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,SKETCHES of EMINENT WELSH…
SKETCHES of EMINENT WELSH CLERGYMEN. By J. Kilsby Jones. -oIJo- Minor Characters. In these noisy days of anti-this and anti- khat, when the multiplication of societies for the suppression of the maniforin evils of the is alarmingly rapid, and living ^°ga" are heard yelping and barking ^Piously in opposition concerts, there 18 danger lest the few "dead lions IIhould be forgotten, and the where- about80f theirdes become utterly unknown. i,Qr a small country like Wales—little m f any respects -it can boast of an ususually Jarge number of interesting and, on a small Scaie and by courtesy, classical spots, and of local and exclusively national celebrities rIot a few but of men known beyond Dyke a number small enough to be glinted on the iiiigers of one hand. In the neighbourhood of Llandovery are a ew places of interest to persons whose belief, If tested by its translation into practical life, contains the one cardinal article that the hief end of man is to make money interest- Ing to religious people of all persuasions, but especially so to Nonconformists on account of sayings and doings produced by a different theory of life and its chief pur- Pose. AbouT. three miles from the town, by the sIde of the turnpike-road leading thence to Llanwrtyd, and in sight from the Railway to that place, is a respectable chouse called Abercrychan, where was tlorn in the last century David Jones,^ the bunder of the well-known bank in South Wales called by country people the Black Jx Bank," from the circumstance that on its promissory notes is stamped the figure of tllnt useful and profitable beast which proved the prime factor in the making of the inker's fortune. His education was quite elementary, but he had as genius for taking money as other people have for Mathematics or music. He knew how o make the best of this world, lor he succeeded in turning everything 16 touched into pelf. The first money he ltlade was by the sale of a couple of pigs ;hich he had bought from Williams, of J^eiyn, upon whom he happened to call j en his wife was from home the pious Yl11n18t, suddenly roused out of one of his *eVerios, inadvertently sold two grunters flnstead of one, and, on receiving payment them, wished the purchaser good luck, /hen Mrs Williams returned she was ll^°rined by her bardic husband of the sale of ,e Pigs, and she remonstrated with him, re- tlllding him that one of them was intended hr their own use. She insisted on §oing to Abercrychan to beg the return ? of the grunters for the money paid °r it, but the young pig dealer declined to 0 that because he had wished the purchaser y°°d luck—that, with his nebulous notions ak°tit religion, and the poet's reputed 8aUctity as "the man of God," keing equivalent in money value, if not 4 trifle more, to the blessing of one the antediluvian patriarchs. Jones made by the transaction, and though not teligiolls, he was superstitious enough to ribe his first gain to the good luck wished 111 by the sweet singer of Welsh Israel. In OQlIe of time he took to cattle dealing, a lIlness which he thoroughly understood. ■ e a practical teetotaller, and knew, it iS s*id, every well from Llandovery to Kent, "Qeteas he had a relative whose knowledge of. aU the public-houses between these ^°Uitswas very intimate, as might easily be Edited by facial evidence, especially that f the nose, a formidable-looking promon- úty, on which no fly was ever known to be 60 feckless of life or wing as to run the risk of g going near it. The pig and cattle dealer, when he found ftiseif rich enough, founded the bank at ^Hdovery, with,in course of time,branches Llandeilo and Lampeter and it has St* been regarded, and rightly so, as safe the Bank of England. It is said that the founder retained life a tender regard for a grunter, Ui5 if it had been a kind of moon producing J tide in liia affairs, which, taken at the led on to fortune." It is generally Qderstood that the pig-oycn the learned which used to be exhibited some years lgO about the country-is not distinguished :)l' good manners, and that he is not con- ^'dered eligible for admission into kings '°Uses until he is dead, being in this respect (II) a par with a miser, who is not good for I!lltch until the breath is gone out of him. Some years ago the late Cynddelw, a very of humour, was dining in company with Mother Dissenting minister at the house of late D. Hughes, B.A., of Tredegar, who lad a large and valuable library, when the ^id minister asked Mrs Hughes if it would ftot be advisable now and then to sell a suffi- CIent number of books to buy a pig for the use f the family, and scarcely was the good ^e's reply out of her mouth before Cyn- expressed his hearty approval of the ^Sgestion, naming Pool's Synopsis as the first at should be brought under the hammer, ''in consequence of not knowing Latin, he d 0 "I can make nothing of it, but if you :111 translate it into bacon, I shall be able to ake in the meaning." ■The founder of the Black Bank," at Is death, left the whole of his property, tttounting to a hundred thousand, to his ltee grandsons, their father being dead d. in their hands it has borne much fruit the constant purchase of land ability to pay for it. Two of the oldest and youngest, r/m-repre- politically, for a number of years, b. elr native county. A short time before 15 death, the youngest, then out of Parlia- fj6llt in consequence of his pronounced tb. Ylsm, was told by an advanced Radical at if he had only stuck to the common lJe°ple, from whom his grandfather had ^rtUlg, and to the Dissenters, of whom his other was a member of the Calvinistic *"ethodist body, he, or some male re- esentative of the family, so long as j. ere was one, would have continued j tepresent the county of Carmarthen as ,^rig as water ran in the bed of the Tywi. liut it is too late to change," was his l( fission of the truth of the description. -^ever too late to mend," was the answer > llch reached his ears as the train for 1st a.dovery was about to steam out of the a.tloll where this conversation took place. jj 'M^dovery, or some place in the ^ibourhood, is said to be the CL place of Samuel J ones, a Man- liest <till \:Jl' shopkeeper and money-lender, l(l1.c afterwards the founder of the well- j nvri bank of "Jones, Loyd and Co. •^Vf1 (Jw 1 Was I'i"3 son-in-law, and was born at (If j'Uo"vach, a small farm within five miles he was the father of Lord Of him at length 011 another wd5iion. Myddvai (bastard Anglicised "ÎIo.. --AI: into Mothvey) was the residence of tlio celebrated physicians or that place, and whoso works, under the title of "Meddygan Myddvai," verepublished by the Welsh MSS. Society, under the editorship of Hugh ap Feddyg (Dr. Pugh, of Aber- dovey). Llanvair-ar-y-bryn, close to Llandovery, though it gives its name to a parish several miles in length, forms part of the parish of LIandingat, and it is in its churchyard that the mortal remains of Williams, of Pantycelyn, and of his second son, John, lie buried. Of them also at another time. Pantycelyn, which was the residence and property of the poet, is distant about four miles from Llandovery, and lies on the left- hand side of the public road from that town to Trecastle. Castell Craig Wyddon, situated at the foot of one of the spurs of the Epynt mountain, was visited in the bi-centenary year of Nonconformity by a number of people for the purpose of ex- amining a cave there, to which the earlier Non- conformists in times of persecution resorted at dead of night for the purpose of worship- ping God. They durst not leave their homes until their neighbours, ready to lay informatio n against them, had gone to bed, and equally necessary was it that they should return before cock-crowing. Ystrad Wallter, lying in the same direc- tion as Abercrychan, but nearer Llandovery, was the residence and property of Rhys Prydderch, M. A., a university man, the teacher of gentlemen's sons, the founder of several Nonconformists churches, and the collector of a number of proverbs which he published in a small thick volume, and en- titled "GemauDoethineb" (Gems of Wisdom). Wern Yelen, a farmhouse situated on the brow of Cevntelych, and overlooking Llan- dovery, was the birthplace of John Jones, LL.D., a Ullltarian minister, author of the first Greek and English Lexicon ever pub- lished. He was a voluminous author. Died in 1827. The ground is now clear for Llandovery's central figure.
-----------THE GIRL OF THE…
THE GIRL OF THE PERIOD. Beauty,though still a power, as it ever has been and ever will be, is less discussed in print than it was five years ago. Its present mission is to advertise soap and make money on the stage. But the beauty crazo has led to some curious con- sequences. Among others, it may be noted that girls have gone out of fashion. Twenty-seven is the correct age just now. Sweet seventeen is hopelessly démodê J. The result is a vast increase in the amount of hypocrisy in society. No girl ever wanted to stop at seventeen even when it was most in favour. But every woman now remains twenty-seven until even her own familiar looking-glass begins to speak in the odious language of perfect candour. Mrs Haweis, in her book on dress, recommends women always care- fully to choose their background. This would be good advice, were it practicable. But one cannot carry about one's background with one. It would be costly to one's self and inconvenient to one's friends. A better plan for keeping on good terms with one' self, so long as one remains at twenty- seven, is to fit up a looking-glass in a seductively flattering manner. It should stand before a win- dow with not too good a light. A pink silk blind should always subdue still further the mellowness of the daylight. Wax candles with pink shades should be the only means of illumination when daylight dies; and if there are only enough of these, a satisfactory toilet may be made, and one's pet delusion remain undisturbed. Other mirrors, less pleasantly placed, should be carefully avoided. In ordinary dress, as apart from the preposte- rous ioilets known as Court trains,our outlines are still egregious. The huge excrescence at the back of the waist abides with us. It appears im- possible to shake it off. If any woman ventures even to reduce its dimensions to moderation, maids and dressmakers disapprove and tell her that she entirely deprives herself of "style." Who could have thought that style could be thus defined as a hump at the back of the waist? This is ignominy indeed. For the rest, our clothes are not irrational, if we only refrain from piling up the agony in the matter of drapery. The autocrats of the toilet are still two men, Worth and Redfern, both English. When will their rule be shared by a woman ? English women are more active than they were twenty years ago, and the discomfort and encumbrance of their clothes are more acutely felt. Side by side with the development of the lady-like and attenu- ated being dubbed masher," has run the develop- ment in quite a contrary direqtion of the sisters and girl-cousins of these feeble-minded and feeble- bodied young men. Girls row, swim, ride, drive, play lawn tennis, go on walking tours, and other- wise freely use the limbs that nature gives them. The "mass of dry goods," as an American writer quoted by Lady Haberton, calls our superfluoous drapery, will soon become intolerable to the girl athlete, and she will eventually shake 'herself free from several unnecessary pounds weight of gar- menture, including the odious cushion that makes such an irrelevant, mound at the back. The probabilities are that she will plunge into the other extreme just at first, like a ship among the breakers but it may be hoped that she will, after the first inevitable reaction, settle down to a medium course of common sense in clothing. The old traditions are vanishing one by one. Sweet seventeen, with her slice of bread and butter and her blushing little simper, has given place to the maturity of twenty-seven. The low voice, hat most excellent thing in wonian is tI replaced by the loud, defiant tone that will be heard. The fashionable young woman of to-day steps from the carriage, leaving her mother to follow her up the steps, and into the house as best she may. Only the minority, whose "good rr.r.nners are the fruit of noole mind," pay that gentle deference to elders that is so sweet to them and so pleasant to see. Only a few retain the habit of courtesy to inferiors that once distin- guished the "lady of quality. To be conspicuous seems the end and aim of too many of our girls,and so long as they attain that object, the means by which it is reached are not too closely studied.- Mrs Humph?-,y iii Loi?doil, Socicty,"
CARE OF THE FEET. -
CARE OF THE FEET. Faithful care of the feet has more to do with good looks than most young ladies are inclined to believe. They must be kept warm and comfort- able by proper coverings, and by daily bathing and rubbing. No part of the body requires bath- ing more than the soles of the feet. The pores here are very active, and should be kept open. All hardening of the feet should be avoided if possible. If the feet are given to excessive perspiration, a few drops of ammonia should be added to their daily bath of water. If they burn, or are very tender, batho them in weak alum water. The water should always be warm. Cut the nails carefully, shorter than the finger nails. If they break rub on mutton tallow before going to bed, wrapping the toes in soft linen cloths. The beauty of the foot does not depend, as so many think, upon its small size, but rather upon its tenderness, height of instep, and perfect arch, and upon its firmness and colouring. Beauty is opposed to a tight boot. Any foot looks better when the shoe tits perfectly than either when too tight or too loose. A tight foot makes the face red, not a pretty flush which might be welcome but a dull purplish red, which is not at all becoming. But a loose boot is almost as bad for corns as a tight one, as the rubbing will produce hard spots. Moderate heels should be worn. It is not easy to walk in shoes with no heels at all, and high heels are not only uncomfortable and bad for health, but they destroy all grace of movement. If the feet are long and slender, wear front-laced or buttoned boots with short vamps. If short and plump, long-vamped boots, laced at the side, will make them look more slender.
MISTAKES WILL OCCUR. <
MISTAKES WILL OCCUR. < < Farmer By jiminy How these yere boots do crenk I'll have to grease 'em up a little, I guess." guess.
WORKMEN'S TOPICS. -------
WORKMEN'S TOPICS. BY W. Abraham, M.P., Mabon. WORKING MEN AND THEIR DUTY TO THEMSELVES. Since the great law of Providence means that man must labour for his daily bread—that the great business of lite on the part of the million is to provide the means ot subsistence-that in regard to tho vast majority of the human race this Jaw is imperative, and that men's responsi- bilities in the matter are made clear in their sufferings when they fail to pay due attention to the social and economical laws regulating it, then it appears to my mind that the first business ot working men should be to acquire the ability to Ii ve-to ascertain on what conditions, or under what circumstances, their labour may be rendered most conducive to the means of living. The labour of the workman is almost bis only dispo- sable commodity, and therefore he has an inalien- able right to obtain for it the highest possible price. Not only that, but, according to the doc- trine already laid down, it is imperative upon him to do that. Hence it becomes his duty to devise, to contrive, to plan, and to use every fair, just, and moral expedient in order to aid him in bringing his labour to the best possible market. Unless he does tins he will be morally responsible for his npglect, and for any sufferin or privation that such neglect may bring upon himself and those dependent on him. Consequently it follows that if we are to effectually promote the welfare of our own class we must begin by endeavouring to obtain a correct notion of our actual condition, and of the manner in which it is influenced by circumstances, and, if possible, we should apply remedial principles. To find out our actual condition needs no great effort. Although, comparatively speaking, we have been in a somewhat better condition, all things considered, during the present century, than at any preceding period, still,a large number of our class (the working men of the country), if not in a state of abject poverty, are labouring under the pinch of poverty. Poverty, assuredly, is an evil, and when a large proportion of any nation is in a state of poverty, whatever may be the accumulation of wealth in the hands of a few that nation is not in a prosperous con- dition. Poverty may arise from various causes. Some of these, being national, may extend in a certain degree to nearly every member of the community. Other causes are only partial in their operation, and yet they affect whole bodies of people, while a third class of influences, although widely diffused,is to be traced chiefly to the character and circumstances of individuals. The general poverty of a nation is indicated by low wages in all industries which require no peculiar skill or previous training, and for which every person of ordinary strength and ability is therefore com- petent. This state of things may proceed from a disproportion between the popula- tion of a country and the means of subsistence at its command. It may be that the connection between this proportion and the symptoms of poverty in the mass of the people does not at once become obvious. The common observer, seeing that all who have money enough with which to buy provisions are able to get them, concludes that the existing deficiency is that of money a nd not of bread. Indeed, some reflection is necessary to discover the real nature of the apparent1 evil. The chief part of the food in every country is bought by the mass of the people, the rich constituting but a small portion of the community, and they, individually, cannot consume a much greater quan- tity of corn than other men. Now, all that the working classes—the so-called lower orders—have to give in return for bread is their labour. Wiien, therefore, the quantity of food becomes insufficient for all, and in conse- quence some are in danger of going without, each individual, as a rule, is induced to offer more of his labour than he would otherwise do to obtain a share of the food. He is obliged to take less wages—wages oftentimes that will not buy him sufficient food for a comfortable existence. Let me here remark that in determining whether wages are really high or low, it is not the amount of money received for work done, but the quantity of provisions which that money will command, for if a shilling will purchase two loaves of bread one year, and only one loaf the next, the man who receives constantly the same weekly wages for his labour will, at the former period, be receiving twice the amount of rea I wages as at the latter. Therefore, one of the principal questions to be considered in the attempt to ameliorate the con- dition of the masses is in regard to the adoption of measures which sh all tend to equalize the ratio between the supply of food and the population to be supported on it. Nothing is more evident than that the number of persons inhabiting any given place always manifest a tendency to increase beyond the supply of food whi ch can be raised in that place. Suppose a man residing on a farm con- sisting of a limite d number of acres, the produce of which is just enough for the consumption of himself and three sons. When his sons grow up and have sons of their own, their first effort will perhaps be directed towards improving the cultiva- tion of their land, and consequently towards in- creasing the amount of produce therefrom. Bu after a while, as their families continue to mul- tiply,even this resource will necrssarilyproveinade- quate. They must then submit to starvation, which is not likeiy, or make their selection from the two following measures—either some part of the family must remove to other ground, and there grow corn for their support, or, if they are desirous of continuing in the same place, they must employ persons at a distance to raise food for them. And since they could not expect those persons to supply them with provisions without receiving an equivalent in retu rn, a portion of the little com- munity at home must work up some other articles with which to pay for their supply of food. Should there be difficulties connected with either or both these modes of proceedin-if, for example, there were obstacles in the way of free exchange of manufac tured commodities for food or uncertainty in obt aining an adequate stock of provisions from distant qnaiters, and if the re- moval to new land is attended with unavoidable expense and delay, then it would become the obvious and direct dictate of prudence that those who were already maintained on the farm should refrain from increasing their numbers by marriage more rapidly than the prospect open to them of being able to provide for their offspring. But should they, on the other hand, by some unaccountable infatuation resolve to encourage their sons and daughters in marrying, and yet neither teach them to cultivate fresh lands for themselves nor permit others to transmit the produce of those lands for their use, no other result could ensue than a perpetual sub-division of their scanty pittance of food, ac- companied by the constantly-increasing horrors of want. The natural tendency of things which is thus exemplified on a single farm must equally take place in respect to a whole country, of whatever extent it may be. There would only be this difference—the development would be slower. When general poverty is the result of circum- stances like these, it is clear that nothing can permanently arrest its progress but the adoption of measures which shall tend to equalise the ratio between the supply of food and the popu- lation to subsist on it. In my opinion it is the business of the philanthropist and the legisla- tor to direct and aid the working classes by providing some such plan as the following 1st, provide an outlet for any excess of numbers 2nd, furnish additional supplies of food by bring- ing in the produce of distant and fertile soils 3rd, encourage moral and prudential habits in the mass of the people; and, 4th, provide efficient relief during a temporary derangement of trade.
[No title]
Brown (kindly): "I haven't seen you look so happy since your husband died. I suppose you are becoming resigned to your sad loss." Mrs Smith (candidly): "Yes; I am to be married again. A grand jury in Gainsville, Ga., it is related. had found, some years ago, a bill of indictment against a person for carrying concealed weapons. One of the jurors arose and said, "We have found a bill against this man, now let U8 search the grand jury for concealed weapons." It was found that he, the foreman, and five other jurors had pistols in their pockets. When they recovered from the shock of this discovery the k indictment was torn up and thrown wway.
---WELSH MUSIC AND MUSICIANS.…
WELSH MUSIC AND MUSICIANS. By Dr. Parry, Principal of the Musical College of Wales. NEGLECTED WELSH CANTATAS. Eighth Letter. Since I promised a letter containing a list of music from the pens of our neglected Welsh composers suitable for concerts and competitions, I have obtained from our principal publishers a supply of music. It is but just to state that this letter, like all that have preceded it, claims but to contain sincere and heartfelt suggestions in favour of our improvement and fidelity to native pro- ductions as the best means of leading us on to still higher results in the future. Not that I claim Welsh compositions as being in any way equal to the works of the great masters. In what I am about to say I shall have in mind not so much our National Eisteddfod as local contests and home concerts and competitions. I agree with others that the two best ways of promoting national growth and progress are (1) by the study of the works of all masters, schools, and styles, and (2) by carefully encouraging and faithfully support- ing our own national characteristics. This is accomplished by being dutiful to the efforts and music of those who have pioneered our national cause. All nations have had their art period of success and reverses. And we have had ours in Wales. Yea rs ago gifted men made their appear- ance as composers in our country. They in- cluded the late Rev Tanymarian, John Ambrose Lloyd, Owain Alaw, Brinley Richards, also Mr John Thomas, and, as an organiser, theorist, critic, and writer, the Rev Ieuan Gwyllt. That was the aurora of an art epoch in the musical history of our country. Then those I have named were followed by a group of successors in Eos Llechyd, Gwilym Gweut, Alaw Ddu, John Thomas (Llanwrtyd), Emlyn Evans, and, still later, D. Jenkins, R. S. Hugbes, and J. H. Roberts. Nor are all named, many others having made their appearance in the meantime. That was a happy period of industry and friendly co- operation. Afterwards there seems to have come a check and reverse in our national circle. I mention this as I firmly believe that circum- stances make men as well as that "men make circumstances." During the productive period Wales brought forth its two musical journals, Great y Corau and Y Cerddor Cymreig. Such was the happy state of music amongst us that there were created the first canta tas in our language—the "Prince of Wales," also" Gwyl Gwalia," and or Gweddi Habacuc," an oratorio, terminals, and many beautiful glees, and the best of anthems—are from the pen of Owain Alaw. This composer was the Kent of Wales. His works were the saviour of the influences which the school of English church and cathedral music had upon him. MR JOHN AMBROSE LLOYD is our Dr. Dykes as a psalmodist," and our Haydn as a tuneful writer of choral music, which is beyond doubt the finest of its kind in our language. His beautiful cautata, Gweddi Habacuc," also made its appearance in the same period, and a sweet, but unpublished, cantata, Twysog Cymru." Wales also produced its first oratorio, The Storm of Tiberias." from the highly-dramatic pen of the Rev. C. Stephens, Tanymarian. The work contains some of our most dramatic choruses, also a requiem. Mr Stephens left us his tune book and his monthly musical magazine, "Grealy Corau." Rev John Roberts (Ieuan Gwyllt) rendered i^lalbulableservices to the musical literature of our country, in his "Cerddor Cymreig," his" Tune Book," and" Cymanfa Gerddorol Gwent a Morganwg," all of which exerted healthy influences on the young. Mr Brinley Richards, Mr J olm Thomas, and Miss Edith Wynne, and soon after that, Miss Megan Watts, were other flowers of our musical garden. From the pen of Mr Thomas wo have two cantatas, The Bride of Neath Valley," and the dramatic cantata of "Llewellyn," which is a work of much interest, and should be issued in a cheap form. The volumes of Welsh airs are also from these two sons of Cambria. There are also other cantatas, "Glyndwr," by Eos Bradwen, quite easy, tune- ful, and serviceable; as well as some popular songs. GWILYM GWENT, our Welsh Callcott, as a glee writer, has showered upon us many vocal beauties for the concert-room, and competitions in the four-part song and glee forms. His facile pen has also given us two cantatas-" Y Mab Afradlon," and" Plant y Tlotty." ALAW DDU, another of this period, whom I might term as our example of the Palestrina school in vocal part writing, has furnished us with the results of a most diligent life, and has given us his "Llewellyn," and other un- published cantatas; also many anthems, glees, and part songs which need unearthing. For many yeass he issued a monthly journal, Cerddor y Cymrn." Mr John Thomas (Llanwrtyd) is another of our Welsh musical school of the same happy period. He has produced for us much choral music of a tuneful vein for male and mixed voices. His music ought to be more used. "Gwarchae Harlech," by my fellow professional, Mr Lawrence, of Merthyr, is another product of the same creating period. Dewi Alaw, Tafalaiv, and others supported him in his monthly journal, cry Gnddwr." Our active and ever-spirited friend Mr D. Emlyn Evans, is another child of the period of which I am spe aking. He has favoured us with numerous glees, part songs, anthems, songs, and a cantata, Y lylwyth Teg." For years he edited a journal, Cronicl y Cerddor." He has also heaps of unpublished works, amongst others some cantatas, psalms, and other choral music, but he, like all other Welsh composers, has found his art a burden, owing to the want of fidelity on the part of the country to the true cause of Welsh music. Propriety precludes the writer from any reference to himself or to any of his works, MR DAVID JENKINS was the next comer in this last period after a gap of a considerable time. From his illustrious pen we have received many cantatas Arch y Cy- famod," David and Saul," David and Jonathan," as well as David and Goliath," together with numerous other choral compositions, his tune book, etc. Mr R. S. Hughes, the Cambrian Melodist, is another of this last period who has given us geveral gems, sveh as solos, and a cantata, Bugeiliaid." Mr J. H. Roberts, of Carnarvon, has done some real good work. He has cantatas unpublished which deserve to be known. Nor have we exhausted this fruitful period. From our Welsh Novello-Messrs Hughes and Son, Wrexham— to whom Wales owes a debt of gratitude, we have had Anthemau y Cerddor," Anthemydd Sol-fa," Muwsig y Miioedd," Yr Anthemau Newyddion y Cerddor," a series of some 150 pieces "Y Gyfres Gerddorol," Y Anthemydd y Canigydd," making in all thousands of pieces. Some other publishers have also issued a large number of pieces of Welsh music. I trust I have furnished evidence of an industrious past, and a. period of fidelity on the part of Welsh composers. We cannot over-estimate the vast amount of good done in South Wales in connection with that movement, by" Cymanfa Gerddorol Gwent a Morganwg," through the indefatigable labours of our late and esteemed countryman, Ieuan Gwyllt. But what is being done now ? Is this an epoch-making period ? Are we faithful in keeping up and continuing tho grand national cause so nobly commenced ? Does the lethargic, jealous, and mischief-sewing policy of the present produce creative prospects such as those of the past ? Let us be faithful to oar national artistic cause by being faithful to each other, and in lend- ing our aid to every good movement, no matter who may be the chief, for the main strength is not centred in the leader, but in those who support him. Let our Welsh choirs perform Welsh works at their Christmas concerts. May we bail the speedy return of those old happy days of co- operation and harmony when all shall be as a member of the one and great 'national common chord, with our musical progress as the healthy tonic in our Welsh scale.
[No title]
Little boy (at table): "Pa, give me some bread." "Father: My son, you must remem- uet. that older folks have the preference." Little boy: I don't, want any preference I want a biscuit."
IWELSH GLEANINGS. I
I WELSH GLEANINGS. I -}- (By Lloffwr.) It has, I think, been practically conceded by this that Welshmen are able to hold their own in the pulpit with the representatives of any nation under the sun. On more than one occasion have I given instances of young Welshmen of to-day being called to fill some of the most important English pastorates, and making their mark so effectually as to be acknowledged by all as among the fovmost pulpit orators of the day. I ain not now going to enlarge upon this topic, nor to give a list of these eminent spiritual physicians, but I want to direct attention to the fact that Welshmen in the pre- sent, no less than in the past, are able to make their way to the trout rank in the medical pro- fession. The name of Dr Davies, the son of the simple peasant near Carmarthen, is sufficiently well- known all over the world as that of the physician who had the honour of receiving the Queen of England into the world. The story of his early life, his struggles to secure a good education, his untiring efforts in the face of numerous difficulties, would make a irost interesting chapter in another edition of "Smiles's Self-Help." Dr John Williams affords a very similar in- stance of the power of native pluck and perse- verence. The son of a Nonconformist minister residing in one of the most remote dis. tricts of Carmarthenshire, he early found the upward path beset with difficulties which required a stout heart to cope with and an untiring spirit to overcome. At a very early age he was left to the care of a widowed mother, who could then but ill afford to provide him with the maans of education he pined for. In the face of difficulties which would have broken any less brave a heart he struggled on, and to-day stands an ornament to his profession, and an honour to the country which gave him birth. Dr Isambard Owen is another instance of the successful Welshmen who has taken to the profession of medicine. Few names are more favourably known in the ranks of successful professional men, or in the ranks of enthusiastic 'patriotic Welshmen intent upon the elevation of all that is pure and best in Cymro, Cymru, a Cnymraeg. There are two or three other Welshmen in London making their mark in this distinguished profession, and affording both hope and encouragement to the young Wales, which is turning longing eyes to the professional prizes which have been in the past out of the reach of the average Welshman, but which the increased educational facilities of the age are bringing nearer and nearer to the son of poor Shoo Gymro. The metropolis, though It possesses its share of Welsh talent, have not succeeded in enticing the e y at Rochester, we find there Sir William xvooerfcsj 3YI.D I1 S FRCP lecturer in chemical medicille'at the victoril University. He does not sttud alone, for Pro- fessor John E. Morgan, M.D. MA FRCP and lecturer in the principles and" practice of medicine in the Victoria University, ably assists him in upholding the honour of Wales. The latter, by the way, is a brother to Mr Osborne Morgan, whose bold defence of the rights and privileges and fair fame of Welshmen caused such a sensation iu the House of Commons last week. The two last-named \re> j beli North Walians. Gwynedd, however, does not monopo. lise the talent. Carmarthenshire plays its part well, for it has sent Mr T. Jones, M.B., B.S., F.R.C.S., to be senior surgeon to the Royal Infir- mary, and lecturer in practice and operative surgery at the Victoria University. Another South Walian, a Cardiganshire man, who has ob- tained more than a local celebrity, is Dr A. Emrys-Jones M R.C>S., &c., surgeon to the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, and ophthalmic sugeon to the Bolton Infirmary and the Barnes Home Industrial Schools, Heaton Mersey. Reference to Dr Emp j0nes as aQ oculist> reminds me that Dr Richard Williams, at Liver- pool, and Dr Owen at Birmingham, are among the leading authorities in tho j • 1L' • tQe kingdom in this im- portant branch of the profession < What redounds to the honour of these eminent Welshmen quite as much as the mark they have made in their profession, is the fact that they are all warm patriots, taking a lively interest in Welsh affairs, ready and anxious to do all that lies in their power to elevate their fellow- countrymen, and to this end taking a leading part in the formation of Wel,il National Societies in their respective districts. These men, 4like all truly great men, have nOlle of the Die Shon Dafydd about them. They are proud of their country, their nation, and their language, and in this pride put to shame those simpletons who think that everything Welsh in sentiment or language must of necessity be undignified, if not absolutely degrading. I have referred to Dr. Enarys Jones. I am glad to be able to give a few particulars respecting him, which I have culled from a recent issue of the Health Journal, which accompanies the interesting biographical sketch by a well- executed portrait. Dr E.nrys Jones, who is only 35 years of age, is a native of Llanarth, in Cardi- ganshire. Having been educated at the local schools, Llanarth, and the Rhydowen and Cardi- gan Grammar Schools, he proceeded to Glasgow University, where he commenced bis medical studies. He finished his course at Edinburgh University, where he took bis M.D. degree in 1877, when 25 years old. He had already shown ths peculiar bent of his Genius by making the study of the eye his specialty, and his thesis on some ophthalmic studies when taking bis degree obtained high commendation. His contributions to medical journals on ophthal- mic subjects are numerous, and his advance to front rank as an oculist has been remarkably lapid, and few men as specialists succeed at so early an age in establishing so high a reputation. The health journal is by no means chary in the praise it gives this worthy son of Gwalia. It does not confine its sketch to a record of Dr Emrys Jones' professional success only, but adds that he has a special penchant for old Welsh books. Indeed anything Welsh has a prime claim upon his regard, and in no position is he more at home and more congenially occupied than that of presi- dent cf the Welsh National Society of Man- chester. » • I see there is some danger of my having nothing but doctors in my sheaf this week. To avoii giving too strong a flavour of medicine to my gleanings, I will add one or two other items. Mr Edward Edwards (brother to Mr Owen Edwards, who has won such honours as a historian at Oxford), who is only a very young man, has been appointed assistant lecturer to Principal Reiohel at Bangor University College. He will at the same time continue his own studies, and looks forward to a university career at Edinburgh. I trust it may prove as brilliant as that of his brother. The death of Dr. Edwards (Bala) is on all hands regarded as a national loss. He had helped much to form the character of the Wales of to- day. I understand that Mr David Jenkins, Mus. Bac., Aberystwyth—an old student, by the way, of the University College there-is composing a Requiem in memory of Dr. Edwards, which will be dedicated to his no less distinguished son, Principal Edwards, of Aberyetwith.
- TALK OF THE TOWN. .
TALK OF THE TOWN. JOSEPH HOFMAN HIS CUURTESY AND GENIUS- A LADIES' CONCERT, AND WHO PLAYED—A FIRST K1DDLB—LADY POACHERS—FIFTY, NOT OUT- PROWLERS-THE AMERICAN BAR-TIPPLERS-A LUCKY SHOT A CORONET THP COMMONKKS' PRIZO-HFRR KRUPP: HIS WORK—M. BROADLEY'S BOOM—THE AMERICAN GARDEN PARTY, AND SOME OF THE COMPANY—THK PRINCiC OF WALES, LORD HIGH ADMIRAL-MRS LANGTRY AND HKR NEW VENTURE—MUSIC HALLS—MRS B. POTTER AGAIN. I have been hearing some interesting anecdotes of the child Joseph Hofman, the marvel musician. Mrs Moscheles, the wife of the well-known artist, whose beautiful 'idij in Cadogan-square is such a rallying centre of the cultured, told me she never was more interested in any child. His hand, she says, is physically strong, and gives you the grip of a strong man. He heard a lady play on the pianoforte lately, who is considered a marvellous execucionist. Joseph was delighted; "it is wonderful," he said, quite gravely, "her mastery of technique, but she does not make the music speak." It was force and execution minus saul, and this the child recognised. It is far easier to play the piano," he said, thau to play ball." He is full of pretty courtesies and speeches, showing the innate delicacy and tact of his naturei I think one of the most amusing as well as delightful entertainments of a public nature I have been at this season was Lady Folkestone's concert at Prince's Hall. The entire orchestra, chorous, and all the performers were ladies, of whom Lady Folkestone was FIRST FIDDLE. The band was a string band, composed of first and second violins, violas, violoncellos, and contra- basses. Among the performers were Lady Florence Wilbraham, Lady George Nevill, Lady Margaret Kerr, Hon. Alice Heuniker, Lady Sybil Kuox-fifty-seven in all, and one at the piano. Among the chorus, were Countess Valda Gleichen, Lady Beatrice Leslie-Kaye, Countesse- of Northesk, Cowper, Clarendon, and Romney, Viscountesses Downe and Ebrington, Lady Aveland-fifty-eight in all. The soloists were Viscountess Folkestone, Mrs Stanley Stubbs, Mrs Alfred Trott Gatty, Mrs Andrew Tuer, &c. Lady Folkestone conducted, standing in front of the piatforin, with her back to the audience, and facing the entire band, who were placed on graduated seats. Lady Folke- stone is a fine woman she was dressed in magnificent old lace and white satin, the train of which oveiflowed the borders of the dais. Her arms are marvellous for size. To see her, wand in hand, conducting and controlling the answering musicians, was a sight to remember. From my stall, about the middle of the hall, I had a grand view of the distinguished fiddlers, some of whom literally blazed in diamonds. It was a unique sight, and intensely interesting. The music discoursed was of the best kind, and excellently rendered. The singing was, in point of merit, if not fact, quite professional—nothing amateurish or weak about it. The hall was was filled with the crime de la crime of society, headed by the Princess of Wa1e. and her two elder daughters, the King of Greece, and some minor additions from royalty. There was a band and chorus of over 100 ladies, which had been trained exclusively by Lady Folkestone, per forming concerted music to admiration. Ladies are poaching on the privileges of the male sex. In a generation or two they will have been bred up to equality, and will contest the ground with t'neimn. Already in outdoor pastimes they hoi 1 their own, and in cricket, bowl splendidly. I beg to present to my readers the crack batter Qf the century- FIFTY—AND NOT OUT. I should advise the ladies to take lessons in the science of self-defence, and, learning how to bit straight from the shoulder, use their knowledge in forces when annoyed on the streets. A young and good-looking girl, perfectly modest and self-pos- sessed, told me lately that she had frequently suffered from the intrusion of prowlers. One day, in an underground railway carriage, when travel- ling a short distance in a first-class carriage, a gentleman, middle-aged it is generally the elderly who are prowlers—took a seat beside her, and, opening a package, left some photographs beside her. lie did not speak. She looked at them as they by by her side, then started back in horror, got out at the next station, and into another compartment. Naturally she shrank from giving the wretch into custody. The move- ment on the part of householders respecting the clearing of the streets at night ought to include the prowlers as objects to be improved away. The Americans have given us a new sensation this season—their bar. No big party is any- where without a bar of American drinks. The style is: Have you bad a mint julep ?" No, I had a cocktail." Then come and trv a mint julep, it is divine "-and off the pair g The lady changes partners, and pays the bar another visit, tippling an eye-opener." Not intoxicating Oh no; only a naild Etitiaulan,. By the end of tho evening the pair are very merry, and for ever after swear by the American bar. All the luck is England's this year, and now an Englishman has won the Queen's Priz His name is LIEUT. C. 0. WARREN, OF THE MIDDLESEX VICTORIA RIFLKS, a solicitor. I give the fortunate marksman's portrait without comment, as the daily papers have exhausted his history, and the history of the contest. Another and more amusing contest was that between the Lords and Commons. There is a prize at which the latter aim, and of late years have won pretty frequently. I give A SUCCESSFUL SHOT. The subject of shooting reminds me of the death of Herr Krupp, full of years and honour. Herr Krupp was 77 years of age. In his working span he—that is, up to 1&76—had delivered up to different governments 15 000 cannon, with their attendant carriages and ammunition. The cele- brated steel works at Essen were founded by his fathar in 1810. They sprang from small beginnings —giving, at first. employment to only two hands- to-day they employ over 15,000. The story goes that on his deathbed, in 1826 Krupp senior en- trusted to his two sons the secret of the manu- facture of the steel which had won him such a name; but it is said that the lads did not take in the directions with full understanding, and that they had the work to do over again. Last week was a crush time of functions- people hurrying up entertainments previous to migrating for the rest uf the summer. I attended one very unique and successful affair held at*he Victoria Hall, the Criterion. It was given by Mr Broadley, better known as Pasha Broadley, and sacretary to Mr Augustus Harris. The Pasha" celebrated his fortieth birthday. Katti Lanner's clever little ballet dancers danced beautifully, dressed in pinlr-little fairies of from five to seven years old. Tiien Signor Foli sang "Father O'Flymi," and Mdlle. Sigrid Arnoldson gave Eckert's Echo Son" exquisitely. Madame Alwina Valleria sang "A Lark's Flight" and "Horn", Sweet Heme." The hall was lull of distinguished guests-ambassador, princes, and members of the nobility. I noted the Marchioness of Bristol, the Couutess of Harrington, Lady Anna Chandos Pole, Lord and Lady Lamington, Lord Claud Hamilton, the young Lord Athlum- ney, the Bishop and Bishopess of Gloucester, and others. All who were noteworthy in the guilds of literature, art, and science, were gathered there, and many, too, of the theatrical profes- sion. Mr Wilder, the little American writer, amused the august assemblage with character representations, and imitation of the most amusing description, of which the cleverest, to my mind, was the story of a letter, told by the facial expression only. In the first part, the mother-in-law has taken possession, and the reader of the letter pulls a gruesome countenance, which changes from bad to worse, till the old lady falls sick, when alternate fear and hope chase each other in killing guise, in every degree of expression but at the end of the letter the death of the intruder is told, and the reader's face suddenly bredes out into radiant delight. Before reading the missive with his features, the little reciter sketches the outline of its contents, and so we knew what was to follow. Nex day I went to the garden party given by the American Exhibition. The paying public were roped off, and the guests all assembled in and around the new Welcome Club, a charming little villa-bungalow. There were little tables, where refreshments were served. There were present a very select company of the Upper Ten, and representatives of the tine arts. The day was glorious, everyone had on their best bib and tucker, and the scene was gay and bright. Signor Capri sang divinely. Later in the after- noon parties were made toad venture the Switch- back, and to try Tobogganing. I never saw any large alfresco entertainment better managed. Next evening saw me at the final gathering of the Salon in the Galleries of the Nineteenth Cen- tury Fine Art Society. About 300 were present. Mdiio. Marie Decca sang, as she always sings, beautifully, her rare upper notes taking many by surprise whe had not heard her before. The fine tenor, Mr Davyd Lewis, sang, and the blind guitarist played. Many well-known Americans were among the guests. It was a brilliant re- union. I understood from one of the committee of the salon that the number had nearly reached 200, and was daily adding to its roll. Mrs Frank Lttslia blazed in diamonds, and Mrs John Bigelow rattled away in a lively way all her own. Mrs Moulton," the poetess, was also there Marie Curelli, too, a fair, gentle-looking girl. It was whispered that next session royalty would honour this useful and brilliant society with its presence. It would bf) a touching attention if the PRINCE OF WALES, AS LORD HIGH ADMIRAL, would shoul der his gun, and.show how seas were won By the way, talking of H.R.H., has any one seen the astounding revelations by the Lady Farmer, in her book, "Eighteen Years 'on the Sandringham Estate (Temple Publishing Co., Holy well-street). It is spicy I hear the Prince of Wales admires Mrs Bernard Beere. Mrs Langtry is trying hard to carry a divorce in the States. Somehow—an old friend—met Langtry at the Victoria Railway Station the other day, and asked what he did there. I've come to see my wife,"he answered, "I hear she is to be here en route to America." If she gets her divorce, for which she naturalises as an American citizen, Mr G-, her manager, marries her. I was told on pretty good authority to-day that the Prince of Wales is very jealous of his lovely wife. Not a bad joke. There are no less than 425 music-halls in the great city of London, with a total seating capacity of 200,000. The seating capacity of the 60 theatres is not over 125,000 and so it will life seen that the music-hall is the popular form of amuse- ment with the British public. As a matter of fact, many of the so-called theatres are little better than music-halls, the entertainments given partaking more of the variety show than of the legitimate drama. It is not above the mark to say that the popular taste of London demands the sweets of variety's plan for a quarter of a million of adult Britons. I do not claim that a number as vast as this attend the music-halls every night, but the managers could accommodate an army of this size, and do, undoubtedly, on high days and holidays. One of the women correspondents who writes from London to The Press, an American paper, describes a visit to the residence of Mrs James Brown Potter. She found the actress asleep, tired out with continuous rehearsal but she saw her mother, Mrs Urquhart, whom the correspondent' describes as one of the prettiest of petite old ladies, with an elderly editlon of La Potter's beautiful mouth, and a warm Southern manner such as is otteu seen among well-bred women south of Mason and Dixon's line. Her wavy hair is as white as the driven snow, and she has it becomingly coiffed in the prevailing mode. She was gowned in a black dress of softest China crape, and wore a few well-chosen ornaments. She attributes her'aaughter's failing to strike the note of popular success in her initial appearance en- tirely to the lack of suitability of the part. ZINCO.
[No title]
The Girl of the Period now carries her bands ia her overcoat pocket just like a inan-partly becuuse it is fashionable, and partly, doubtless, because there are holes in her gloves.
Samuel's Sentiments. ----
Samuel's Sentiments. SAMMY AS AN ANGLER. Angling? Rather! I have been angling many a time-and I know it. The first time I fished was in a well known river. I might as well have been tishing in air. I didn't get a bite but a ferocious dog, that was the property of a farmer on whose land I had strayed, did. The dog took a fancy to the pattern of n.y trousers, and he took a pattern away. I wish he'd taken the sample from any other portion of my trousers than he did. Then I fished in a canal. I didn't catch any- thing, but a tow rope caught me. I was going to say that it landed me about seven yards off, but it didn't-I wish I had been landed." It threw me into the water, and the blatant and beastly boatman said the canal owners ought to prosecut.e me for going down to steal mud. I have had a good deal of trouble fishing, as you will see. I could stand it well enough if people wouldn't interfere wfth me. But when clever- heads" who go past will keep asking me what I have caught, whether I have caught aught but a cold, whether there are any cod fish in the stream, and whether I have ever used cobblers' wax for bait, I begin to be an- noyed. The worst nuisance amongst them is tiie intrusive person who. with a diabolical grin, volunteers to gu in alld" houk 'em on." He is generally a sort of village idiot, and has a large following in the shape of little boys eating treacle and bread, and who laugh at everything he say, I generally manage to be even with him, sir. Once at a place where the stream was shal- low I got him near the brink, and then I gave him a gentle push. Talk about hooking them on he had to be nooked out. He was rescued from four feet of water with a double hook and glmp by a man who was fishing for pike. We succeeded ill getting him to the bank with a lauding net, and then we turned him upside down to let the water rui- out. I should think that fince that date he has always Smoked" it off instead of B ski! tg whether he might "hook 'em on" when he has seen an angler. I have had some splendid days' sport sometimes. It may seem incredible, but I have actually caught as many as four sticklebacks, one gudgeon, a newt, and a dead roach in one day. There are various styles of angiing. I'm not a fly fisherman myself. I have tried that form of fishing, but I generally found that the fish were more fly than I was. I have chiefly tried bottom fishing, but I haven't quite got to the buttom of it yet. When I got thrown into the canal, as I have told you, I thought that was bottom fishing with a vengeance. Fly fishing it very easy to accomplish—if you only know how. Till you know how there are many difficulties in y,)ur path. Never begin to learn near a popular riverside promenade, or yoi.il hook somebody's eye out probably, or find that you have caught A portion of the ear of a passer by. It is in vain to apologise under such circum- stances. If you do not accomplish this feat you will probably fancy that you are crack- illg a whip and whisk your end fly ,off. You will hearucrack.|Wheu you do you may make up your mind that the end fly on your line has lit somewhere bphind you two or th ree fields off. When you do get your liue to tile water, it is probable that it will fall in a taugied lump almost at your feet. There is nothing sweeter and more soothing perhaps about fishing than being interviewed by a deputation of three cows in a lonely spot. They come up cautiously, and stare at you as though wondering what it was all about. Then one of them suddenly makes a dash for your fishing-basket, which contains your dinner, and sends the whole lot in the river. The only advice I can give you is that you should fold np your tackling and take your hook-hook and line, and rod as well, of course. It is highly probable that one of the cows go with you—very close behind you. Never mind your dinner- you'il get more of beef, in a lively state, than you want if you stop behind. A man who stops to play at pitch and toss with cows always loses. The cow generally goes head and you go tail. Then gamekeepers may interview you it is a way they have. If one asks you what you are doing there when you are fishing preserved waters, quietly—if he is less than you are, mind you-ask him in return whether he can swim. If he takes 110 notice of this, square him. You can easily succeed in doing this, for all keepers of game are fond of fowl play of that burt, Jf you do, by accident, succeed in catching one or two good fish, it is always well, when you have done fisliing for the day, to stuff your basket fell of stones and grass up to the very lid, and then put the two or three fish on tiietop. If anybody asks you what you havecanght, say nothing, but simply and significantly lift the lid and di-sclose thescily spoil. Th gazer w lil at once conclude-that is uiii^ss he has been at the game himself-that you have caught a basket full. A fisherman should never carry too larere a creel with him, for one very small and consumptive looking fish looks very bad in a wilderness of basket. Should you catch a fish of a sort you can't exactly classify, say nothing about it, but magnanimously rt- turn it to the stream. It is well to be exceedingly careful with hooks. Don't leave them about before starting on your excursion —or after, either. A baby with seven sneck-beni hooks it its interior is 1nt to hf, r^sfivs even under the influence of soothing syrup. Some men like wrapping their lines round their hats, out be careful of this practice when you are travelling by rail, or you will almost inevitably hook your- self to the carriage somehow. I know of nothing better calculated to shed a heavenly calm over the human soirit than a large hook in one's thumb. Ti.1e dance one executes on the spot is not probably of such a kind as au experienced ballet master micrht approve, but it has a weird charm about it which would recommend it highly to an Indian of the Hokipoki, or some other tribe. I was talkirg about pre served waters just now-they are not presened in the sense that ginger and fruits are, you know. Well, I generally find some- how that when I fish in them I gO on tbe wrong day accor(iin,, to the keeper, that is. He may well be called a keeper, for lie keeps the fish, it's very certain. Some people like to fiht" a fish, to tire it gradually out, you know. I don't. When I hook one I lift it straight out right away into the field at the back. If it makes too much hother there I murderously settle it with a stone. I never try to get the hook out of tile jaw., of a pike. I did once. It whispered its last dying speech and confession to two of my fingers with its teeth, and I have the marks yet. I once caught a young salmon. Yes, it was a smelt— and it smelt very badly. It was dead and float- ing on the top of the water. It had possibly been so young that it hadn't learnt to ewiui and had got out of its depth and been drowned. I don't know how it i but I frequently have the nitsfortuike to get Iny line hst in a tree. Under these circum- stances it is always best to try and extri- cate it gradually. Don't be rash aud i ve a tug aud imagine that you can pull the tree up by th roots. You won't succeed. On the contrary you'll tind that your rod is a wreck, and your line a tangled mass of con- fusion. The only thing < you can do is to go borne. Never try wading, even in pro- per india-rubber stock- ings. If you chance to make |a slip and get your stockings full of water, woe betide vou. It will take a whole team of horses to drag them of, and, as you walk home, you will hear the most charming music in your boots. But I still love angling. It brinl" you face to face with nature, you know. I don't know that there is any particular advantage it this myself—but poets say there iR. I am going tc try a new sort of bait—a piece of inaia-rubbei saturated with scented hair oil. Tney say that it is very killing. I don't know about the india- rubber, but I feel certain that scented hair oii will be killing enough. Well, ta, ta, I'm again of hol.day (Bank Holiday) making. SAMUEL: His SENTIMENTS.
Musical and Eisteddfod Notes.…
Musical and Eisteddfod Notes. By Maelgwyn. As the London eisteddfod is close at hand it it but natural that the excitement should increase particularly regarding the chief choral com. petition. Lots" have been drawn, with the result that the choirs will sing in the following order, viz., Huddersfield, 1st Nottingham Phil- harmonic Society, 2nd Pontypool and Aber- sychan Choir, 3rd Lianelly United Choir, 4-th Wrexham Philharmonic Society, 5tn Swansea District Choral Union, 6th Abercarn Choir, 7th; and Penrhyn Quarries Choral Union (or, as it is now called,Penrhyn-Arvon Choir), 8 th. From this it wiJl be seen that if the Huddersfield Choir, of whom great things are expected, think to make ] a "good show," they will have to start from Yorkshire early on Tuesday, August 9th, so that. they may obtain a good night's rest before taking part in the competition. To start on Tuesday evening and travel all night would be the height of folly, for no choir could stand the long strain, and then sing before an audience of 10,000 at the least. The same remark applies with equal force to the Welsh choirs. Nottingham choir, being accustomed to compete at places remote from their town, will need no advice. Be the result of the competition what it may, it is very certain that none of the South Wales choirs need expect more than bare justice. If aSouth Wales choir win the chief prize, we may be sure that merit alone has secured it. Before venturing any further remarks upon this delicate question, I await the result of the competition, when your readers may be sure that Maelgwyn will speak out his mind. We may take it for granted that the Penrhyn Ciioir, or, at least, their conductor, looks down almost with contempt upon the quality of choral singing found in South Wales, and I cannot blame him, when all is considered. At the Caidiff Eisteddfod, it will be remembered, Pen. rhyn Choir won somewhat easily-every oneof the South Wales choirs having sung more or less out of tune. Of course those who made it their duty to be-little "Deheubarth" on that occasion did not care to remember that all the cir- cumstances — aye, and fate, too, if you like — were against us. Owing to the weather none of us had a chance except Lianelly, and Lianelly was then only a newly. formed choir. The next time Dr. Rogers heard choral singing in South Wales was at 'the Aber- gavenny Easter Eisteddfod in 1886, wbeu, with Mi Emlyn Evans and others, he actei as adjudi- cator. On that occasion seven choirs competed, aud I venture to say that a worse competition I never heard. The singing was wrenched all round, and I know that Dr. Rogers was dis- gusted and Mr Emlyn Evans was surprised, True, the Dowlais Choir won very easily, but they themselves will admit that their singing was very poor indeed. Jn fact, it was the best of a bad lot. It is to be regretted that Dr Rogers has not heard South Wales singers at their best. Had he been at Pontypooi last Easter he would have been a little aston'shed. But let us show him in London that our siugintr is not of that wretched quality which be heard at Abergavenny. Pro; video justice be done, I shall certainly look for a South YV ales victory. The Abercarn Cuoir has been very busy this week holding concerts at Risca, Blaina, Ebbw Valc, Newport, and Abercarn. I have not beard With what amount of success these concerts have been given, but the choir hope that the proceeds will be sufficient to pay all the expenses incurred in going to London. Those of your readers whe are of a cuiious turn of mind will, doubtless, appreciate the follow- ing • It seems that one Johann Peter, intendant of the Royal and Imperial Prisons of Vienna, con. ceived the grim idea of forming a collection of skulls. He bribed the sexton, and, in conspiracy with Count E-iteraazy's secretary (Roseaoaum) and two Government officials, desecrated the grave of Haydn, and took away the composer's skull. Peter declares he examined the head, and found the bump of music fully developed, and traces 10 the nose of the polypus from which Haydn suffered. The skuli was put into a lined box, and when Johann Peter got into difficulties, a.nd his collection of skulls dispersed, the head fell into th-e pOllse8sion of Rosenbaum. Afterwards, when Haydn's remains were exhumed in order that they might be interred in the grave prepared for them by Prince Nicholas Esterhazy at Eisenstadt, the skull was found missing. A police search wae instituted, and Peter was offered a pecuniary reward if be fouud the skull. Rosenbaum had the idea of palming off another skull as Haydn's. He did so, and the head of another individual was handed to tb9 police. Peter claimed the reward, but it was refused. When Rosenbaum was dying he confessed what he had done, and trave the skull back to Petor, who, in his will. left it to the Conservatoire at Vienna. But he altered his mind, and by a codicil the skull was given to Dr. Haller, who iltl turn gave it to Dr. Karl Roki- tamki, and uHimateiy it fouud its way to an anatomical museum at Vienna. .From Messrs Harberd Brothers, Savoy House, Strand, comes "Musical Bits," volume I. This is a massive volume of more than 200 pages of sons, dances, cboruses, glees, part-songs, and pieces for the violin, flute, piano, and other in- struments. The book forms the fir8t half-yearly volume of "Musical Bits," and in almost every number there is a copyright song or instrumental pAece. But in quality as well as quantity ,this volume is a marvel. The publishers deserve the greatest praise for their enterprise, for this publication is just the kind of thing that the workin classes have long I been wanting (5s). SJX new Songs," by the late J. P. Knight, are very fine aud simple composi- tions, by that world-renowned composer. The Old Farmer" i", a dashing bass song, and there is splendid writing in Only a Memory and "0 when I hear thee sing (2s). Messrs Orsborn and Tuckwood, 64, Berners- street, S.W., send me a capital selection of new music. "Vesper Voluntaries," by Seymour Smith, is a collection of 12 exceedingly pretty pieces foe the organ or harmonium. It will prove valuable to organists of churches and chapels (Is). "Banjo Bijou," of which I have received book a very good selection of music for th banjo, an instru- ment which, by the way, is jnst now becoming very popular. Several of the pieces have piano accompaniments, the two instruments sounding very well together (Is). "DauBe Mas querade is a pleasing and well-written piece foi the piano, and will be found useful in the school- room, where ths sweet melody will be appreciated (2s). "Sappho" will be sufficiently recommended by the name of its composer, E. Boggetti; it is worthy of him (1 6d). Another charming piece is the Empress Gavotte (Is63). "Bon Voyage Waltz" is pretty, and is beautifully illustrated (2s). "Vesper Hour" is a fine song, into which the "Vesper Hymn" is introduced as a choral or harmonium obligato (2s). "Golden Daisies," by Ciro Pinsuti, is pretty, sparkling, and effective— suitable for a popular entertainment (2s). An impressive song is ''Oraprc Nobls," the nature of which is indicated by its title (2s). "The Alarm" is a fine, vigoroulS soldier's song by God frey Marks (2s). None of these songs contain a note higher than G.
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An old coloured preacher, after exhausting him- self on an attempt to describe heaven, wouud up thus I tell yon, my brethren, it is a very Ken. tucky of a place."—Richmond Meligwus Herald. Kansas City man: "I suppose you've never been in Kansas City, have you?" Omaha man: I was there last week." Last week Oh, but ) you ought to see it now !"—Omaha, World. I Harsh and unjust criticism of other' conduct or performance often results from using one's own ideal of excellence as a test. A capable but cap- tious person examines a piece of work or surveys a course of action, and sees, or thinks he sees, how it might have been improved. At once be begins to find fault, to depreciate, to blame, forgetting that the standard by which he judges is his own, and not that of another. It remains at least very doubtful if he would have come up to it in the same circumstances but to censure another for not bringing his practice into harmony with the censor's imaginings is surel" imipasoi^ble.