The Cardiff Times

IT COVERED A MULTITUDE OE SINS. The only objection I have to the summer is that I II have to drop this friendly overeat that has shielded me from the contumely of my friends.

Our wittv ancestors named the fume of the civet; cat purr-fume. Another party of coal miners struck Friday.— Exchange. They probably knew that Robinson Crusoe WKS dead. CONCLUSIVE.—Mr Snockins:44 But, Ethel, upon my word this is terrible ? Your bills are a third larger than they were last time." Mrs Snodkins "But, Alphonse, that is impossible, for I bought every single thing I saw marked ;df urice and given away and 4 save youi m->uey,' and you know you say yourself that money saved is money m;1.0"

SKETCHES OF WALES AND WELSHMEN. <> By J. Kiisby Jones. I Intolerance in New England Colony. How came Roger Williams to be persc- I cuted in America, and, above all other People, by the Puritans, who had tliem- fled to that country in consequence of the persecution which they had endured I ill England ? That is the next question to be answered. The penalty to be paid by men in advance °f their age, and who take their stand 0l* some 'elevation commanding a wide distant horizon, is to be suspected, distrusted, misrepresented, and, in the end, persecuted. Greatness has penal- ties to pay from which small men are happily free. It is of the rich and the well-to-do that men gather taxes. A *^an dowered with a large head must pay tent for carrying it on his shoulders. It has been the hard fate of some heroic men to be sa.crificed for truths which it required their klood to enrich, the soil being too barren of ltself to nourish the seed cast into it yet Williams' life was spared to see the truths for which he contended embodied in legisla- te enactments. It has been already stated that Roger illianis landed in America in the spring of 1631, and it was only 11 years before that ^e> September, 1620, that a company of nglish Protestants, usually called Pilgrim Others—exiles for religion—set sail for the Western world, and after a long and boister- 0l,s passage of 63 days, moored in the harboui "f Cape ° Cod. l'n the cabin of the l\Iay Flower, before they landed, they formed themselves into a body politic to enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws as should be thought most convenient for the general good of the colony they had undertaken to plant" for the glory of God and advancement of the Christian faith, and honour of their Ivin<r Mid country." This voluntary compact was signed by the whole body of men—41 in dumber, who, with their families' Counted to one hundred persons. The where the company fixed a immanent settlement, on the 11th of eceniber, 1620, they named Plymouth, in fateful remembrance of the hospitality ;*Jey received at the English port whence ey embarked. These colonists had left England on aCCOunt of the oppression they endured, so as 1(508, and settled at Leyden, in abl ai1^' w^ere th«y "attained a comfort- e c°ndition, grew in the gifts and grace spirit of God. and lived together ttie^06' an(^ ^ove' an(^ holiness." So says e historian, who further states that the a§istrates of the city said, "Never did we y^Ve a«y suit or accusation against any of 011 But they felt as men in exile, and a reign language and the lax morals preva- nt in that country induced the pilgrims to change their abode, and seek an asylum in a !lew world. The farewell address deli- sted to them by their pastor, the Rev John Robinson, breathes a freedom of opinion greatly in advance of his age. "I charge You before God and his blessed angels that You follow me no further than you have seen f16 f°Mow the Lord Je&its Christ. The Lord a« more truth to break forth out of His holy Word. I cannot sufficiently bewail the | Condition of the reformed Churches, who are conie to a period in religion, and will go no further at present than the instruments of their Reformation. Luther and Calvin ^ere great and shining lights in their times, Yet they penetrated not into the whole c'°dnsel of God. I beseech you remember it '+• tls an article of your Church covenant at you be ready to receive whatever truth I! all be made known to you from the bitten Word of God." b ket it be remembered that this pioneer and consisted of Separatists, and that they Cognised one important principle, namely— ecclesiastical censures were wholly ¡ '■r"r'itu,al, and not to be accompanied with e»iporal penalties. In the years 1629 and 1630 other com- P,tnies emigrated to the neighbourhood of ^JJymouth, but they were not separatists fro 111 the Church of England, though s^alously opposed to its abuses and corrup- ll°ns. Many of them were persons of large sreditary wealth and high endowments C|1-olar3 of varied and profound learning Lilians who had attained official rank, ■l^vt er, and faine antj divines who had won highest respect in their native land, and 0 Were among the holiest and most gifted Inen of the age. Nor must we forget that lere were many distinguished ladies who acc°mpanied their husbands — Christian °rnen, accustomed to the indulgences and reHnenients of life, and whose sincere reiigions faith gave them fortitude to endure the, severest sufferings, and rendered them Patient in their deepest sorrows. If* the reader is ready to ask, if such was the character of the first Protestant emi- grants to America, how are we to account "Or the monstrous fact that they persecuted :Roger Williams, for persecute him they did, uS shall presently be shown ? A knowledge of the notions then prevalent in England on ecclesiastical subjects will solve the ciifiiculty. From the days of Klizabeth to the period are now considering, there had existed in ngland a perpetual conflict between the prelatical party and the Puritans the former determined to enforce strict uni- formity, and the latter strongly opposed the popish ceremonies still retained in the Church. The Puritans, as a body, at first desired form, and not schism; but when they were rIVen out of the communion of the hurch by cruel persecution, they united lri forming societies more in accordance "'lth their views of the New Testament |n°de]. Some approved of the Presbyterian .orm of government, others of the Inde- Pendent, and u few preferred a modified episcopacy. Eniightened as these confessors AVyre un the great doctrines, and on many of ^he minor points of Church government, lhey still remained in ignorance of one 1111portant principle-the nature of true :ihe>ty. They did not perceive tltar. whenever the btate usurped power to iegislate for conscience, a principle was set up which must inevitably to persecution and iujustice—that to P'».ce the Sovereign in the room of the Pope only another form of anti-Christ, whose c'n-iii!s. if not so arrogant, were more incon- fli:ni, tlin.ii those of a pretended infallible heaii. -Vlii!eu, ir I3 supposed, by analogies with -^iosaic institutions, the Puritans cou- the State with the Church, the C,t'IZ01i with the Christian, and assumed to ll,< '•i-:clvt?s, though fallible men, the power ^er,t l(tuier t!ie Jewish theocracy by a ''ifg an;l in fall i hie legislator. [ What the Puritans meant by religious freedom was not an unlimited freedom of conscience. Universal toleration they re- garded as a crime, and considered it a solemn duty to God to oppose error, and suppress false doctrine, if necessary, by force. All parties seemed to consider themselves the sole depositaries of truth, and that every opposing doctrine must be suppressed. At this pcrioditwasnot the Church of England alone that was intolerant even later the Scotch Commissioners in London remonstrated, in the name of their national church, against what they called "a sinful and ungodly toleration in matters of religion," whilst the whole body of the English Presbyterian clergy, in their official papers, protested against the schemes of Cromwell's party, and solemnly declared" they detested and abhorred toleration." The excellent Richard Baxter, a man noted in his day for modera- tion, said, "I abhor unlimited toleration for all." The first settlers of New Eugland were not, therefore, singular in believing them- selves bound in conscience to extirpate every noxious weed from the garden of the Lord, and to use the sword of the civil magistrate to open the understanding of heretics (as if it had been an oyster), to cut them off from the State that they might not infect or injure the public peace." It does not appear that there were more than three congregations in the colony when Williains arrived they were established at Ply- mouth, Boston, and Salem and they musthave been of a very mixed character as to their views on ecclesiastical polity. The first band of emigrants—the May Flower people, the Pilgrim Fathers—were separated before their arrival in America. They settled at Plymouth, but the congregations of Salem and Boston consisted of Conformists, and perhaps of a few inclined to the same way of thinking as the Nonconformists, Such were the people among whom Williams settled as a minister, and such -vere the.r views on matters of church polity- Williams went to the then far West, hoping to find it a Goshen, but he was soon deceived, for he found the civil and eccle- siastical 'authorities arrayed against him, and that the lords brethren of Massachusetts were in some respects as intolerant as the lords bishops of England. The grand idea that "a most flourishing civil state may stand, and be best maintained, with a full liberty in religious concernments had not yet found a place in the minds of men, and received no echo in the hearts of the colonists. The great doctrine Willians announced, whenhe first troct the shores of New England, and which he defended through life was— thatthe civil magistrateshoiddrestraincrime, but had no right to interfere in matters of conscience, and to punish for hetesy 01 apostacy. He contended that the "doctrine of persecution for cause of conscience is most evidently and lamentably contrary to the doctrine of Jesus Christ" -that the power of the civil magistrate extends only to the bodies, goods, and outward estate of men." He maintained that the people were the origin of all power in government," but that they were not invested by Christ Jesus with power to rule in His Church "-that they could give no such power to the magi- strate, and that to "introduce the civil sword" into the kingdom of Christ was to confound heaven and earth and lay all upon heaps of confusion.

A FEW STOCK LIARS. JJavids time goes without saying, be- cause there are more men. And with this increase of population there has sprung into being a new line of stock liars with whom David was unacquainted; fair, average liars, who do a plain, everyday business, and only go on hi star parts when the star liar of the com- bination is sick or tired or something. Among these steady professionals may be mentioned The man who never reads the newspaper." The man who never sees the leading article cut- ting him up until" attention is called to it." The man who "never had a day's sickness in his life." The man who says the captain told him "it was the worst storm he had ever experienced." The professor who teils you that in all his life he "never saw a child with one-half the mar- vellous talent for music, drawing, elOctItioti, mathematics (anything else) which your child has already developed." 1 he man who wouldn't have taken £ 10 for that dog." The man who" made the mistake of his life when le.iont read (law) (medicine) (theology) (go on the stage)." I he man whose wife "doesn't appreciate him (a great deal more accurately than he knows)." f .e m'l,U ^hipped every boy he ever loutfiifcwjth at school Sit r'i0"OTuid «>« text ,*0.01. «v gieafc deal better sermon f- ■> >• pastor did). fr'Jm Ib (than i,,s The man who says he wanf* 1 x „ insfc wh'if v™, f, i » 1 ;Ants Vou to tell lum just what you think," and « Ilever candid criticism, no matter how severe it is e never slept a wiak j „ Trie man who can remember the "n n- ever told." t,,e 0,lly llc h* The tnan who could turn a double h«nri „ from the ground, backward or forward rt,"sl)ri"" was a boy, and ha,n'C tried it for years (sometimes, with a redeemable i,n T" gracious and beautitul truth) will add thS «1*° doesn't believe he could do it now."—» ? Burdclte.$

INCONVENIKNT.—Between children. "Do you know, Lily, Uncle Ernest is going to give me a talking doli." "A talking doll-that renliv talks i" "Of cowse." Well, then, I ju.s"t would not have it. If you do anything naughty she'll be mean enough to go teli your mamma." A CLASH OF AUTHORITY.—Yachtsman: "Who owns this vessel ?Skipper: "You do, sir." Yachtsman: "Why did you set that spinnaker without asking me, then? "Skipper: "You were beiow, sir, and she needed it in a hurry." Yachts- man "Well, sir, I want it distinctly understood that hereafter, if the boat is even sinking, you are to come to me and ask permission for her to do it. Good morning, sir." Mo LK STATISTICS. Excuse me, sir," said a young man undging a fellow-passenger in a Madi- vm-street car, you have a speck ot soot on the Liiid tif your noriti.' — That's been there for B giiCttn years," replied the passenger. It's a peculiar kind of mole, and yuu are the ninth man to ask me to sponge that nose since breakfast this mornitier. Asa rule, the average is about twelve a

WORKMEN'S TOPICS. BY W.Abraham, M.P., Mabon. ENDOWEDTCHOOLSI AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION, ~~TL n.i« of my communi- As I have alreadydow6d schools, a select cations on the subject or j bonour committee was ^PPoin. mitfcee, whose duty of being a ifc was expedient to amend it was to report how and to modify the School. » 'c the powers exercised by missioned.j 0f 18 members, repre- This committee c° gcotland, and Wales, senting Englan r von Playfair. The com- the president send"for„persons, papers, and mitteehadpo^ appointed last year, and re- records. About 18 years ago the 'SfStheXdowed Schools and Amended Acts wis laid down in a report of the Schools Inquiry Committee. The latest committee, m view of the great social and commercial changes which have Jnce taken place, has endeavoured to obtain sufficient evidence to form a judgment on the whole policy of the Acts,as well as the methods by which they have been carried out. Special atten- tion has been directed to the question of the interests of the poor in educational endowments, and whether the tendency of the Acts, as hitherto administered, has been in any degree to withdraw from the poorer classes the benefits of funds upon which they had an equitable or customary claim." Upon this question the committee, by a majority, is of opinion, and has found accordingly, that the object which the Charity Commissioners regard as having the first claim on endowments was to provide for the poor educational advantages of a character not accessible to them under the ordinary law, This has been principally carried out by the founding of scholarships and exhibitions designed to enable pupils to have a longer period of school life, either in the higher standards of a public elementary school, or, as is more usually the case, by going to a school of a more advanced type. And the committee is of opinion that the designs of the founders were in this way reasjnably attained if in each case an effectual safeguard was made in the conditions attached to such exhibitions and scholarships, so as to protect the interests of the class of children who attend public elementary schools. The complaint lodged against the methods in operation was that though nominally the advantages were within the reach and requirements of the poor, they are actually carried off in competition by the richer classes. Some witnesses urged the popular view thatthe children of the poorer classes are at a great disadvantage in these competitions through their inability to remain at school long enough to obtain the training necessary in order to win scholarships. Further, it was contended that many poor children would be unable to use scholarships when gained on account of the ex- pense which they incidentally entail. Hence the necessity for the proposed safeguards. It appears to me now that our imperfect acquaintance with our educational system, and the gaps and imperfections therein, give rise to many an apparent injustice—that is to say, if we knew more how these things are actually done, and the results attained, perhaps we should not be exactly so severe in our com- plaints. But a return was called for, and is appended to the committee s report, giving the result of detailed inquiries in regard to no fewer than 101 schools now working under schemes framed by the Charity Commissioners. This proves that many children of the labouring classes are at the present time actually in the en- joyment of such emoluments, and that past scholars have been thus aided to improve their condition and position in life. In one ofthesatables it is shown that in 1882, out of 2,989 scholarships and exhibitions in schools of higher grades, 1,145 were held by children from elementary schools. Still it is necessary to keep in view that when only a portion of the trust funds belonging to an endowment appropriated to the poor is used for scholarships and exhibitions, the paramount interest of the poor should be secured from the whole of such funds. The subject of technical and industrial educa- tion, as well as of a higher commercial educa- tion, has assumed additional importance since the passing of the Endowed Schools Acts. The report of the Royal Commission on this subject in 1884-, and the recent report of the Royal Com- mission on the Depression in Trade, with the witnesses brought before tlie E^dowed^ Schools Select Committee, give convincing testimony as to the need for improved commercial and tech- nical education. It cannot be denied that no part of the Charity Commissioners work has been more successful and valuable than the founding and endowing- of technical schools. Among the important instances in which the schemes of the Commissioners have been of value are those at Bedford and Bristol. In the schemes for St. Olave's Grammar School and Christ's Hospital, it is proposed to erect workshops wherein to give practical instruction in the use of tools for working in wood and iron, Provision has in many cases been inserted in other schemes enabling the governors to develop technical teaching when needed, and now provision may also be made for the organisation of agricultural departments in county schools which lie within important agricultural districts. What is even more important to my mind is that the whole of the members of the Select Committee are thoroughly convinced that in the proper training of the hand and eye, together with the intellectual faculties, will be found the true remedy against the excessive growth of the class which comes under the wide definition of clerks. When this question next comes before Parliament, members of the Select Committee will make a united effort to impress the lbuse with this view, for, as put in the words of the chairman, they see a danger in putting too literary an edu- cation within the reach of the working classes, thus producing men educated up to the full extent of their abilities, and yet not so educated that they can put their abilities to a productive use. It appears that the difficulty which has con- stantly met the Charity Commissioners in pro- viding more efficiently for technical education is the fact that it is rarely possible to devote endow- ments exclusively to that purpose while the need of general secondary instruction is still so great. According to an estimate made by the School Inquiry Commission, in any complete system of secondary education provision must be made for upwards of 250,000 boys, one-half of whom would require schools of the third grade, and ac- commodation would still be needed for girls. The cost of technical or scientific instruction is beyond the resources of small endowments, as workshops for teaching the use of tools, and aboratories are so much required. It will be very difficult to meet this demand unless, as i; sug- gested by the select committee, it might in some cases be provided by the combination of small endowments for a common object. If any measure be passed by Parliament, as we hope will be the case, giving power to amalgamate small endow- ments, it would also be an advantage to make provision whereby local authorities could provide or contribute to the support of laboratories and workshops in existing endowed schools, as that might be a more economical application of local rates than the founding of new schools. But before resorting to the rates the committee recom- mends that in the first place it would be desir- able to apply for that purpose any other endow- ments which have failed in their own purpose." A number of other important subjects called forthe consideration of this committee, to which I would like to call attention if space permitted. The points which I have touched are of the utmost interest to the class to which I have the honour to belong. In the first place, the children of the working classes should be given the full use of educational endowments, and the children should be so trained as to enable them to utilise their abilities most profitably.

The New York Sun says "the next war is in- evitable. There is a, profundity and unanswer- able air about this statement that does not appear at first blank.— Oil City Blizzard. A Burlington womau hailed a half-frozen tramp the other day Say, come round to the back door and I'll give you something." When the tramp put in an appearance she exclaimed There you have done a good job for me. You've broken a path to the clothes line, and here's a toTOiiaranrn tract f ™ von."—Bm'linaton Free Press.

Llewelyn; Or, The Last of the VVelsh Princes. An Historical Romance, BY BERIAH GWYNFE EVANS, Author of" Bronwen," "Roundhead and Cavalier," Owai Hughes" The Heir of Glynafondx. < £ c. CHAPTER XXXIX.-FRIENDS AND FOES. As Meredydd had anticipated, the tramp of armed meu, which had sounded so distinctly in the corridor, stopped at the door of his dungeon. He bad but little time in which to make up his mind as to what to do. If he fought his excu- tioners, what chance would he have against so many ? If he yielded without a struggle, his fate was already sealed. Too well he kuew the malignant enmity of Gruffyda ap Gwenwynwyn would have left him no possible loophole of escape. It was evidently his duty to sell his life as dearly as possible. Then there was, too, the possibility of his gaining some outside help. The castle was so closely invested—and the attack upon it likely to prove so energetic—that, if he could hold out for a little while, his friends might have mastered the situation, and he himself be restored to safety. But how could he do this ? He had no means of barricading the door—no means to prevent their opening it. How he wished that Deio'r Llanerchhad been able to carry out his first plan, and have abstracted the key of his dungeon But that was now out of the question. Still, there was Deio's distinct promise of help, and Meredydd counted upon finding among these assaiiants at least one or two friends to help him. With the help of these he might even yet cause his would-be executioners no little trouble. These thoughts flashed through his brain as the party halted at the door and prepared to open it. Grasping his sword firmly in his hand, he stood at the foot of the steps determined to strike the first who entered the dungeon. The plan he had resolved upon was this—to offer all the opposition he could to their entrance into his dungeon, and when finally compelled by force, of numbers to give way, to retreat to a corner, where, with his back to the wal!, he would have all his enemies in front of him. With a beating heart he heard the key put into the lock, and expected to see the bolt shoot back, and the door open. It soon became apparent that there was some- thing wrong. The door remained closed, and the bolt unmoved. Though he could hear the sound of voices, the sounds were too indistinct for him to make out the exact words. He, however, understood that something was being said about the unforeseen difficulty in opening the door. What; actually took place was this. The governor of the castle, on the arrival of Alan with his master's written order for the instant execu- tion of the prisoner, had immediately set about obeying the mandate. A guard of soldiers was ordered to attend him and Alan, and taking the key the governor handed it to one of the soldiers to open the door. The man tried to turn it, but in vain, and turn- ing to the governor said :— The key will not turn." Tell ine not that it will not turn I" cried Alan. "It is thy want of skill or of power. While we linger and dawdle here the enemy may gain the walls, and our master's last orders after all be set at naught. Get thee aside and let me open it." So saying he pushed the soldier to one side, and placing the hilt of his dagger into the handle of the key to serve as a lever, gave it a wrench, which, after a slight resistance, seemed to prove sufficient, for the key turned round. "There! cried the esquire, "said I not so 2 And now undo the other bolts and bars." These were quickly removed, and the door poshed inwards. Still, to the surprise of all, it remained immov able, apparently as sound as ever With a muttered oath, Alan gave it a kick with his iron-shod shoe, with no other effect, however, than to cause the door to rattle, and to prove that the obstruction, whatever it consisted of, was of a very substantial character. "Can the prisoner have barricaded the door from within ?" asked Alan. "That can hardly be," said the governor, "for he had not, to my knowledge, the wherewithal to do so. Didst thou unlock the door ?" Unlock the door! Didso thou not see the key turn ? See!" and he seized the key, which still remained in the lock, and turned it so as to re-lock the door. What, however, was his surprise to find that some resistance offered itself within the lock to the re-shooting of the bolt, and turmug with a laugh to the governor, he said :— "See I have unlocked it so effectually that it will not lock again 1" Without saying a word the governor gravely took hold of the key and, drawing it forth from the lock, held it up to the light. Alan looked, and gave a cry of dismay. It was broken He had exercised such strength that the key, massive though it was, had broken in the wards. The governor re-echoed Alan's cry, but bis.own was more of surprise than of dismay. "This," he cried, "is not the right key How could I have been mistaken? It seemeth very like, too,but still it is not the right one. No wonder the bole would not shoot! Run thee, Tcm, and fetch me the key thou wilt find banging up in my room." The man thus addressed hastened away, while Alan fumed and raved at the delay thus occa. sioned. The .man remaining away longer than was ex- pected, another was despatched to hasten him. When both returned Tom was the bearer of ill news. The key was not to be found With a deep oath Aian ordered the door to be burst open. TliiSj was, however, easier said than done. The combined force of the party had apparently no effect upon the massive door, which formed ati effectual barrier between them ana their prey. This will never do I" cried Alan. Run :uid get something to serve as a battering ram." Some of the men hastened away, with this purpose. Before they returned, a message was brought to the governor that a flag of truce stood at the gate, with a communication for the governor of the castle. Let the herald be admitted, and bis business asked," said the governor. Hadst thou not better see him thyself, Sir Governor ?" asked Alan. I will see to that being done here which is necossary." Then I leave thee to do it," replied the governor, for to tell the truth, I stomach not the executioner's work too well," As the commandant left, the men who had gone in quest of a battering ram returned with a heavy beam of wood, which answerad the purpose wdl. A few well-directed blows from the pon- derous beam, swung by a dozen willing arms, caused the door, massive and iron-bound though it was, to shpke and rattle, and, finally, to burst open. No sooner, however, was this done than a voice from within the dungeon cried out— "I give ye fair warning that the first who crosses these steps falls by my sword The soldiers, who were pushing forward, paused. \Vhat cried Alan, Are ye cowards all, and all afraid of one man ? Follow me, or be for ever branded as cowards," and so saying Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn'* esquire leaped in with up- raised sword upon Meredydd. The Welshman was, however, fully prepared for him, and with one terrible blow felled his assailant to the earth. On him cried Alan, faithful even to death to the charge entrusted to him. It was the last word he uttered. Meredydd's sword had been all too cartain in its work, and before the soldiers could obey him,Alan sank back on the stone floor, dead The next man meets a like fate cried Meredydd, menacingly. The danger was too great and too real to be lightly faced, and the men paused irresolutely. It is too bad," cried Deio'r Llauerch, who ,formed one of the party, and was indeed now its chief remaining officer, taking advantage of this fortunate pause, It is too bad that we should be asked or expected to risk our lives to take that of a brave man who hath done us noJharm." "But the governor's orders are strict," pro- tested another. 111 ordinary times and in ordinary circum- stances I would go with thee," said Deio, but I see no need why we should now rouse the anger of those other Welsh devils outside higher against us. It is plain enough that we cannot hold out much longer against them, and if we can by giving up their prisoner alive to them— get better terms for ourselves, I see no reason why we should throw away the chance. What say you ? I think with thee," cried one of the men whom Deio had already enlisted in his favour. And I!" And 11" cried two or three others also in the secret. The influence of example is so great that it is no great matter for surprise that the other men, one after another, should have fallen in with the plan proposed. "What say you, Sir Knight?" asked Deio. Will you go with us peaceably to the gates, and speak your friends outside fair on cur behalf ?" If ye give me your word, as men, that ye will not take unfair advantage of me if I accompany you, and if ye promise to support me against those who may wish to oppose my way to freedom, I will readily go with you, and can promise that whatever befals the rest of the garrison, those who now favour me will not only be spared, but will amply be rewarded. For this I pledge my word as a knight." There! said I not 80?" cried Deio. "And now, men, if ye promise, we go together in a body, shoulder to shoulder, with this brave knight as our leader, and we force our way to the gates. The officer there is my own brother, as ye know, and will render us every assistance. What say ye? Yes means safety and reward for ourselves and the knight < N0 > msam certaiu death to ns ere nightfall. For my own lJarfc, thoughI stood alone among ye all, I would accept the safety thus offered us. What say ye? We serve our- selves and our Lord ap .Gwenwynwyn at the same time, for he is now a prisoner in the hands of the Welshmen outside the walls, The saving the life of this knight will certainly make the lot of Ap Gwenwyuwyn easier. What say ye, my masters?" With one accord, the men who now regarded Deio as their leader, and who felt the weight of the argument both as regarded themselves and their lord, Ap Gwenwynwyn, agreed to the proposal thus placed before them, and the next moment Meredydd found himself in the midst of his late assAilants, all with drawn swords ready to shed their own blood in his defence. Scarely, however, had they left the dungeon door than they saw approacbiDg them, in evident haste, the governor of the castle, followed by a fresh relay of armed retainers. (To be continued. ) <

Musical and Eisteddfod Notes. By Maelgwyn. The reference w iJicll I made to Captain Gus Bevan aud tne I ontypool Choir a few weeks ago was incomplete. I have just received full details of the arrangements made for taking the choir to the London Eisteddfod. The choir, in appointing Mr Bevan its president, did the best thing in the world, for as I said a fortnight ago, Mr Bevan will bear all the expenses of the trip. The choir is to number 250 voices, and with friends the total will be brought up to 500. This body will leave Pontypool by a special express traiu. The members of the Fire Brigade and their ami les Wl e included. A large room has j been eugaged close to the Albert-hall, London, and there the choirs will rehearse the competition choruses. After singing, the choir will be driven round London in three large four-in-hand breaks, and at night every member of the party will be presented with a free ticket for some place of amusement. One of Mr Bevan's friends in London has invited the choir to tea at the Grand Hotel in Trafalgar-square, and another has offered to place his steam launch at the dis- posal o the visitors. Sleepir)g apartments have already been "booked," and every member will know his w her place. The choristers will carry on their breasts the Fire Brigade badge, and, as may be imagined, they are highly delighted at the proSpect of having such a glorious round of pleasure. When C^dos's SoUtb ck,[ai Vnion wont o London 1873,the lMe Can„„ of Aberdare, oecauie popularlv n 1 T A, known as General Jenkins, on account of the vi L ■ 11 1,8 owned out the atrMgemetlt J LVfltLS interest he manifested in the happiness of the 'r lZ uTT''° d,0it' After the London Eisteddfod, I suppose, the raiM title will be bestowed upon Captain BeVan but after all there is not much different f' f flll.,lfl„ Jieuce, for a captain fre- quently does his work better than a mineral By the way, as jubilee honon rn A f„rn, "onours—titles and so forth-ate to be suowered ri^hf ? i ct- u vs i r r,Rut and left, should Kevan be orgotten ? Make him a knight, or place a coui^y decoration ou his breast. One result of the recent confix <- L A v r\nrW Jn t ontl°versy started by oaraaog in reference to t,i10 T U1e Easter Monday eisteddfod at Pontypool is thai V, ■ L JJI n J1 Llldt no eisteddfod will be held there in the autumn A A I -I -Ki„ n,. • la, and, indeed, it is mrt o t ia! eisteddfod will not again form part of the Easter amusements ia the park. Mr ine Ca^d" 'aS«^eD C°TUQicated with concern- "Sr f0pmi0D' b«t he declines to take cTrado, COntrrer £ y' no doubt believing that For TGT a;a,UUWwtl'y of notice, or a month past I have heard the most doleful tales concerning the Swansea Choral Union. It was said that the attendance was bad, and that the choir was on the point of being dissolved, as it was everywhere known that Evs Morlais would not go to London unless he was perfectly satisfied with the singing of the choir. AU these tales, however, I am glad to find. aro untrue. Tho attendance is now and agaiu necessarily poor, but still, taken on the whole, it is very good The whole of the three choruses have been learned, and the firsfc public rehearsal took place last week, when everything passed off in a satisfactoiy manner. Material' improvement in the singing is shown, and, as there is no lack of funds at the disposal of the choir, I trust it will make a good fight for the principal prize in London. We have no .v three choirs upon which wo can rely, namely, the Swansea, the HaneHy, and the Pontypool choirs. Abercarn will also: in al! probability, compote but the Dowlais Choir is not likely to do so as matters stand at present. Messrs Marriott and Williams, 295, Oxford- street W send this week a largo parcel of new music. As the Nightingale and Once too Often, by Giuseppe Dinelli, are two very easy and melodious songs suitable for popular enter- tainments. t; My Prince Waltz" is extremely pretty, but it is rather difficult. The composer, Barbara Child, may be complimented for having piven us such a good work. Iminer fur Dich" Always for Thee "). Love's Greeting," and "Golden Light" are charming waltzes by Gerald M, Lane. The same may be said of the" Ensnared" waltz, by E. ^ro>se, and A Tor' is an excellent polka. ■tarantella, in C minor, is a pretty piece, x tie composer, Josef Trouselle, has also written a decidedly pleasing piece descriptive of The Kivulet (Is 6d), and a good transcription for tne piano of «• Kobin Adair These pieces can with confidence be recommended to music teachers. "Spring Time," bv Josef Trouselle, is a bold and tuneful song for a" bass. A printer's e £ ror marks the time 45 common," whereas it should be nine-eight. Singers will please note The Day is Done is a pleasing setting, by Helena Heath, of Longfellow's well-known words. "A Doubting Heart," by the same com- poser, is noticeable chiefly for the beauty of the accompaniment. By the same composer is "The Better Shore," which, like the others, is conceived in a popular but sympathetic spirit. "Maiden fair, have a care is a pathetic song. Despite the melancholy story of the trusting maiden and the faithless wooer, the song is by far the most tuneful and the most powerful that E. J. Quance has yet written. Lovers," by Gerald M. Lane, is another capital work by this popular composer. It will certainly take" at any kind of entertainment—it is so sparkling and sweet. The Old, Old Songs," by the same composer, is a real gem. All the above, with the two exceptions specified, are issued at 2s each. The Viaduct Publishing Co., Holboru Viaduct, send 41 Queen of my Love," a beautiful song for a tenor, by Percy Swanders (2s) Homeward Bound my Love to Meet is one of the best bass songs that has been issued for a long time with its long runs and its pleasing melody its success is assured (2s). "Mon Bijou" is a sweet waltz-pretty from bpffiuninp' to end (2s).

WELSH GLEANINGS. j (By Lioffwr.) It is somewhat humiliating for us in Wales to be obliged to admit that some of the greatest Celtic scholars of the age are not Welshmen. It is more so still to confess that the revived interest taken by modern scholars in the Welsh language is due, not to any efforts made by us, but to the work of a foreigner. Yet that this is true will be readily admitted by those who have gone at all carefully into the question. The study of Welsh literature, as a rich field for students of philology, may be said to date from the appearance of Grammatica Certicu in 1853. This great work was the fruit of the labours of a German scholar named JOKANN KASPAR ZEUSS. You see I give his name m capital letters, and well does he deserve the distinction. For 13 years he laboured in compiling it, and when it was issued it threw such light upon the origin of the various Celtic languages as modern scholarship had never before'enjoyed and that light has both attracted to, and assisted in, the field of Welsh research some of the ablest scholars en the Continent. Giiick, Ebel, Wmdisch, Thurneyseu, Schuchardt, and Zimmer in Germany Nigra and Ascoli in Italy Jubainville and Gaidoz iu Franca Kuno Meyer in Liver- pool; John libys in Oxford, are the leaders of a band of Celtologists who have done and are doing for the ancient Welsh language what the Society for Utilizing the Welsh Language is trying to do for the modern tongue—showing it to be worthy of being studied and taught. It is to this great revival of interest in the language of the ancient inhabitants of these islands that we are indebted for the founding of Celtic chairs at Oxford, Edinburgh, and Paris, filled by such ripe scholars as 1thys, Mackinnon, and Gaidoz. Then there are Welsh or Celtic classes at other institutions, filled by men who are able and willing to spread the light they themselves enjoy. Among these are to be ranked Professors Powel at Cardiff, Lloyd at Aberystwyth, Kuno Meyer in Liverpool, Windisch at Leipzig, Zimmer in Greifswald. Thurneysen in Jena, and Schuchardt in Graz. A very interesting fact with regard to the study of Celtic literature by Zouss is that the really oldest Welsh and Irish writings which are now known to exist were discovered by him, not in the British Islands, but in France and Italy and Switzerland. It seems that he was remark- ably familiar with the chief libraries on the con- tinent, and thus was aware of the existence there of Welsh and Irish manuscripts of which Ensrlish scholars had no knowledge. Students of Welsh and Irish history are aware that these islands were at one period famous for their learning. Even before the introduction of Christianity conti- nental Celts sent their youug nobles to this country to complete their education. Later still, they became the homes of Christian learning. On the authority of Giiick we have it that the missionary teachers of the Continent in the far distant past were Irish missionaries. They founded monasteries on the Continent, such as that at St. Gall, in Switzerland, and in these the learned men of the age found a welcome refuge. it is the writings of these men which Zeuss discovered, and which formed the foundation of his great work. What strikes me, as an ardent believer in the principles of the Society for Utilizing the Welsh Language, is the fact that Zeuss found practically exemplified ill the old manuscripts referred to above the very principles for which this truly patriotic society contends. It appears that these most aucieut manuscripts are not original works; they are copies of the classics and of various parts of the Scriptures. But now comes in the point to which I desire to cali atten- tion. In transcribing these," says Giiick. "the monks, fcr the assistance of their own memories, and for the benefit of the younger scholars, used to write in the margin the literal Irish translation of every difficult word and phrase." Here we have in a nutshell the fundamental principle of the society which is now doing such good work iu Wales, •*r lieference to the Society for Utilizing the I Welsh Language reminds me that it has now in the press the long-expected series of Welsh text- books for Elementary Schools. Probably by the time these Gleanings appear the first book of the series will be out. Those who wish to see it should apply to the publishers, Messrs Duncan and Suns, Cardiff. The price is, I beiieve, six- pence. The Welsh Societies :u England are determined to keep Welsh National tvipics well to the front. The "Cymru Fydd" Association in London, having Home Rule for Wales" in bold characters on its banner, has caused no little stir in Welsh circles. The Liverpool Welsh Liberal Association is arranging for a series of lectures on important Welsh questions. Mr T. J. Hughes (Adfyir) recently read a paper before the associa- tion on "Landlordism in Wales," and Mr Ellis Griffith, who was spoken of at the last election as a candidate for a ]\orth Wales constituency, is announced to speak shortly on the important question, "Is Wales ripe for Home Rnle?" 1 hope his reply will be an emphatic yes Welshmen have not, as a rule, shown them- selves to be very enthusiastic, to say the least of it, in favour of the Imperial Institute scheme as a jubilee commemoration. At the i-ume time, they are ready to adopt any scheme which holds out a fair promise of proving locally beneficial as well as commemorative of the jubilee, I see that Mrs Pryce, of Cyfronydd, is promoting the establish- ment of a Home for Convalescents at Barmouth as a jubilee commemoration. That is a kind of jubilee all Welshmen would welcome iu many places besides Barmouth. .Ii- The current year happens to be the jubilee year of the Bala. Cal vtnisLe: Methodist Coiiegc- an event which some will deem inure worthy of commemoration than the ascension of her Majesty. It is a noteworthy and interesting fact that Dr Edwards, the present Principal, was the original founder, so that to him the Bala College jubilee will have a double importance und interest. Steps are being taken to worthily commemorate the double event, and the Rev R. H. Morgan, of Tovvyn, has uuuertaken to collect jBSOO towards establisair.g scholarships at the College. These scholarships it is proposed to call, very appro- priately, The Dr Edwards Jubilee Scholar- ships." I am told, too, that'there is ilt contem- ) plation a scheme for uuiting the Bala and Trevecca Colleges. It is announced that the Rov. Ossian Davies the popular English Congregational minister iu London, hAs been invited to the pastorate of the Congregational Church at Bournemouth. Though the salary offejad is equal to what he now re- ceives, and though the invitation comes from a place which offers many attractions, it is bardiv likely the invitation will Oe accepted. His sphere of work in London affords so many more oppor- tunities for extended usefulness that it is probable be will prefer remaining where he is. Many of the-Wel,ii papers refer to the visit to this country of Mr Samuel Evans, of Cairo, private secretary to Mr Edgar Vincent, who holds a high official appointment in the Egyptian Government. Mr Evans is a. native of Llan- armon-yn-M, and is an enthusiastic Welshman, deeply interested in all matters pertaining to his native country. His London address is St. George's Club, Hanover-square, Nathan Dyfed has been for some weeks engaged on a Peituynen" of IS pieces for the London Eisteddfod. The wood is heart of oak, obtained from the old Morlais Castle. On the Peitbyneu are engraved in old bardic characters a number of suitable englynion, mottoes, and proverbs. Mozart calls my attention to an important omission in my reference last week to the cantata Yr Ysgol." The author of the libretto is Mr John Parry (loan Dderwen o Fon), late of Aber- ystwyth, now of Newport. I would not willingly deprive loan Dderwen o Fon of the credit due to him for the conception of the plot, and the work- ing of it up in proper form in the cantata. I am, therefore, very pleased to make this additional statement. Mr Parry has been long and favour- ably known under his bardic name in Welsh circles. Rhagor o waith o fath "Y r Ysgol" sydd eisieu arnom, ac hyderwn nad yw yr awen wedi troi ei chefn ar loan yn Nghasnewydd.

Hymn Writers of Wales. < Concluding his series of articles on Welsh Hymn-writers, the Rev H. Elvet Lewis says :— A close friend and fellow-worker of the Rev Dr Rees was the Rev William Ambrose (Emrys). He was born at the Penrhyu Arms Hotel, Bangor, August 10th, 1813. The course of his life was even and calm us the flowing of a river through a level land his death alone adding an incident of startling iinpressiveness to his earthly story. He was preaching in his own pulpit at Portmadoc, on Sunday, April 27¡,h, 1873. For some time be had been suffering much from the effect of a paralytic stroke but that was a day of marked power and the people felt the peculiar nearness of the spirit land. The text of the evening sermon was Isaiah vii 15 "For thou saith the high aud lofty One that inbabiteth eternity, whose name is holy I dwell in the high and the holy, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." It was a remarkably powerful sermon, and hundreds were rejoicing that night in the hope of restored eloquence and further guiding of their soul through him into the doctrine of Jesus Christ. But he had scarcely come down from the pulpit when he was seen to grow pale and lean heavily back. It was the final stroke- the hand of death was laid upon him as he was coming out of the shining cloud. For six mouths I he lingered; and all that time the silver tongue was speechless. It was on the 31st of October the same year that the silent Hand once more was laid upon him, and more heavily. But it was only to make his spirit free, and to lead him to the land where the word of eloquence can never be hushed any more. His poetry, like his life, is beautifully clear and tranquil. Ibis hymn, tor instance, does it not sound like the footsteps of the Spirit of Peace iu the house of life ? Give me quiet resting-places, Lord, beneath the shade of palms Where the heavenly pilgrim* gather, Where they sing their joyful psalms; • W here they linger to make mention Of thy faithfulness and grace, Till their sorrows are forgotten In the pleasure of Thy praise. Happy is the brethren's discourse, They who seek the better land Not an evil tongue to flatter, Nor a traitor s cruel band Heavenly dew on each experience, Words of faith in glad refrain- All are filled with sweet home-longing, Where the end is glorious gain. Lord, until we reach uphold ns It is but a little while When the journey darkly closes Let Thy sunlight on us smile Let the breezes or the Home-land Meet us in the valley's gloom Till our feet are safely treading Hilis of light and fadeless bloom. The Rev William Thomas {Islwyn) was born at Myiiyddislwvn, in the county ot Monmouth, April 3rd, 1832. His lite was spent in the secluded and uudisturbed neighbourhood of his birth; and there he died November 20th, 1878. Purposing in his early youth to become a land surveyor, at the age uf twenty-two the inwaru impulse led him to the pulpit." He wae ordained at Llangeithio Association in 1859, but he never took a pastoral charge. He suffered much from melancholy. In consequence his preaching en- gagements were not kept as faithfully as they should have been. Sometimes an elder would announce him in the following significant terms Islwyu will preach here n&xt Sunday—if he coni&s." His poetry stands among the best in Welsh literature; deeply tinged as it is with the unfamiliar idealisiugs of a mystic soul, Only three of his hymns are published. The one given ( ? r wY-,lrea,Uy'fuua a Place in the hymuody j- he elch yhutch, ana has its record among the songs ordained of the Holy Spirit to give stay and patience ot hope to the righteous in the hour of sorrow aud death. See, my soul, the land of brightness Far above the clouus of time; uhere the breeze with balmy lightness Bioweth through a gematchmo, Joyful thousands Moving on its rest serene. Life has there^its crystal fountains, r Peace—whose rivers soffiy flow, J.O lelresh its vales and mountains, To immortalize its glow And salvation On the suuny shores is breatlieA Neve). CPII a mortal arrow On its nearest province tali: Deaih s dominion is but narrow— There it cometh not at aii: Life abundant; Immortality at home Every breeze of winter changes On the shore to heavenly cairn O'er its fields no sorrow ranges, W here eacn sigh becomes a psaim; Into Jordan Falls the last most bitter tear. Taere—there is not one that moarneth, There-there is not any sad; There—the gall to honey turneth, There—the bound is free and glad Joyful thousands, There abiding evermore! Now my heart is filled with blessing, And a sacred joy is mine, In the hope or IlI.r possessing That inheritance divine: Joyful thousands, Drawing near that promised land So far, for the present, these sketches oi the singers of the church of Christ in Wales. No one must for a moment suppose that the list is exhausted. Some names have been omitted it may be of equal honour with some of those included. The Rev. B. Francis, of Horsley Gloucesters'nire Mr Ed ward Jones (Maesvolwr.i\ • Mr Peter Jones (Fear Fardd) Rev. W. HuS/ Dinas Mr T. Lewis,Tal-y-Llychau—such names may appear to an English reader as a chance group out of the same lusty chronicle of forgotten names. But had their hymns not been in the possession and ritual of tHe Welsh church its anthology wouid be so much the poorer: In most cases their verses did not adapt themselves for translation. Enough, for present purposes, tnat all our reauers siior.ld know how many hands-known or uulmown-have touched the harp of Z101. in the Principality and left melodies which can only die with the ancient language of the land. And may that fate be sine die! There is also a later generation of Welsh hymn- writers but to these I may return at some more convenient season. Their songs are under pro- bation; and some, at least, appear to have in them the hope of permanent service. In the meanwhile I select a hymn written by a preacher, M, well-known almost in England as he is ill Wales—the Rev Herber Evans, of Carnarvon, Keep me very near to Jesus, Though beneath His cross it be; In this worid of evil-doing Tis the cross that cieansetii me Should there come distress and darkness Let. this hope with me abide- I After all the gioom end sorrow, Light shall be at e\entide. Bring to mind my past experience— That shall take my fears away For Thy goodness and Thy mercy Shall be mine till close ot day: Through the tears, the clouds, the tempest, Shine on me, 0 Crueified There's a promise in God's rainbow— Light shall be at eventide. Lead me onward to the future, Where I fear one step to move; Still the love of God upholds me— Love heyond a mothers love. Calvary enough has proved, He;ir tbe song on yonder side- Though the cross stand in the pathway, Light shall be at eventide. For all the hymns which have been written, there is room in the Wales of to-day for a new school of hymnody. Every age has its peculiar mode of religious expression the age now dawn- ing in Wales emphatically so. It will be an age of transition and suspense; it will claim the guidance of strong, progressive thought. I trust the Eisteddfod will not exhaust the muse of all its bards. Some of them, surely, will not con- sider it a vain thing to give the church of Christ the psalm that will sanctify its anxiety, that will teach it where to find ^est and hone and l'jrht.

TALK OF THE TOWN. THE JUBILEE CEAZE — A DNIQUE OFFERING — A JCBILEE STORY—LEADER WRITERS—THE IRRE- SISTIBLE JEW — CORNEY GRAIN — "JUBILEE NOTES" A COMMENDABLE SOCIHTX — HUMAN BRUTES-THE COLIN CAMPBELL CASE AGAIN- RIDER HAGGARD—OPENING OF THE PEOPLE'S PALACE BY HER MAJESTY-" LE COCON." The eccentricities daily committed in the name of that all-magical jubilee would form amusing reading, and not an uninstructi VB study of public feeling. Whoever has the leisure to make notes could make a saleable volume of good things. Collections are still being made for all sorts of memorials, and by all sorts and conditions of people, and a very great deal of quiet swindling is being carried on. But, withal, there is a large amount of genuine feeling of pride in the worth of our Sovereign, and actual loyal affection to her person. The late Lord Shaftes- bury is in a measure responsible for the coster- monger's contribution to the general craze. It was he who elevated the patient, if not over. intelligent, ass, in the animal scale, by putting a value on its condition. Since then, it is a common sight in the costermongers' quarters, in the East End, to see weil-kept, or well-kempt, donkeys, brightly ornamented with ribbons, and with all the airs of a frieud of the family. So the costers' JUBILEE OFFERING TO VICTORIA 11-1 pernaps, as sensible a gitt as the tribe could have offered her Majesty, and I am sure Neddy will be a prime royal favourite, and pass his leisure in a bed of thistledown. The ass, in his highly-cultivated condition, is a noble animal indeed but tor his unfortunate voice I am sure he would have occupied a position of great dignity in our insular civilisation-now he is nowhere. He was the steed par excellence of Eastern potentates, and his price was large. Talking of jubilee stories, here is a good one. A rustic delegate from his parish waited upon his vicar to propose a jubilee memorial. He said the parish was of opinion that a clock for the old church tower would be the most appropriate object; and then, sir," he said, pointing to the tower, visible through the vicar's study window—"and then, sir, WE SHALL BE INDEPENDENT OF GREENWICH TIME:" Toe cinet leaaer-writer or tit Times at present, and writer of all the Irish and anti-Irish articles, is a. Cork man, Wilson by name. An Irishman, Mr Guinel, occupies the same position v n the Globe, and Mr FitzGibbon, another Irishman, sub-edits the Standard. The Daily Teleoraph. too, has an Irishman in the same position, Mr O'llalioran and the Morning Post has for chief a gentleman of the same nationality, Mr Dunphie. I could add to this list consider- ably by my quotation as it stands it will be seen that Paddy cannot complain as to his share of the loaves and fishes of journalism. The Pall Mall Gazette has never an Irishman on its staff at all—a unique exception. The Daily Telegraph has just discharged one of the oldest members of its staff he was not up to date, said the Bigcest Circulation, so had to go. This is the sort of thing one must expect as a journalist—good pay, perhaps, but short shrift. But if Pat is strong in the laud of journalism, he pales before the Jew, who actually possesses the land. Jews have been immigrating to East London from Poland, Russia, and Germany, and underworking the legitimate craftsman, so the question at present is, How are we to meet the difficulty ? TiLe poor-rate is in danger. I had always been told that the Jews supported their own poor. Tile English Jews don't seem to see it; they will aid in ousting the intruders. But what a force the Jews proper have here-in the Law Courts, on the Bench, in music. Amongst their names are Mr Levy Lawson, of tiie .iine. Daily Telegraph, and Gus Harris, of Drury-lane. I read that even our Rothschilds are paupers compared with the wealthy Jews abroad—that in respect of money they are even ahead of America. Someone once told me that THE INIMITABLE CORNER GRAIN I w.t. a Hebrew—luogmg trom his I suppose but he is not-he is a t*^#ored Saxon, and it wuuld go very mu-^T against the grain with him to be called wn Israelite, indeed. Lately, Mr Grain and his coadjutor have pro- duced "J ubi lee Ncoes, a delightfully funny piece. I often wonder what we should do with- out genial Corney when the season is full of country cousins with anti-theatrical bias, his being the one entertainment savouring of the stage which their consciences allow them to patronise. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children have issued ttleir report-a. sickening and heart-rending record. How we, as a nation, could have tolerated such brutality all these weary, terrible years, and have made no attempt to take the law in our own hands and put the evil dawn, passes my comprehension. I would that eery parent, and every son or daughter of full age, in the land would send if but one penny stamp to this good society. Let the report be distributed broadcast. I give one of the stories from its pages in the hope that it may reach the eye and the heart of someone able and willing to help in the good work of rescue. I The society found out a little victim, sitting in a I passage, on the bare oilcloth, alone, hungry and cold, shivering and ill, in nothing but its night- gown. It was the depth of winter, and a thorough draught ran from the front door to the back. On the other side of the door opening into the nassasre was a room wHb a fire. and a breakfast table spread, and that child,, muther sat at it, eating a meal of hot coffee, frizzled bacon, and bread. It had been delibe- rately excluded from the food and the warmth. When brought downstairs it had been placed aud left where it was by its mother. She had then gone in to her own breakfast and shut the door. The child could not get up-could not even stand. It was five years old, and insured for £ 7. Another case of rescue was in the persons of two littie lads, who had been fiendishly ill. treated by their father. Six months after their rescue one of them wouid start suddenly up in his sleep, trembling and white, and cry, "OH, 1 THOUGHT IT WAS FATHER On the streets this week the paper boys were crying, The Colin Campbell case all over again." The young imps had drawn on their imagination it was only the Duke of Marlborough applying fur his costs, which application, with others, lands my Lord Colin in the Bankruptcy Court. As I was passing into a friend's house, to be present at a large literary and artistic gathering, I heard the sensational bait skirled in the square, aud the first object that met my eye was my Lady Colin Campbell. She is to me very coarse looking. In Bohemia she is tolerated. An absurd paragraph appeared in Truth, to the effect that her Majesty, thinking her a much-wronged woman, had commanded her to a Drawing Room. Why, the "lueen was utterly disgusted with the whole case and even if Lady Colin made a better case of it, her intimacy, friendly or otherwise, with the Duke of Marlborough^ was quite enough for her Majesty. Lady Colin has some useful friends. On some slight ground Truth built its fiction. At the same At Home I met Rider Haggard, looking greatly better for his Eastern trip in search of mystical matter. He ha.s a forcible face. lie will live down the scandal aud the cry, and keep his position as one of the fore- most romancers of the day, or any dav. How can I tell in a few lines of the reception of her Majesty by the genuine East-enders, when they turned out to a man, woman, aud child, to welcome the dear "little lady who had come to open the People's Palace that Walter Besaut only dreamt of when he wrote All Sorts and Conditions of Men," but who, nevertheless, was among the number to enjoy the reality, and to partake of the favours of his gracious Sovereign ? From Paddington Station to the new palace was simply a seven-miles shout of welcome by the very peuplc—large- hearted, horny-handed, generous, and loving working men and women, who crowded every inch of available space on pavement and road, balcony and window, gable and roof, pillar and post, from end to end. At lioiborn Bars her Majesty was joined by the L)rd Mayor arid j corporation, and presented with the pearl sword of office, which being graciously returned they conducted her to the eastern boundary of their ancient city, where they took their leave, while the procession moved on, amidst the thousands of banners, mottoes of welcome, and seas of faces, to open the new Palace for the People at Mile End. Her Majesty, coached now and then by her son Albert Edward—who is au fait a, stone- laying—went through all the details of the cere- t I mony at the technical schools without flagging, accepted the address, graciously replied, handled the trowel, spread the mortar, deposited the coius, assisted the Archbishop to siner and pray for the success of the undertaking, declared the building open, bad a good word for all the promoters, knighted Mr Jennings, the most prominent, on the spot, accepted the gold key designed by a I workman, and, after acknowledging tfie presence of the great and good who bad come to pay her homage, took her leave amidsc the vociferous shouts of the assembly. Kolta is the mechanical mystic of the day. I could not help laughing at his wonderful perform- ance, remembering an old epitaph whose conclud- I ing line runs T: AND HATCHED HKt.WELF A CHERUBIM." I Th*- Cocon is tnere u> sper.t tor herselt I Maske- lyne and Cooke are the real spiritualtsts of the day—they dety detection. Illusion as produced by -Kolta is re d witchcraft. When the living figure bursts tha cocoon in the garb of a wasp or hornet, the audience are too rapt to utter a word. After all, Pharaoh's magicians were not such wonder-mongers. We of the nineteenth century far burpass them, ZINCO. J