that I almost imme- diately got rid of the bilious headaches which for a long time had almost made my life a burden. After taking the medicine for a few weeks the bitter taste I had in the mornings, the constant bilious attacks I was subject to, and the terrible headaches I suffered from dis- appeared, and I became ac.other man.' Since then I have recommended the eure to many of my friends, always with the most favourable results." Lc212

GLAffiOaCUNSMIBI E YGLUNTEEB MORIBUND CONDITION OF THE ASSOCIATION. LEY OUR SPECIAL CORBNePONDBNT. L The splendid successes achieved by G. morgans!) ire Volunteers at Bisley arei, as might be expected, the subject of much' con- gratulation amongst all interested in the movement in the country, and, naturally enough, attention has been directed to various,■' matters connected with the damorgan Bat- talion. The way in which the crack shots of the county have distinguished themselves at the great national tournament ought hf give a great fillip to Volunteering in lila, Kiorganshire, and especially to the develop ment of skill at the butts. In this con- nection talk around the camp fires at Bisley (or whatever else it may be called, which pro- vides the centre of social intercourse at rh:3 great foregathering of "cracks") has re- echoed much which has for years been cur- rent in the county with reference to tE., Tic'? Glamorganshire Rifle Volunteer Association. Things are not> going well with the associa- tion, and, judging from information which i have obtained by inquiry within the county, the retrograde moveisent has been proceed■ for years. In the, first place, the manage- ment of the association is not regarded as satisfactory. It professes to represent the county—it does so merely in name. The organisation flaunts the legend, "Glamorgan- sliire Rifle Volunteer Association"—it is con- trolled by a knot of individuals belonging to one corner of the county. An examination ef the list of officials, as given in the last annual report, now before me, proves this statement. The president and vice-jresi- dents may be eliminated from the discussion. They never—well, hardly ever—attend com- mrttee meetings or competitions, and the superior commissioned officers are par- tioularly conspicuous in ,absenting them- selves from meetings of the association. The committee consists of eighteen members, of whom at least eleven belong -to Swansea, Port Talbot, or Margam. Cardiff has en< solitary representative. Captain Fowler, and the rest of the county is nominally represented by the others. This irregularity of representa- tion would not be so great a grievance if due regard was had in committee to the views of the outside districts, but it has been (I am assured) the wearying experience of those outside members who have attended that they. are outvoted continually by the looal men, and so have tired attending. The non- attendance of those whom I have termed "out- siders," however, forms no hindrance to affairs proceeding merrily in their absence., for, as three form a. quorum of the committee (and t-Ii j secretary, Ma-jor John Jones, a. salaried officer of the association, who resides on the snot, counts as one), it would be a very cold tiav. indeed on which so small a number as threW could not be got together to run things on. behalf of cue county. Even under such eondi- tions as these, if the management of affairs was fairly satisfactory there would be little cause for complaint. As I suggested to one of my informants, and as he readily admitted; if a section captures the management of any- thing there is little ground for grumbling so long as their management proves satisfactory and to the general interest. But in the affairs of the association this result has not been achieved. The conduct of matters has into a groove, interest in the association has dwindled year after year, overdrafts and debii balances have been the rule in the accounts, and although the report presented to tha annual meeting last May stated that tlie debit balance of E27 12s. 5d. from 1895. had been converted into a, credit balance of L23 138. 6d., this result v, as only achieved by the desperate expedient of decreasing the prizes and increasing the entrance fees. What hope is there of the association fulfilling the object for which it pro- fesses to exist in face of such a confession of weakness as is involved in these devices? There must be some reason for the fact that, apart from the special prizes, a paltry £ 200 covers the total subscriptions and donations received from the entire county, and that the whole does not exceed £ 276, of which Miss Talbot alone, gives £ 58 It would be interesting to ascertain the real reason for such a palpable lack of inte- rest. The reduction of the prize list and the increase of entrance fees is not. the way to encourage competition. Under former conditions, the workin"- men members of the various corps found it difficult enough to take part in the tests of skill at the Port Talbot ranges. For what does it meafn ? It means the loss of three days' time, railway fare to Port Talbot. maintenance from home for three days, in addition to the entrance fees for competitions, which are now, owing to the desperate shifts to which the management is reduced, increased, while the prizes which form the inducement to this sacri- ice of time and money are reduced Then, again, the Port Talbot meeting' is held at a date which olaslhes with the Bisley meeting. I do not mean that the dates are exactly coincident-, but in practical working it is found that, if the desire of the Glamorgan committee was to "freeze out" competition at Bisley, they could not; accomplish that purpose very much better than at present. The Port Talbot meeting is held within a few weeks of that at Bisley, a,nd the working1 men members of the Glamor- gan corps often find that they cannot obtain leave of absence for both the meetings at such, a, close interval, and, therefore, have to choose between the local and the national gathering, while in cases where this difficulty does not operate there is the fact that the entrance fees for certain of the most popular events ftt, Bisley have to be forthcoming, about the same time as those for the Port Talbot meeting. Whereat there is constantly very much complaint. And who will say that the men have not a. right to complain? If these competitions were the exclusive preserve of individuals who have ample leisure and plenty of loose cash, they might ba left to take care of themselves. But the association exists, professedly, for the encouragement of Volunteering amongst the classes who are not so favoured, and this it seems not to do. Great enthusiasm exists in the districts to which the winners of the Prince of Wales's Prize and the China Cup belong, and, if those who have the Volunteer move- ment at heart wisely use their orsnortunity, a great impetus will be given to it throughout the county. One way of consolidating that im- petus will be the lifting of the county associa- tion out of its present rut, the infusion of new blood into its management, and the setting of it upon a rejuvenated career.

\!18' The Board of Trade return issued on Friday shows that during the first quarter of the present year accidents to trains, rolling stock, permanent way, &c., on the railways of the United Kingdom caused the death of one railway servant, injury to 62 persons, and to nineteen railway servants. There were various other accidents, however, in railway yards, at level crossings, to trespassers, Xc., and for all these causes combined there ivere 298 deaths, and xes in 2,221 instances.

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