The Cardiff Times

P. E. GANE, 38.41, QUEEN-STREET, CARDIFF. 161 & 162, COMMERCIAL STEEESE. I- NEWPORT, INVITES YOU TO TEST THE GREAT SAVING ATTENDING THE PURCHASE OF FURNITURE FROM LOCAL MANUFACTURERS. GUIDE TO FURNISHING FREE ON APPLICATION

WORKMEN'S TOPICS. BY MABON, M.P, FROM PREFER-EN-TIAL TARIFFS TO PROTECTION. A large nnmberof persons interested in this new &SCa.1 policy of Mr Chamberlain thought at first, .ftel' comparing notes, that there could be tnt ''tie difference between his policy and that of jhe Prime Minister's. Every day Mr Chamber- becomes more and more ontbpoken in his defence of Protection. Whether, when at ""toiBgham last week, it was the effect of being 16RZin hmongat his own people, or whether be encouraged by the declarations of Mr Rider and Mr Chaplin against, the Prime ^'hister a policy on that day, be ha* never ^fivioasly spoken with quite the assurance that he did at Birmingham. Many of the arguments 18ed then were quite irrelevant, unless they be ])sidered as a defence of Protection in theory. Ho one that I have read of has ever asserted, '8 Mr Chamberlain seems to imagine, that a protective economic system necessarily entails rnin of any nation which adopts it. Wo bite bas ever denied that other causes have CQ- I)ted wi th Free Trade to promote the prosperi ty Of this country fince 1846-this is merely putting Ð the proverbial ninepins in order to knock 'betn down again. The practical question, in J^y mind, is whether the adoption of Protection 6 any form is advisable or even possible in the 8t interest of this country at the present time. 0 one, not even Mr Chamberlain, denies bftt the enormoas increase of our population Which has taken place in the last half century ^°uld not have been possible had not Free Trade opened to us an enormous supply of cheap food. We are also dependent almost entirely upon Oteigo countries for adequate supplies of the 'R material of some, at any rate, of our greatest lQd\18tries. Seeing that we are so dependent for 0(lt food supplies and Jaw material, how then is tbe immediate effect of the shortage of supplies Which must follow the imposition of a tax on m going to be counteracted ? What guarantee there that such a new system will be success- lolly adapted to twentieth centurj England, hose conditions, as Mr Chamberlain is never tIred of telling us, are so wholly different ? What Does It All Mean P Can there be any good out of this precipitating 111 immediate crisis, such as we are now lhreatened with ? Is it an honest endeavour to a.ny benefit the country, or is it a red herring ^awn across the path to draw away the people's attention from other moat grave matters, as is Sieged in other quarters, are question? that all ^Oeat people would be mightily glad to have loltisfactory answers thereto. At best there is nothing in sight but Mr Chamberlain's pro- mise of a problematic restoration of the delicate 49ttilibrium of supply and demand in the future. Virulent Denunciations. The Birmingham speech is a distinct advance- In the virulence of his denunciations of old frjends and their motives. It is not perhaps a fatter of so much surprise that ha should indulge fiery attacks upon the antiquated views "of Yt Cobden and his friends with regard to kttep- lrlg our Colonies and Colonial trade, See., though to all these questions Mr Cobden himself gave Illifficient answer when he said in Manchester, On January 10, 1849, meny people said that he Wanted to abandon our Colonies, but I sEEv. 110 you intend to hold your Cotonies by the sword, by armies, and ships of war ? ThELt is not a permanent hold on them. I want to hold them by their affections." And there are jj^lions of people now so antiquated as to this is the truer Imperialism of tbe two. Imperialism is fast becoming a passby word of no eiRnHicance. and nobody will makeitmoreso than 1rt.r Chamberlain himself, when he tells as that the members of the Free Food League, with its members such as the Duke of Devonshire, ^°rd Goschen, Sir Michael-Hicks-Beach, and Mr 'tchie, seemed to be Imperialists in theory, ktid were Little Englanaers in practice. This "ill soon lose its effect. This mob oratory that 'l\ays brands friends and opponents as traitors 'nd knaves will not always take with the electors Of Great Britain, when questions affect them so closely as their food and employment, ^ore closely indeed in this matter than even the isolation of a great war or the preservation of k4 aJien people's liberties. The Dwarf and the Giants. The Times" newspaper has lately been com- bing the speeches of Mr Austen 6hamberlain *^th Mr Morley, and his finance with that of Sir illiam Harcourt. In the leading article on the speeches delivered on the 3rd inst. by Mr Morley j Mr Austen Chamberlain, it said, That the Chancellor of the Exchequer dealt seriously ^th the facts and the figures set forth in the Book compiled by the Board of Trade. Mr Motley took no notice of the3e things and con- ^ed himself to a rhetorical expansion of the ^miliar big loaf and the little loaf." The same of thing prevails throughout the whole ticle. Again and again are quoted the fignres Mr Austen Chamberlain, and says that he ^ent back to figures which no criticism has been able to shake or rob of their significance." But when we turn to the same Times" for Itiorley's speech, for some mysterious reason be report leaves out Mr Morley's most interest- figures quoted from the speech of one of ranee's most important political leaders. In ^at speech Mr Morley replied to Mr Cbamber- *>o, the ex-Colonial Secretary, from figures used y the French leader, in which he pictured the -position of French weavers as much worse than of the British textile workers. They are Significant and interesting at the present time hat they are too valuable not to requote. ( hat portion of Mr Morley's speech reads thus 5is friend said the weekly wages in tbe textile *ade in England averaged from 26s to 36s a -eek. In France, instead of 26s to 35s, they between 12s and 14s." On the question of in England, he said, they work from jffty-fonr to fifty-six hours a week while in 'auce they work over sixty hours a week and tbirdly, in England the cost of living is 100, "hile the cost of living in France is 130." ■^he natural comment iB that while one Voices to find that our own conditions, as DrOved by undoubted facts and figures over over again, will enable the 'British 'N"*Man to withstand all the wiles and fal- I'Leles of t ho ;C who seek to protect not. only interests, but those of tbeworkers of this £ try, one cannot but sincerely regrpt to find IK** a l°urna' °* t*ie reputation of the Times'* descend so IJW as to use su ch doubtful jJ^tagems for deception. Still it truly reflects character of the methods employed by .the trotectionists in this fiscal controveroy. 1 '"lis new Chancellor of the Exchequer is said • ^h(lVe gtateij ju the same speech that Sir "liam Harconrt in all bis political career llld not point to a single leiBlathe meftsare ..1c H'hich lie had been responsible." Evidently .J6 baby financier has forgotten amongst things what his own father said °nt Sir William's Budget re death duties, JS thut it was equal to three measuree rst rll Ilk. And what. ot that measure by 'ch many millions of splendid revenue are every year? Sir Michael Hicks-Beach vae 18 Corn Duty Budget said that the measure 4. entirely due to the genius of Sir William r°onrt. It is really amazing what ignorance. [j.6 discussions of tbe fiscal policy reveals. itldeed behoves every man in this coant^y now tryiug to rush us into this maa "topstule lest in an effort to ameliorate r-onditioTjs of some small trades and interest "hall thereby destroy the inerests of our j trade, and the real interest of all trades, ^5* roa1, interest of the country at large, the test good to the greateat number. )

QIlItIona; Why did he insist upon posing with, t in hi3 pockets ?—Viktim Because, as out he &ot)UBg elm to sat io

Illustrated Fashions. There is no doubt that skirts are no longer made plain and perfectly tight fitting, for all the newest models for early winter wear show more or less elaboration in the cut and fashion- ing of the skirt. One might indeed almost go so far as to say that there exists at present in the realms of dress no each thing as a plain skirt, To many of us this hardly can be considered as news to be welcomed when we ruefully view last season's tailor-made, which we quite reasonably expected to act as a secondary costume through- out the best part of winter. Let us not, however, abandon hope and condemn the dress to banish- ment from our wardrobes or even resign our- selves to the still more unwelcome fate of wear- ing the dress as it is, for there are many ways in which a clever lingered girl can alone, or with I A Renovated Skirt. I the aid' of a dressmaker, so alter and improve matters as to render the costume almost un- recognisable. A very simple plan is to open the seams as far as the knees and insert fan-shaped pleatingB of silk or even velvet, the killings being of coarse introduced from underneath and becoming visible when walking, while a large silk or velvet covered button gives a finish to the commencement of the kilting. Twists or loops of cord with tassels are sometimes used instead of buttons. An example of this kind of skirt is given in my first sketch. Should the skirt have been originally of the trailing order, I should counsel my readers to curtail it before making any alterations, and to cut it sufficiently short to clear the ground thoroughly all round. To achieve this the skirt should measure the same from the waist to the hem all the way round. Neatness and c ire are essential when inserting the pleats, but the task is an easy one for even the home worker, and the result is an altogether smart and fashionable skirt in the place of one that stamped itself demode. Another method of altering a skirt, but one that calls for a greater amount of skill on the part of the worker, is to cut the skirt right down the centre of the front and insert a panel front, which can be either made of the same material, if that is obtainable, or of silk or embroidery or I A Comfortable Coat. I even velvet, though the latter, to-my mind, is apt to look too patchy and? matronlike. The panel must be cut narrower at the top as it should widen towards the lower edge. The edges of the skirt are made to overlap the panel, and can be finished > in a variety of ways, such as stitched bandings, cord, braid, or pipings. The extra fulness must be brought back to the hips, where it is tusked or gauged or else brought to the centre of the back and formed into a box pleat. The coat depicted is of a most comfortable description, being of fawn box cloth, lined with silk, and boasting a collar of far, which can be worn up in the manner of a storm collar or tying flat upon the shoulders. Sac backs for coats are perhaps not so general this season all last, for there is a marked tendency towards tight-fitting garments of all kinds but the looser style of coat has such undoubted advantages that it can safely be selected as a welcome item of one's outfit. It allows of tbe wearing of dressy blouses or bodices underneath, which would be mined by the tight-clinging coat. Some of the new coats display fur collars of a rather novel cut. These are very broad, fastening close round the throat and closed up in front, the points coding well down to the centre of the figure and extead- A Pretty Hat. I iiig across the shoulders, finally dipping down like, a tiDpet at the back. Another style is cut like a rounded cape all in one piece, falling away over the shoulders and sloping away from the front up to the throat, where it is finished by a bow or chow. The bat illustrated is of a style much in vogue at present. The bat itaelf is of felt, trimmed with a large bird laid flat on the crown with wings outstretched. The colour of the hat ij grey with a white bird, while clusters of Parma violets conceal the bandeau at the back. Bright red velvet geraniums with their leaves might be substituted for the vfolets, or even shaded antumfi leaves would look exceedingly chic. There are some very smart toques which for conn- try, golfing, or cycling.wear must meet with uni. versal approbation. These somewhat resemble & Scotch bonnet, and, as it were to emphasise Bilge the resemblance, are expressed in plaid or tartan velvet. For afternoon hats of pictucesqe aspect the ostrich feather is the trimming par excel. The best specimens are wide and bushy, and are only just slightly curled at the tips, and measure quite twenty inches. These are not only worn in black, white, or the natural colour, but also in bright tints, and are some- times shaded, from the palest to the deepest tone. One has nowadays to dress the coiffure to suit the hat, and the most popular is un- doubtedly on the top of the head, with the front hair palled well forward, and brushed close to the head at the back. COQUETTE,

Explained.—" How did this happen ?" asked the surgeon, aa he. dressed the wounj in the cheek, and applied a soothing poultice to the damaged eye. Got hit with a stone," replied the patient. Who threw it I" MY--my wife," was the reluctant answer. Hum; it's the first time I knew a woman to bit anything she aimed at," muttered the smgeon. She was throwing it at the neighbour's (ha saffaw. » I waa behind hw»^

MUSIC IN WALES. BY D. EMLYN EVANS. MADAME PATTt. Last week we offered some observations on the decadence of vocal art. No stronger or more striking example of vocal preservation needs to be, nor perhaps can be, cited in our day than that of the eminent cantatrice whose name appears above, and. who has honoured Wild Wales by mailing it ber home for many years past. Here. from all we learn, the keenest judge can detect no decay in artistic ability that time should leave its mark more or leas on the vocal organs, their power and elasticity, is, of course. inevitable. Forty years and more of continuous exertion in the first rank of the world's vocal artistes is no trifling record it is forty-one years since the present Writer first heard the prima donna, then in her nineteenth year, during her first tour in the English provinces, having made her debut in England during the previous year— 1861—at the Royal Italian Opera New York, however, being able to claim her first real appear- ance in opera so far back as 1859—44 years to toe 24th of this month. During that long period the flood of popularity which came in at the begin- ning has never ceased to flow, whether in this country or elsewhere the diva's admirers still assemble in their hundreds and thousands, although it may be now but to bear some well- known fiallads or operatic airs, ballads and airs rendered, however, in the singer's own exquisite manner as of old. As the musical reader is well aware, there are numerous instances of artistes who have remained, or it may be have lingered, on the public platform for a large number of years, but their position has not been an enviable one generally, to be patronised or tolerated on account of past glories and departed powers, rather than for present merits, can scarcely be otherwise. It is hardly necessary to state that these con- ditions do not apply in the present instance, the American tour on which Madame Patti is now engaged being on a largely extended scale—with proportionately enlarged fees. An American newspaper which has interviewed Mr Marans R. Mayer, the well known Impresario, states that it will be the most exacting tour yhich the re- nowned songstress has ever undertaken. In ber seven previous tours in the States—all under the same management—she never gaV more than thirty performances in the tour. That number is exactly doubled this time, and tjhey will take place at the rate of ten concerts per month. In no city will she appear at more than two per- formances with the exception of New York, Boston, and San Francisco. Certain towns which have sprung up since her last visit to America in 1894 will be includedi-in this tour, and the use of the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City has been granted by President Smith. "This is really her farewell tour," adds Mr Mayer. Hitherto he had said it was the last tour," but now Madame Patti herself announces it to be so. -She was reluctant to come," said the impresario, and it took her aine years to make up her mind." Apropos oar last week's notes, wemayadd that Madame Patti, born in America of a Spanish mother and an Italian fether, both :professional singers, evinced great aptitude fodmusic when young, and having received instruction in sing- ing from her brother-in-law, Maurice Strakoach, she made her public appearance in that country at a very early age, and was well received. Happily, however, she was withdrawn from the public platform and resumed her studies for some years, until she reappeared at New York (as Lucia") towards the end of 1859, as already mentioned above. In the case of Adelina Patti there met all the circumstances necessary to the production ot a child wonder "—high natural gifts' and quick perceptions early developed under congenial surroundings, and re- ceiving the coveted mark of public approval, and it is more than possibly due to the wiser counsels that prevailed, resulting in the young singer being aecuied some years more in which to extend her studies, and become better matured in her 'art, that the long and discouraging role of J" wnnderkind" failures has been robbed of at least one name, and the world secured one of its. most eminently successful prima doanas. The moral to us in Wales seems quite cleav, viz.. that if we are, to attain true success in the making of artistes, parents and teachers must be guided by the same principles as those which prevailed in this fortunate instance. Too Much Pianoforte. We read that an eminent Berlin nerye special- ist, whose attention had been attracted by th6 chronic nervousness trom which so many piano- forte players suffered, has been studying the question of playing the piano from a pathological point of view, and has been taking notes accord- ingly. The result is that out of one thousand young girls whom he examined, each of whom had begun to study the instrument when under fourteen years of age, so many as six hundred were subject to some nervous complaint or another, but that out of the same number who had never studied that instrument, those ner- vously afflicted were only one hundred, and he has arrived at the conclusion that no child should be permitted to play the pianoforte under the age of sixteen. We presume that not many parents, • and still fewer teachers, will subscribe to the latter opinion, and to fix upon sixteen as the minimum age for taking up pianoforte playing appears unnecessarily pessimistic, and to a large extent unpracticable, i.e.. if any very practicable results are to be expected in the case of the majority of students. That the nervous pressure put upon young girls in these days of high strenuousnsss and endless examinations, however, is exceed. ingly heavy and tryiug to the youthful constitu- tion cannot be denied. A healthy mind in a healthy body is as necessary here as in any other study perhaps more so than in some studies, for in pianoforte playing the student has to sit rigidly in one position, generally on one of those execrable seating inventions which gives no sup- port to the back, while the muscles of both arms and bands have to be strained into a poaitio^ hardly intended by nature nor calculated to pro- dace natuial ease. Why every child, especially every girl child, should be compelled or expected to play the piano, or play any musical instrument at all, unless gifted or disposed that way, is a question easier asked than answered probably. But as Fashion ordains that it must be so, let us hope that though this examination was made in Germany," the warning conveyed in its results may not be lost upon us in England and Wales. Whilst we consider the suggested age limit of sixteen needlessly high, it should not ba for- gotten that children differ very largely both as to physique and natural aptitude. Common as that fact may be it seems to be beynd te appreciation of some narents, with the-result that much refined-and sometimes unrefined-- cruelty is too often inflicted upon the little ones. Some were never intended to be and never can be made to be pianoforte players let them fol- low their proper mission. Others, with caxe and discretion, can be brought to play it well enough not to be a torture to themselves, their friends, and neighbours. The remaining few can be trusted tp display their predilection for the instrument early and markedly enough, 'given the opportunity, and if teachers, supported by the parents, were enabled to concentrate their time and-talent upon the development and wel- fare of these last, there would be much less bad music about—and less bad "nerves" both on the part of players and listeners.

"'u His fone. The seven year old pride of the family had con. cluded his recitation of The Boy Stood on the Burning Deck," and the fond mother, turning with dignified complacency to the unnerved visitor, remarked— And I have been assured by really eminent judges, MrMarterdum, that he closely approaches Sir Henry Irving in dramatic style, without, however, that great actor's offensive manner- isms." I am not surprised to hear it," assented the victimised one, with a strained smile. Mabel, also," continued the matron, blandly indicating a six year old mite of flaxen-haired precocity, 11 plays excellently. Her rendering of In My Cottage Near a Wood," with variations, is not dissimilar in touch and feeling to Paderew- ski at his best—as you shall presently determine while Edgar yonder (get your slate and pencil ready, darling), though barely turned four, draws engines and railway lines in a manner sugges- tive ot academy honours at no very distant future. They have all their fortes, you see. In fact, most people have, when you come to think of it. What fa your forte, Mr Marterdum ?' "Mine, madam." gasped the wretched lis- Ob, I-I ZUIl." t

THE HOUSEHOLD. I do not suppose many of my readers have ever tried to make a gauze scarf that is, to bey the gauze and work it. For it is one of the pretty things one can purchase ready-made, if one can afford it, but of which a description of how to make has not to my knowledge appeared in any paper. If a few particulars are attended to no difficult task is presented. Care must be taken to use only the finest needies and thread to stitch so that the gauze is not frayed, and not to crumple the material so as to cause it to lose its chief charm. Almost any colour gauze may be used, but I think white is the prettiest, with pale pink for the flowers at each end. The scarf itself must be of several folds and hemmed at the sides, but left free at the ends. The rose is the best flower to imitate, and the pattern must just be drawn heavily in black ink on white paper. One end of the scarf is then tacked over the design, and a piece of pink gauze which is to form the flower laid over the white. This forms the first layer of petals, and must be, fastened to the scarf by buttonhole stitching in pink sewing silk, working round the outline shown by the paper. The next thing is to unfasten the gauze from its paper pattern, and lay over it two thicknesses of pink, the same size as the first. Cut these two out together and buttonhole stitch the edges of each separately. Now cut round the hemstitching of the flower attached to the white gauze, and secure each of the two separate flowers by stitching them in the centre of the first, leaving the petals to hang freely. If it is desired to represent the leave: these must, of course, be done in green, and the stem should be done in green embroidery silk. The finishing touch is imparted ft? sewing into the centre of the flower a few stamens, which can be obtained from any draper, or may be taken from old artificial flowers. Finish one end before doing, anything towards the other. .I A Gauze Scarf. I am giving a sketch which explains the method of serviette-folding known as the college cap. As with most designs, this one requires the serviette to be well stiffened and ironed, not only to give it a glossy appearance, but to impart the necessary stability. This is a somewhat difficult pattern, and the folding must be care- fully done. First, fold the serviette across in four, and then down at each end, as Fig 1. Next take the right-hand end and roll it up as shown in Fig 2. Then fold it over, upwards, at the dotted line of Fig 3. Now roll up the left side in the same way, gently press flat, and, on turn- ing the serviette over, it will present the appear- ance shown in Fig 4. If desired, the point may be raised to hold a roll of bread. Very suitable contributions to a bazaar are doll's clothes. I am illustrating a veiy pretty doll's bonnet in white vest wool. This is easily made, and does not cost much time or money. A little blue Andalusian wool is required for the edges, and some narrow blue ribbon of the same The College Cap Seiviettu Design. I colour. Commence by making an 18 chain, and then turn. For the first row, be^in in the second, and work one double crochet in each stitch (there will be 17 stitches in all), one chain, turn, Second row One double crochet worked in black thread of each double crochet of last row, one chain, turn. Now work 11 rows more like the last one, at the end of the last repeat, make 17 chain instead of one. Fourteenth row Begin in second stitch from needle, and work one double crochet in each of the 16 chain, also one double crochet in the back thread of the 17 double crochet of last row, one chain, turn. Fifteenth row One double crochet in black thiead of each stitch (33 in all), one chain, turn. Work 11 rows more like the last one. Twenty-seventh row Work one double crochet in each of 17 double crochet, one chain, turn. Work 12 rows more on these 17 stitches, one chain. Now double crochet up the end of the last row together with side of the crown, and do the other side to match. Fasten off all end neatly on the wrong side. Now get the blue wool, and holding the right side of front next you. work little points as follow- four treble in first stitch, one double crochet in end of next raised ridge, four treble in end of next raised ridge, one double crochet in next ridge repeat from eight times. Turn back the front on to the right side about an inch, and catch in place with needle and wool so as to form a roll round the face. For the curtain round the bottom of the bonnet work a row of double crochet so as to draw in a little. This is done by missing every other stitch across the centre of back. Second row-one double crochet in first stitch,, one chaiQi miss one, one double crochet in next, A Doll's Knitted Bonnet. j and then continue to make these little holes all across they are for ribbon to run in. Third row-two treble divided by two chain in first stitch, miss one, one double crochet in next*, miss one, one treble in next, two chain,one treble in same place, miss one, one double crochet in next, and repeat from*, try to make the ends of row to match. Fourth row-three chain, one treble under two chain of the last row,two chain, one treble in same place*, one chain, one double crochet on double crochet, one chain, under loop of two cbain, work one treble, two chain, two treble, then repeat from Fifth row-with the blue wool, holding the right side next you, work double crochet down the end of the little curtain, then five treble under two chain between the treble of the last row, one chain, oue double crochet on double crochet, one chain,repeat from 41 make the other end to match, fasten off. Run ribbon in the holes made in second row of the little curtain, cot the ribbon in two pieces, allowing enough for a string and part of the bow at the back, then tie a pretty bow in the centre of the back, and sew the strings in place at the front edge. Make about one yard length of chain with double blue wool, form into loops and sew on the left side top of the bonnet, then make a band of little loops of the ribbon and place on the top so that they fall to the right. Eggs in gravy is a delightful dish. Put into a saucepan four yolks of fresh eggs and two whites with six spoonfuls of good stock. Mix all well together and pass through a sieve. Batter the moulds and fill them with the mixture. Let them set in hot water,and when ready turn them out and surround them with some good gravy, or you may send them to table in the little pots. Here is a capital recipe for making a rich bun. Mix one pound'and a half of dry flour with half a pound of sugar, melt one pound of butter. and add six tafclespoonfuls of rose-water, then knead the whole into a light dough with a gill of good yeast. Mix in four ounces of caraway comfits, and when made into buns just before going to the oven throw a few upon the top. ETHEL. ■ J. »

A female factory inspector, after much argu- ment, persuaded the head of a small laundry to el show her over the premises. The manageress threw open the door of a steaming kitchen in which there were some half-dozen washerwomen bending over their tubs. "Ladies," she an. nounced, in a dramatic voice, "a woman from the Government to see you!" Mrs Lateup: You needn't think that I'm going to mend your coat this hour of the night. Mr Latau: T«t, .ttfffW to mwi I

SCIENCE AND HEALTH By Dr. ANDREW WILSON, F.R.S.E., So. A Scientific Misconception. I alighted tbe other day upon a curious instance of scientific misconception, or to be more strictly correct, an idea ventilated by one who was uot apparently perfectly acquainted with the subject on which he was talking. The matter was brought to my notice tbroub a newspaper paragraph, in which it was related that a gentleman speaking about radium, the newly discovered metal, com- pared it to a grain of musk. My readers will remember from our previous talk about radium, that the great mystery attaching to this element is its apparent power of giving out energy with- out suffering in itself an appreciable loss of sub- stance. The conclusion therefore to which science is forced, provisionally at least, is that radium represents an element capable of utilising some form of energy or other applied to it from the external world. In what special form this energy exists, whether it is ligbt,heat.electricity, or other form of motion, and how it can be stored up and converted into the emanations given off by the radium, are matters which only thesciecce I of the future can possibly solve. With reference' to the misconception of which 1 am speaking.the individual who compared musk with radium had evidently heard of the fact that a grain of musk, whose weight has been accurately determined by a chemical balance, can be kept in a room for years, all the while giving off an appreciable odour of musk, and yet at the end of the period, when tested by a balance, cannot be shown to have suffered any loss which could be appreciated by man's senses and the finest balance he could employ to assist him. The Explanation. The two cases are not in any sense parallel. They exhibit in plain language a very curious confusion of ideas. We have seen that radium is a substance which utilising energy of one kind or another gives off characteristic emanations, •very powerfully affecting bodies around it. Musk, on the other hand, is a simple solid, obtained, as most of us know, from the special gland which secretes it in the species of deer. In order that tbe sense of musk may be perceived by the human nose, it is essential that fine particles or mole- cules of the musk most be given off to the air. In the absence of such particles coming in con- tact with theendsof our nerves of smell,no scent of musk could possibly be appreciated. The fact that the musk at the end of the period of years appears to show no diminution in bulk when tested by a chemical balance is simply explained by the fact that the particles given off are so fine that their loss, extended over a period of years, makes no difference in the weight of the mu&k appreciable to our senses, but to compare musk in this sense to radium is to attempt to inscitdte a parallel between two cases, the oneot which presents not the slightest resemblance ot) likeness to the other. The Bath and its Cost. A medical journal the other day reuarkei on the relatively high price which an ordinary bath costs in hotels. It is remarked that the charge for an ordinary bath is one shilling, whilst when the chill ie taken off the water the tariff becomes that of a hot bath, and the cost of this is set down at two shillings or even more. The journal is somewhat in error in respect of the estimate of its charges. In all hotels which I patronise, and I need hardly say that in the exercise of my profes- sional avocations I visit a large number of hotels in the course of a year, the charge for a cold. bath in the bedroom is, as a rule, sixpence,whilst for a hot bath taken in the bedroom the charge is a shilling. Hot water may be supplied in the morning with one's shaving water for the bed- room bath without anything extra being charged therefor; but whilst the medical journal in question has. I think, over-estimated the charges for baths in ordinary hotels, one .nay well be in thorough agreement with it when it complains that the general charges for baths and bathing are placed on too high a scale. In a London newspaper commenting on the observations of the medical journal, a Colonial gentleman stated 'that in hotels in tbe Colonies the bath is re- garded as included in the ordinary hotel charges, and is not considered in any sense an extra. He adds that it was as reasonable to suppose that an hotel-keeper was entitled to charge for the water used in one's ordinary ablutions as to place baths under the head of extras. There is. no doubt, much to be said pro and con this sugges- tion, bat the subject is an important one, from i a social point of view, as well as from a health aspect. The Modern Hotet. A very large number of persons feel uncomfort- able if they do not have their morning tub and, at the same time, if an extra charge of from 5s to 6s is incurred on a weekly bill by reason of the bath they enjoy,this extra amount may imply a serious difference to people of limited means. I think the real cause of the extra charges in the hotels may be referred to the fact that nowadays the modern hotel is a very luxurious establish- ment.that the public demands such fnxury and, in order to meet the public demand, hotel pro- prietors or companies have to institute a series of extras in order to meet expenses, and in order to swell their profits. One might more reasonably, I think, complain of high charges made in hotels for articles of a very ordinary character. Thus, a cup of coffee which costs, probably, the pro- prietor of the hotel a penny, is charged 6d in an ordinary smokerroom. A bottle of beer procur- able in the next street for threepence is sold at sixpence. The ordinary whisky and soda, retailed elsewhere at fivepence, in some hotels costs a shilling. Other charges, of course, are propor- tionately gieat. So long as i public is found willing to pay these charges it might be con- sidered an act of supreme folly on the part of the hotel proprietor to reduce them. At the same time, whilst in no sense grudging an hotel its profits, one is yet glad to note a certain reaction against the excessive charges of the kind to which I have alluded. I might add that the present is the day of chance for prosperity on the part of small hotels, tbe proprietors of Which are willing to cater in an ordinary way for the wants of hotel visitors. My experience of smaller hotels, how ever, has been so unfavourable that, like many other persons who have to use hotels very largely in the course of each year, I prefer to suffer an increase of charge in order that 1 may obtain what may be called, if uot luxury, at least strict cleanliness and a fair amount of comfort. Railway Speeds. x Announcements which have of late appeared in the newspapers regarding the high rate of speed attained in the case of certain German electiic railways are bound to attract a large amount of public notice. Many of us still think that any speed attained by an express train of over 60 miles' an hour is to be regarded as more or less phenomenal if not dangerous. We may thus well open our eyes when we read that on tha electric railway between Zossen and Marienfield, near Berlin, a speed of 118 miles an hour was attained, whilst a speed, of 114 miles had previously been recorded. In one account I read .qf these trials it was stated that the absence o vibration was remark- able. It would thus seem as though electrical power was justifying the expectations formed of it by eminent scientists in that higher rate of speed can be obtained by this method than by steam for the reason that the electrical energy gets, as it were, mora directly at its work than does steam. The results of these experiments in view of the electrification of certain local rail- way lines in England must be regarded with ex. treme interest by electrical engineers and railway engineers in this country, Whether the existing arrangements through which electrification of our own railways is carried would permit of these excessive speeds is, of course, a technical question into which I am not competent to enter. The probability,however,seems to be that a much less rate of speed consistent with safety would amply suffice for all the wants of modern civilisation. New Views Regarding Tuberculosis- At a recent medical congress held on the Con- tinent an eminent physician, in the course of observations on tuberculosis, brought forward certain new views regarding the relation of that trouble in cows and tbe corresponding disease in man. It will be remembered that Dr. Koch asserted that the consumption in the cow could not be transferred by means of the milk or flesh of the animal to a human being. This contention has, of course, been very strongly denied, and, as I recently showed in this column, experiments are still being made with the view to the settle- ment of tbe question in one direction or the other. The new views to which I have alluded maintain that tuberculosis in the animal and in man, whilst representing the same disease, ex- hibits in the case of the human being and, say the cow, two varieties of the ailment. Although the cow's disease may differ somewhat from that of man, it is held that tuberculosis may convey the disease to infants. Furthermore, it is said that a distinction has to be made between an adult and an infant in this respect. Whilst a full-grown person may safely drinkmiIk which contains the germs of consumption, the nfan, on the other hand, is liable to be infected in this way. Also it is held that the infection of the infant may occur in itearlylife and tbe disease thus induced not break out until a later stage of its existence. Yet another interesting point re- ferred to in connection with these views is that the milk of cows which in one fashion or another have been rendered impervious to the attack of tuberculosis develops certain principles which would appear to be capable of preventing the dis- ease in human beings. I repeat, these are ex- tremely interesting opinions, because they at least present us with possibilities in the case. It will require, of course, a large amount of further experimentation and observation to determine the correctness or the reverse of the views which have thus been made out.

Henry Thomas Buckle once remarked "Men and women range themselves into three classes. or orders, of intelligence. You can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about person!)*; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; and the highest by tlnfe rafoeaw for the jUmwHsa kfiflewJ

Illustrated Humour. I She Your dog was trying to bite me, sir. He (raising his hat): Yes, madam, he has a sweet tooth. Doctor: And yoo've been suffering from iu- somia. eh ? Maginnis Thot Oi hev. Sometimes it wor so bad Oi couldn't shlape for it. "How did you become a tramp?" asked the charitable woman. Well, mum, it's like this When I was rich I owned a motor car, an' I had to do so mach walkin' when I wu out in it that I got into the habit." I The Effect of Union. Mother: Now, Bobbie, If you'll be good for ten minutes I'll give you a penny. Bobby: Can't do it, mother. Our boys' "Be Good Union" has fixed the amalgamated scale at a penny for three minutes. Too Expensive. < She Do you believe in long engagements ? He: Well, no-not if one 'wants to have enough money to set np house-keeping respect-v ably with. Bobby Oh. Mr Bristles, I wish I had a mous- tache just like yours. Mr B.: Ah! Then you think it's becoming,: Bobby ? Bobby: No: bat if I had that thing on my face none of these old ladies 'd be always trying. to kiss. me I Charley Young Biddley seems to think the girls are crazy after him. Flo; Well, the ones who are after him cer- tainly must be crazy. Now, then!" cried the father angrily, how is it I catch you kissing my daughter ?" I think, sir," replied the trnthfnl youth, It was because we didn't hear you coming 1" A Barber of Business. I Barber Poor Jim has been sent to an insane asylum through brooding over dull business. He and me has worked side by side for years. We both brooded a good deal. No money in this business now. Victim What's the matter with it ? Barber: Prices too low. Unless a customer takes a shampoo or something, it doesn't pay to shave or haircut. Poor Jim! I canght him trying to cut a customer's throat because he refused a shampoo, and so I had to have the poor fellow locked up. Makes me very melancholy. Sometimes I feel sorry I didn't let him slash all he wanted to. It might have saved his reason. Shampoo, sir ? Y-e-s." A Marriage Tiagddy. I He (after marriage;: What, you have no for- tune? You said over and over again that you were afraid someone would marry you for your money. She: Yes. and yon said over and over again that yon would be happy with me if I hadn't a farthing. Well, I haven't a farthing. Then he went out into the still, starry night, to let the gentle breeze cool his aching brow and to see if he could find someone-to kick him.

Songs for the People. Andrew Flefcehar of Saltoon, 18 a letter to the Marenis of Montrese, wrete:— I know a very wise man that believed that if a man were permitted to make all the ballads he need net car* who should make the laws of the nation."

MORNING AND NIGHT. Every morn, When a new day to the earth ia borni The soft light kisses my waking eyes; The soft winds say, Awake, arise, See what glories grow oat of the day, Behold the day I" Every night The far stars shine with trembling ligbt, The winds are sighing unsatisfied, The want of the world is unsupplia The glory has faded and died away Into the grey. Mary Trimble Riley.

AUTUMN LEAVES. Autumn leaves-how full of msaumg- Autumn leaves reat lessons teach Still on feeble branches leaning Ere their destined goal they reach. Autnmn teayes-how true their teiloching- Long the task and short the day." Clinging-aesmingly beseeching— To avert the dread decay. Pausing whilst old ties are cleaving Still more closely to tbe last; Whilst devotion's hand is weaving Sweetened memories of the-past.. Then a rustling whiaper-oalling- Seems to point the last embrace, Whilst around are myriads falling- Summoned to their resting place. Still to life's enchantment clinging Rest the few who love to tell Joys which round them youth was flinging -«» Ere they learnt the word "farewell." But 'tis sad. when linjtsjare breaking, Thus to dwell 'midst bootless woe; Better, when the heart is aching. To accept our turn to go. Autumn leaves-how true their teaching— That at last we should obey None lamenting, none beseeching

Welsh Tit-Bits. Neu Wreichion Oddiar yr Eingion, BY CADRAWD. Stray Notes About St. Fagans. St. Fagans is thought to have been the1 castle of the lordship of Peterstone-super-Ely, and Fagan is said to have lived at Khydlafar, a large farm-house still inhabited near the village. The present castle, the seat of the Lord-lientenant of Glamorgan, is built in a mnch more modern style than those of Glamorganshire generally. Lleurwg, the son of Coel ap Cyllin ap Car a doc ap Bran, was educated at Rome, under his uncle St. Timothy, the son of Glaudius and grandson of Caractacus. He was baptised in his 18th year, and to commemorate the event he founded and endowed four religions houses — Winchester, St. Martin's, St. Peter's (Cornhill), and Llandaff. Prayed Eleutherius, Bishop of Rome, to send over missionaries, which he did-Dyfan. Medwy, who founded Trefedwy, a place now lost owing to the encroachment of the Severn Sea, but situated near the present Newton Nottage. EJvan is said to have been the second Bishop-of London, but the place where he taught WM Ynys Afallon, now called Glastonbary. The Rev. D. Harris (Myrddin Wyllt), states that Lies ap Coel also lived at Rhydlafar. The old Castle at St. Fagans is supposed to have existed long before the Norman Conquest. There is an account of how the Welsh used to harass the Normans, and give them much trouble by their midnight expeditions, which the old Britons used to call "Honaachom" (gleaning by sound of a horn or bugle). It is a pity we have so few specimens of; these primi. tive old horns now to be seen in our collections. How have they so completely dis- appeared ? The Normans for many years who kept many soldiers to guard the country after the Conquest had to erect many beacons to watch and give notice of invasions by the native Welsh. The Soores were the first Lords of St. Fagans, Peterstone, and Gellygarn, the first being Sir Peter, who built the Castle of Peterston, which was occupied by Sir Mathew Soore, in the time of Dafydd ap Gwilym. David upon one occa. sion, having called at Peterstone Castle, was met by one of the lord's servants, who reproached him for viaiting his master's place so late in the season. He reminded him of having spent his Christmas with Ivor Hael at Maes-Helyg; 4. Bat," said he, "the bottom of one of my master's cups was worth all thecup3 of Ivor's house." David answered, The bottom of acup might be valued in his master's house, but it was act so in Ifor's establishment, for the bottom of a cup was never seen at Maes- Helyg." The Demetian bard wrote an ode on theaBair, in which he says— Dewr a dygryf yw Hot, A Sais yw Syr Matho Sor. (Brave and witty is bor. a Saxon is Sir Mathew Soore.) Owain Glyndwr, in the time of King Henry IV., besieged Sir Mayo Soore and took his castle at Peterstone, and caused his head to be cut off. The names of places in the neighboar- hood denote the various encampments of Owen Glyndwr on his journey south,viz., Gallt Owain, Gaer Ddn, Caer Gaer, &c. St. Fagans went oat of the hands of the Soores by 1320, for in that year it passed to the Veales. The Battle of St. Fagans. The memorable Battle of St. 'fought on the 8th of May, 1648.. Tradition says that the Parliamentary. Army advanced to St. Fagans hungry and tired. Bread was an oven iu the village, and the hungry soldiers waited eagerly till the wished-for morsel was ready. A field also is still called Cae'r Meirch (the Field of the War Horses), where the burly soldiers nut their horses to grass the night before the battle. The river Ely was red with blood from Tregochwad to the sea—six miles." After the battle, one William: Saunders, of Llandaff, composed a touching song for a young girl whose lover was slain. The youog pair were 'on the eve of marriage :— Do, do, ti ge'st dy glwyfo, Ar foreu teg o Fai, A'th waed yn llifo cymaint, Nes cochi dwr y Lai.. As a proof of the importance of St. Fagans iar early days, we may state that a farm-house which was burnt down some years ago, called Llanfair Fawr, was a religious house founded by Illtutus in 508, and produced many eminent and good men. It is difficult to determine the date of its destruc- tion, but it must have occurred not later than 860, for the Pagan Saxon burnt down the monastery of Senghenydd (Caerphilly) in 831, and in 860 finished that work of burning all the religious houses in Gwent and Morganwg. The Danes, in 893, burnt Lantwit-Major, Kenfig, and Llancarfan. They did so again in 987. Capel Llanilltern is a parochial chapelry its the parish of St. Fagans. This peculiar arrange- ment was made in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. The chapel has been recently rebuilt, and may be considered a mortuary chapel of the Lewis family, as they have been buried there for over 200 years. The walls of tbe chancel are internally and externally ornamented with shields of arms of the said family. The St. Fagans old parish church stood in what is now part of the Castle ground. It has fallen ta utter ruin. There were people living when the late Rector, the Rev. W. David, came to the parish who could remember the west gable standing, pierced with a single lancet window and an old inhabitant who assisted in removing the crumbling walls said that, while digging their foundations, be came upon a roughly con- structed sarcophagus, containing the smoulder- ing remains of a corpse and a rude vessel of red clay which had among other trifling relics in it a stone ground into the shape of a small hone. Bones have been found occasionally on the site of what is supposed to have been the old grave- yard. The church was restored in 1860, at a cost of It was originally of Norman architec- ture, as many arches of that date were dis- covered in the walls, on the removal of the white- wash. Tbe east window is a memorial to th* late Hon. Rob. Windsor Clive, and erected by the Glamorgan tenantry. He died 1859, aged 35. His brother was killed while travelling by train at Taxford, Sept. 22, 1857. On July 15th, 1803, a terrific storm passed over St. Fagans. Over 2,000 panes of glass wen- broken, and the water was several feet deep ia the village. There is only one Dissenting cha.Del-thatof the Calvinistic Methodists—in the pariah, the founders of the C.M. cause there being Isaac David and Thomas Hopkin of Celyn. Meet- ings were held at a place called Ysgnbor Fawr f in 1776, in the house of a person named Thomav Llewelyn. Two years later the Rev. Christophei Bassett was curate of St. Fagans, and he wag the real founder and supporter of Methodism iff the parish. In addition to his service at the church, be used to preach and keep societies aa £ prayer meetings in a room where people to meet to dance and hold theiJl mabsant, and though he lived at thief time at Aberthawe neither wind nor rain prevented his coming to St. Fagans to these meetings. It was here the celebrated hymn composer commenced his religious career. Mr Williams left the C.M. when the Rev. Pete^ Williams was expelled by that connexion became of his theological views in his Commentary on thf Sonsbip of God and Mr Williams's Elegy on the death of the Rev. Peter Williams is one of thetinest compositions of the kind in the Welst language. Mr Thomas Williams joined tht Independents, at Bethesda Fro), where he ministered for 50 years. Origin,of Some Glamorganshire Names. Swansea—from Swanus, a Danish pirate king whose fleet of 150 ships were destroyed in:th, hay by a storm, in 877, and himself drowned. Barry—Bare island. Danish. Denny—Dane's island. Flatholme—Flad-holm. Danish. Sker—Skar, or steep rock. BnrryHolmes — anciently Boringholme, ( alluded to in the dying ode of King Ragna Lodbrog, who fought at Boringholme.

Dearborn Do you know the seven wonders t the world ? Wabash Well, I know three of them. Only three?" rye or J?W> MMftti tlffM «■ .IW. j