The Cardiff Times

SUNCLAD TOBACCO IS the Best. Try It.

WORKMEN'S TOPICS. BY MABON, M.P. MINERS' FEDERATION OF GREAT BRITAIN. Oil OZ, of the most interesting and successful regulation of wages is lch governs the relations between the in the area covered by the parent 'llg ra,'°Q, which consists of mine-owners on *QrV e ^aud ani ilie workmen on the other ihire Qg In the mines of Yorkshire,Nottingham- Cou Derbyshire, Lancashire, the Midland bst les and North Wales. This arrangement >{thaQtially came into existence as the result tQb, e great dispute of 1893, and has since been to some modifications. The scheme *4ge es having a minimum and a maximum w^ich were fixed by negotiations, with a oet c 11 ^tweea them of a little more than 20 Ient. The minimum was thought to have 11 d to the workmen a living wage the tt r4ura was Was t°-9ecure to the owners high '.Qj good years, by way or compensation ining the minimum in bad times- the underlying idea of the arrange- In^' Between that margin wages may e according to the state of trade. All tRes ot wages within this margin are to be n^0n t>y a Conciliation Board, upon in e ^nsrs and workmen are represented ■Of lumbers and in the event of an in- *e divergence, there is a reference to an «0p,j e> who at present is Lord James of Here- 1'b of increase cannot in any way be :reb.\l Its excessive, considering the upward 1tt"i On the balance of wages in other trades the interval and the workmen them- ietiec' fr«th most of their leaders, think it the t>inj Policy for them to contend for a high 11111 while accepting a relatively lowmaxi- minimum is the workers' protection H,jy staQitard of living, while the maximum ^uJ^P^ents what may be regarded as the liter I Profit of good years. And the prime >4^ t °f the workmen is to count on a steady age Uifey. "hich will not fall below a point at which ibig Cari maintain a decent existence. For Ithil Object it is considered worth their for^e't the special gains of periods of Mt, Nor do the owners stand to lose rcogfjther by a high minimum since one of the togy Nidations for it is admitted to be the H^re .0n of underselling, and as time goes on e ill be great efforts made, not only to 3-111 the present minimum, but to raise all over the country. The Parent Conciliation Board 0116 C0Dsls'ng of the federated mining °f England and North Wales—met at lid,t es r on Tuesdav, the 11th inst., to con- tb W, e renewal of the present agreement, t terminates on December 31st of this r^e present agreement provides for a 35 per cent, above the standard of 1889, with a maximum of 65 per cent. ° !^le same standard wage. At present lj,t.e in the federated area stand at 40 per Qbove the standard, or 5 per cent. above mutual minimum. In July last year the a.5er. notified their intention to ask for iftgj I eduction, but after several rneet- »ot Umnire. Lord James of Hereford, was satisfied that the owners had made Vt eipcase and the matter was referred 'W 0 the Conciliation Board, with the result ilrt" Wase3 still remain unchanged. Both sceminsdv are anxious to anive at an V*b,e arracement of the disputed points, t^. ^ea'a representatives asked that the <0 should be raised from 35 per cent, to Cer>t. above the standard; that that mini- *t4^.s^1°ul(i form the basis of a new wage 'tip and for the agreement to continue ee years. The coalowners, I have jltyjj.11 to believe, were opposed to raising the and were pressing for a greater hT* f°r any agreement come to than the y4e" or three years advocated by the work- 9 rePre?entatives. Though the points of were discussed in the best of feel- the parties separated without either upon either point of difference. 'ia en's side, I find, was very in- thr, ML, upon having the minimum raised, and j r upon any new aareement being made J °*iger period than three years. VSe Qa°fc but tear that, for several reasons, fiv. jF<> n°t among the easiest for the parties V aQy Lasis of satisfactory compromise IQU1:I: Some people suggest that for the maxi- ma., to remain as it is and the minimum to 40 per cent. above the standard ftrjra a good compromise. That may be so r:y ¡one standpoint. But personally I am the0a,th 1 o suggest any kind of compromise, Matter is not yet without hope of settle- 4ot On the original propositions and were it the whole ease is in most capable bands, eit stay, ing the difficulties in the way. b's b joumment until the 25th inst. which eeQ agreed upon will give an opportunity Parties to the Board to put the rival Vja|3 befre their respective constituencies, ^ay reasonably be expected that waeu S Parties again meet in conference they will lia it tOsition to adjust their differences and tllt'tr then fail. there will be fully two months J ther negotiations. '<> JL recognise that there are. difficulties 6 to an amicable settlement being J d at on the lines proposed. The South IO(!8 standard wage is at least 2A per cent. than theirs* and the minimum upon that standard is also 5 percent, lower than 1 hen, again, the time they work, and °n« for the last couple of years, is so than either Scotland, North of Eng. j°r Wales work is a difficulty which, though Insuperable, is very great. So I cannot but ^v^.that "patience in the negotiations will perfect work," and that peace will t a secured. Any failure to renew the V^ent would be serious misfortune, as it once more reduce the coal trade, which W'Ojoyed peace since the South Wiles joined the Federation, to the same '°n °f uncertainty as is now affecting less well-organised trades. On the other ^ages are at length on the upward grade t*t>oat five years of decline, and i>eriods Vit ls are precisely those whea dispates are Q tlcOOlmon Still, in this case we have a ^ope that a way out will be found from cu^ty that has or may arise. For head of the respective parties there are f^1, Mr Hewlett and Mr Edwards-two 'Plomats—who can be trusted, and to it must be said they, if it is pos- t.^ i never allow matters to go far wrong, 'their hands the peace of the federated can well be entrusted. And the fact th„ Matter has been ultimately entrusted IbtN" Joint Board for final settlement io a ki bg fact and a factor for a fair and peace. t lltnent. (j ^'ad to find that on the Clyde an effort t rQac^0 t° bring the disputants together HtQffar»ge it seems that a great industry like Clyde, instead of providing itself such as the mining and other 'es have in operation, should have to :Cto tiI ck On the good offices of third parties, wj/ to improvise a method of concilia- 11 the middle of disputes. The far would be to have the machinery in '0. ess. and be prepared for application &.nd before disputes arise. High Ideals. the Miners" Federation has not yet jJ* to obtain the great ideal of having 8,111 iard of wages for the whole °f the country, and one Wages 8°Tern the whole, it can dlaim to 1\inQ credit of having been able to have a standard living wage for every part connected therewith. And if can be content for a little while with living up to the ideals set forth in the reso- lutions of the Swansea Conference, they may be oure of carrying with them public sympathy. A living wage is good, but having been secured the natural desire is for something beyond that which will keeo body and soul together. The Federation is not satisfied with bread alone. It demands a higher life. and in order to be able bring that higher life within reach of working men it pleads for something that will help to make life brighter and happier; it pleads for something more than a living wage. And it is pretty certain that men who have these ideals will obtain more than a living wage, and. strange to say, that their difficulties will not be so much with employers as with those work- ing men who do not share their ideals, and who do not strive after the higher things that can be supplied with mere physical gratification of the appetite and the passions. The lifting up of thclr class as a whole-not Unionists only, but. non-Unionists as well-is a task in which Trade Unionists of the highest type are emin- ently qualified to take a leading part, and the greater their success in this laudable work the nearer will they be to the attainment of their worthy aspirations. They are very pro- perly jealous just now lest, in relieving the un- employed, the rates of wages should be reduced. And they would not be wrong in being jealous, also, in encouraging workmen in giving an honest day's work, yea, clean work, for the wages received. This. too, is an ideal worthy of attention.

MUSIC IN WALES. By D. EMLYN EVANS. THE COMPOSER OF CLYCHAU ABER- DYFI" (BELLS OF ABERDOVEY). We read that at a recent meeting of the Pontypridd Council a suggestion was made that It should take the initiative in erecting tablets to indicate the houses where the Welsh National Anthem, Hen wlad fy nhadau," and CJychau Aberdyfi." were composed by Evan Jones (leuan ap Iago) and John Thomas (leuan Ddu) respectively. The idea of the proDoser was that smail ta.biets should be affixed to the fronts of the houses where the authors had resided. We understand that the suggestion met with general approval by the members, but that it was deemed advisable to defer the question for the present. For once at least there has been safety in that uelay to which public bodies are said to be addicted. The principle of what was proposed ig, of course, all right; and so Jar as the authorship of the "Hen Wlad" is concerned, no diffi- cultyoffers. But in the case of the Clychau," one cannot help wondering at the apparent facttbat not one of the members was possessed of sufficient musical historical knowledge, and which intelligent men in gwlad y gan are usually credited with. to save the Council from a rather ridiculous position. Why these repeated claims either by persons for themselves, or for others not lone deceased, should be made in regard to this air it is difficult to understand. seein;?that they can be so easily refuted. It is well-known that it was introduced, with an English parody of the refrain" Os wyt ti'n fy ngharu i," into an opera called "Liberty Hall," by Charles Dibdin, and which was produced at Drury Lane, London, so far back as February. 1785— ten years before Ieuan Ddu was born. Apparently Ieuan was not even acquainted with the air when preparing his Cambrian Minstrel," which was published in 1345, for it is not found in that collection; the first volume of Welsh national airs, in which it is included, being Miss Williams. Aberpcrgwm's Aire of Gwent and Morganwg." Neither does Ieuan Ddu need the helo of a ay borrowed plumes, The Cambrian Minstrel is. and probably will remain for all time, an abidmg and indestruc- tible witns to his talent and bis service to Welsh minstrelsy. That alone will be a suffi- cienl; record for any mural tablet erected to his memory. Whether the town of Ponty- Dridd can prove superiority of claim in that respect, as against Merthyr, where he prepared and published his Cambrian Minstrel," and where he spent 15 of his best and most strenu- ous years or Treforest. where he died after a iong residence in the place, is of but little consequence to us here Monuments of any sort to the" great departed are so few amongst us that we need not cavil should some be duplicated so long as the credentials to fame which may be set out are beyond any shadow of suspicion or uncertainty. Dr. Roland Rogers. We have no doubt that Welsh musicians generally have been much gratified by the appointment of Dr. Roland Rogers as organist of Bangor Cathedral a post mada vacant by the resignation of Mr Westlake Morgan, and one which Dr. Rogers had previously filled with marked distinction and success. It seems that there were as many as 201 applications received on this occasion—the list beitig first reduced to 103, and afterwards to 6; the Dean and Chapcer finally coming to a unanimous decision as announced, and upon which they are to be heartily congratulated. The greater profit and advantage is certainly gained by the Cathedral although, of coarse, a certain amount of prestige is always attached to the organistship of the head church of a diocese. But Dr. Rogers' well established character for ability, thoroughness, and straight-forwardness will eas-ly outweigh what honours and emolu- ments may be connected with the office. Mr Harry Evans. While, in this way, the Cathedral church of Bangor Deiniol," and the Welsh Church at large, more or lees, is to be congratulated Wales has been the loser by the removal of Mr Harry Evans to Liverpool. Fortunately, in these days of fast railway communication, the city on the Mersey is now brought pretty near to us. Nevertheless, the true policy lor Wales is to keep its best musical men here. and which probably it can generally succeed m domg by simply making it worth their while-not only financially, but by extending to them a liberal measure of musical or artistic support. The Liverpool Press, both English and Welsh, have tendered Mr Harry Evans a warm welcome; his settlement in Liverpool having given great delight to his numerous friends and admirers, who realise that the city will afford increased scope for the exercise of his undoubted talents. The Liverpool Welsh Choral Union has, under his leadership, already made its mark among the choral forces of the city; "holding a high place in popular regard as a leading musical journal his it, and that in other musical circles besides those in which the Welsh element predominates- The works announced for the coming season are Cole- ridge-Taylor's Hiawatha's Wedding Feast," and Death of Minnebaba," Handel's u Messiah" (Christmas week). and Bach's Passion (according to st, Matthew). The society's previous performances have been Handel's "Samson "and "Messiah" (twice). Mendelssohn's Elijah (twice), and Hymn of Praise," Sullivan's Golden Legend," Haydn's Creation," Harry Vic- tory of 8t Garmon," and Elg&r'a Dream of Gerontius."

The Other Fellow's Business. Editor What made you scowl at that fellow who has just gone out ? Tradesman He's one of those chaps who are always telling me how to run my shop. A man who thinks 110 knows how to manage another's business better than the other fellow knows how to do it himself is always a nuisance. uch men ought to be thrashed. If I were running tbat paper of yours, by George, I'd—er—er Warm weather we're having, isn't it ? Making a Sovereign. A conjuror was exhibiting various s1 eights- of band in the neighbourhood of a colliery vil- n Staffordshire. After performing various it to the great amusement of his audience in <ked for the loan of a halfpenny. A collier h > • i in) him one. and the conjuror announced t i:, M ii ad become changed into a sovereign. In i-MlfcT that there might be no doubt about it lie handed it round tor those present to see. I- that my halfpenny 7" inquired the astonished collier. Without a doubt," wns the reply. The coin was next passed to the miner, who examined it with the greatest 0: interest. He turned it round and round in h Go j hand, and at last put it into his pocket cx claiming." Now I shall make sure you WIJI uot turn it into a halfpenny again,"

Welsh Tit-Bits. f Neu Wreichion Oddiar yr Eingion. By CADRAWD. IASOTETDEWI. Few Welshmen deserve to be remembered so well, their services acknowledged, and their memory kept aiive as the indefatigable author, poet. and translator James Davies, better known in Welsh literature as Iago ab Dewi. He was a contemporary of D. Lwys, Vicar of Llangattwtr. and though himself a layman, there is ample evidence to show t hat they co. laboured lor the benefit of their lellow- countrymen, whose needs they endeavoured to supply The great renaissance was fully a hundred years later reaching Wales than England and Scotland but when it did come, it took as deep a root, and its effects are perhaps more traceable on the Welsh, their religion and literature, than on any other nation under the sun. Iago ao Dewi was born in tbe parish of Llmdyssu!, in the year 1698. He lived for some time at Fencader, where he became a member of the Independent Church there, the pastor at the time being the Rev. Stephen Hughes, one of the Apostles of Wales, who was the founder of most of the ancient Independent Churches in Cardi- gan and Carmarthenshire. From Pencader, Dewi moved to Llanllawddog, a parish in the lower division 01 Elfed, co. Carmarthen, and eight miles north of Carmarthen town. The revival of arts and letters which men call the renaissance was now beginning to be felt in Wales the first book had been printed in Wales at Trerhedyn in 1719, and Nicholas Thomas had set up his press at Carmarthen, and Wales may boast now of H few educated laymen, who could criticise the church irom outside, and compare its teaching with its practice From his epigrams, we gather that he hid joined the Welsh combination against the Papacy, its superstitions and enormities on the one hand, and the apathy and immor- ality of the Welsh clergy on the other hand. This is how be sang in 1710— Y mae'n haws adnabod dvnion. \Vrth eu chwaritau a'u hamcanion, Na'u hadnabod yn ddiammau, Wrth weitbreioedd ac wrth eiriau. Mawr yw'r dsdleu yn y gwledydd. Ynghylch corph a chadach crefydd Cnd am enaid crefydd ddiddan, Nid oes nemawr o ymddiddao. Un o'r goreu o blant Adda, Yw gweinidog ff j ddlon pur-dda} Un o'r gwaethaf o blant dynion Yw gweinidog drwg anffyddlon. Nid yw deall, dysg, na doniau, Heb gydwybod dda'n ddiammau Ond tclllysiau per sy'n trwsio Corph drewedig yn ei amdo, His sentiments are beautifully expressed in the following four lines, and he is exactly of the type of Morgan Llwyd and his followers a true follower of the Soc alist of Galileo Edifeirwch at Dduw gwir-gu. A ffydd tuagat ein Harglwydd Iesu Caru pob dyn fel e' bunan, Dyr.a'r tri pheth rheidiaf allan. What an interesting picture of the Welsh people the following is, even at this day. It seems Wales has always suffered from the same complaint since the days of Oadwaladr. What- ever our boasts may be as to our advancement in other matters, we are fully as guilty to day, as in the days of Iago ab Dewi, of ingratitude to God for His unspeakable gifts to us as a nation and of our petty divisions in matters concerning religion Eisiau ruawr ar w!ad y Cymro, Yw cyfarch Duw a diolch iddo A mwy undeb yn ei chaerydd, RhwDg athrawonynghyJch crefydd. It appears that Iago moved from Pencader to Llanllawddog to be nearer to the Bjev. D. Lewys, who had published seventl works- Er budd a lies y Cymry," to be ab!e to con- suit him, as no doubt the Vicar was the best scholar of the two. Iago ab Dewi published his first works at Shrewsbury and London, but in 1713, his book, Yr Ymarfer o Loqyddwch," was printed at Carmarthen. We may learn the kind of neighbour he appeared to those among whom he lived from an old Carmarthen tradition concerning him. The age he lived in was very superstitious, and the "Tylwyth Teg," or fairies, were frequenting some particularly choice spots in almost every parish. They fre- quented a green spot where they bad formed a circle which was quite observable in the day. time, in the wood near Abergwili. Dewi's cottage was on the edge of the wood, and one night, having gone out of bed as was his habit, to gaze on the starry sky, astrology being a favourite study with him, and whilst thus occupied he drifted too near the Fairies' circle, that he stepped inside, and was carried away by them, and dwelt with them for seven years. When he at last returned, the people ques- tioned him as to where he had been but he always avoided giving them a reply. From this tradition, we can gather that he was of a retired and reticent disposition, having collect- ed a large number of books, and always reading them, which in that opinion of the common people at that time, was in order to consult the stars and planets, to obtain supernatural information. Nearly every clergyman at that time was supposed to have a knowledge of The Black Art," and easily made people believe that they could command the wicked one to perform any work they wished by consulting certain books in the library, and read therefrom in a tongue not understanded by them. Iago ab Dewi had gained the reputation of being a sorcerer, and possibly a conjurer, by his reservation and studious habits. As a translator he has served his country most, though his Dyrian," or Dyrifen," which was a kind of poetry suitable to sing with the crwtb, and harp, had no doubt a moral influence for good on the people of South Wales second only to the work's of Vicar Pritchard. Who can tell the influence of such couplets as the following had on the minds of the peasants of Wales at the dawn of the great revival which broke out towards the middle of the 18th century? Mae genyf achos fil o weithiau, I alAru am fy meiau Ond ni feddaf galon barod I alaru un diwrnod. Os digwydda it' orthrymder, Carn ac amliarcb, amhorth, prudd-der Cofia byn, a chymer gysnr, Mai gwell goddef cam na'i wnetuthur. Rhoed Duw fvno imi yma, Ped f'ai liawer llai na ngwala Deued ffyniant. deued methu, Fe fydd gwell nag wyf yn haeddu." He translated about half a dozen small books from the English to Welsh, all of a religious character, such as the works of BIlnyan.. Beveridge, and Matthew Henry. In 1771 he published a translation of a Scriptural Cate- chism. by Henry, which was used, it is said. by the immortal Griffith Jones, of Llanddowror, to teach his congregation and catechise them before he brought out his" Mirror of The- ology in five books, probably the moat elaborate work of its kind published in any language. Iolo Morganwg speaks of LJyfr Iago ab Dewi, from which he transcribed the tale, Rhitta Gawr," which is in his MSS. Iago ab Dewi informs 119 in bis book, which Ben Simon had seen, that at Maes-y-Creigiau, Tivy-side, there used to bo a Welsh grammar, composed by Dafydd ap Gwilym. W e are also told by Iago ab Dewi where the book, Cwta Cyfarwydd." and other MSS. were located, that be had seen them at Abermorlais.

His Name Was Fish. The boy's fishing-road was fastened under the root of a tree on the banks of the river, and he was sitting in the sun playiag with a dog. Fishing?" exclaimed a man passing along. Yes." answered the boy, briefly. Nice dog you've got there; what's his name ?" Fish, Fish." That's a strange name for a dog. What did you ("nIl him that for ?" ("au-ehe won t bite." ;3 Tricks—The touring car bad uri.» u u|.sit!e down, buryingthemotorist. under it, but the village official was not to be so lightly turned froni his duty. It's no use yo hidin' there, sir,' bo said, severely, I must have your name and address."

Fashions and Things Feminine. I By Ml86 IDA MELLER. An Evening Cloak. The Court bodice is coming into vogue for general evening wear. the point in front being very deep In fact, there is an inclination to exaggerate it at times, and produce an empha- sised edition of the early Victorian corsage, or the bodice known as Marie Antoinette. Fashions for the present season are largely bor- rowed from those of the old French Courts, honours being divided between the short- waisted Empire and long-waisted Lou's XV. frocks. The difference between them is great. Both require to be carefully made and worn, especially the Empire frock, with which it is now usual to wear a sash of ribbon-velvet drawn mp high at the back, and tied between the shoulders, the long ends proceeding from the bow floating upon the skirt. This is a charming fashion for home wear, but when adopted out: of doors is hardly a success. In- deed, the Empire dress in the streets is in- effective r but many becoming Empire coats are worn, made of clotd and of fur. What n,any a woman wants is a warm cloak or coat that will serve during the cold weather, as a theatre wrap, and at the same time be suitable for journeys by rail or omnibus. The cloak sketched offeirs a suggestion for a wrap of the kÍlad. If made essentially for evening wear it might be of light biscuit doth but if in- tended to be worn during the day as well as the evening. most women would, nodoubt, pre- fer to make their mantle of dark cloth for the sake of economy. The three capes fall over a long, cosy cloak, provided with slits for the arms and hands to pass through. This is a more convenient pattern than the cloak cut on Inverness l'nes. keeping the figure warmer. When the skirt i equires io be held up, tue hands can perform the oftice without being passed through the slits at all, and thus the cloak will be wrapped well round the figure all the while. It. is fastened down the front with hooks and eves, and the capes ar.s supplemented by a velvet collar and frill of lace- The three capes might be raw edged. or, if lined, piped with velvet to give a richer appearance to the mantle. Black wool-satin is charming for even- ing coats anricloaks and those who do not mind the extra expense might substitute satin for cloth. Fashions in Sleeves. A sleeve has great power icLaffecting a dress for good or ill. the shape of-|$e shoulder in particular giving a smart or demode air to a toilette. The sleeves sketched offer a choice among prevailing fashions for out-of-doors and indoors. The simple, full sleeve, with a deep tight fitting cuff trimmed with a few tucks or rows of line braid, is suitable for a flaonel or cashmere blouse, while next to it is a coat- s leeve with a braid-trimmed cuff and frili of pleated muslin. The third sleeve is designed for a dresidg-gown or tea-gown of any soft material, and is finished with a band of lace insertion, a bow of ribbon, and a frill of lace; and the fourth, a long sleeve, eased at the shoulder and drawn in to the Wrist with tucks, which ascend almost to the elbow, is suitable f, r a cloth, taiior-made coat. Jt is finished at the wrist with a band ot cloth decorated with silk knots. The pretty, graceful sleeve, divided into two puffs by a band of guipure lace or embroidery, similar to the band at the elbow, suggests soft silk or crepe de chine, and should accompany a picturesque gown of material to correspond again, it would suit the soft qualities of chiffon v?rv well. It is finished with a flounce of fine lace falling over the elbow. The short, yufl sleeve of chine silk. with a draped band of velvet and a sm ill frill at theebowia typical of a favourite iashion for sm'lrt silk blouses; and a charming sleeve is illustrated in the model tucked all over and finished with a tight cuff of gill pure or em- broidered satin, frilled top and bottom with lace. This sleeve is particularly well suited to chiffon. muslin, crepe de chine. and such-like resistless labrics, the tucks giving substance to a thin material. The remaining sleeve might be made up in velvet (which could also be effec- tively uled for the sleeve of chine silk alluded to), cashmere, taffetas, or washing silk. It is an excellent model for washing materials, since the little strap that confines the fulness at the elbow ean be unbuttoned and release the material, the frill being in one with the sleeve itseif, and formed only through the holding in of the stuff by the elbow-strap. When this is undone the sleeve is very easily washed and ironed, and the home laundress will appreciate the facilities offered in this regard by the pattern. To Clean White Fur. The beauty of white for—ermine, miniver, fox and so on-depends upon freshness of ap- pearance, and consequently ttreat care should be taken to preserve the whiteness of the pelt. When soiled, it may be cleaned in the following way. Take a piece of soft, white flannel and rub the fur with it-always rubbing against the grain then rub the fur with flour until clean. Shake out the flour, and rub again with the dry flannel, after which the fur should be much improved in colour. Diet and Health. Diet and health are, as everybody knows, closely related, and diet alw affects beauty to a considerable extent. Rich living is apt to destroy the fairness and purity of the com- plexion, while simple fare encourages a clear skin. Milk is excellent for the complexion, and thus- who study food in its r lation to beauty may be n minded that light, pasily dig sted foods are bett r for thfskin than thos which tak* long to go through the process of digestion. Much may be said in favour oi rice as a lood. It is light, nuiirifhing, and cheap, and, for thrso who sufier from indigestion there is hardly a m lie suitable focd than wcli b iled or steamed lice A delicious "cream of rtce" is made by washing a tablespooninl of rice in cold ivater, put tine it in a dish with a pint of milk, a teaspoonful of sugar, and about the same quantity 01 butter, and allowing it to cook slowly tor some bourt in the oven.

TALKS ON HEALTH. By DR. ANDREW WILSON. Cancer Cures. The subject of cancer cures is one which crops up very frequently in public history. We must ail be interested in any means of which it is alleged that they are effective in the cure of this terrible malady. Hence it I suppose, that I have received two letters lately asking for information respecting the alleged cure of cancer by the use of an infusion of violet leaves, and also inquiring whether the recently reported discovery of the germs of cancer in a fungus growth is to be taken as indicative of scientific advance in the direction of discovering a remedy. Wi h refereoce Lo the first inquiry. ] can only say that cases of apparent recovery from cancer- ous disease of the tongue through the use of an infusion of violet leaves have been reported in the medical journals. The cases to which I allude weie investigated by medical men who made the communications in ques- tion to the medical Press. In such instances it is a common remark that severe ulceration of the tongue and throat may have been mls- takenfor cancer. If this were proved to be the case, then the whole argument conc-rniasr Ille efficiency of violet leaves as a cancer cure naturally fall to the ground, but I e a distinct recollection in at least one of the last reported cases that the disease had been pronounced by surgeons to be cancer, and that microscopic examination of the growth confirmed this opinion. Their Value. It is always difficult to appraise the value of a cure of this kind, but that fact should prove no barrier to extended trials and experiments being made in connection with the use of the infusion of violet leave:. So far as I am aware, the use of this remedy has not been mentioned in any periodical, lay Dr medical, for some time, and one is therefore forced to conclude that it is not receiving from one cause or another the prominence it once enjoyed. I do not suppose that anyone at this present stage of matters can definitely pro- nounce either for or ngainst the claims which have been urged on benalf of the violet remedy. Witii lelerence to the other reported cure, I should like to point out that his matter is at present in an entirely elementary stage. The announcement has been made lhat a German scientist has discovered the germs supposed to be the cause of cancer growing on a kind of mildew, existing as a parasite on other plants. It is further stated that the germs, if cultivated and used to inoculate animals, are capable of producing cancer, while the dis- coverer hopes to produce a serum or substance similar to that used in the cure of diphtheria, which shall accomplish the cure of cancer itself. All one can say regarding this reported discovery ia that we must wait for further information, and 1 suspect that our patience in such a case will require to be equal to our hope. At the same time, it is by no means improbable that the effective trea'ment of cancer may be discovered from the means of research pursued by the German investigator. Dropsy. The condition known as dropsy is one which should be considered a symptom of disease, rather than an ailment in itself. Few people realise what dropsy really ia. The popular conception that it is repre. sented by a collection of water in the most dependent parts of the body is hardly to be regarded as a correct description of the condi- tion. No doubt the fluid which collects is largely composed of water, but it, in reality, represents the fluid part of the blood to which the name of "lymph" is given. When the blood circulation comes to the finest and most minute parts of our bodies, the fluid part of the blood escapes through the delicate walls of the small blood vessels, and gains access to the mif roaccpic cells of which our tissues are built up. Thus, as long as we live, so much of the fluid part of the blood is perpetually draining through the fine blood vessels for the purpose of nourishing our frames. Any excess of blood fluid in the healthy body not required for such nourishing purposes is absorbed by special vessels, and after certain changes bave been effected upon it, poured back into the bicod supply and circulation. Living nature would in this way seem to gather up the frag. ments as it were, and to make use of the blood fluid again and again for nourishing purposes. Suppose, now, that the excess of this lvood fluid is, from olèe cause or another, not; ab- sorbed, or prevented from being taken up by the absorbent vesseis, then it must accu- mulate in the body. and piefeiabiy in the lower parts such as the feet and leg. In this way dropsy appe ars, and a dropsical person m'ght. therelore, be described as having his tissues, not water-logged, but lymph-iogged. Its Causes. It need hardly be said that the common cause of dropsy, as ba already been hinted. is the existence of some obstruction 10 the backward flow to the heart of the blood fluid. and we may also take account the fact that another cause is to be found in any inter- ruption to the works of the veins in so convey- ing biood back to the heart and lungs for purification. If we tie a ligature, say, above the ankle or above the wrist, and leave it for a considerable time, we should find the hand and foot respectively to swell. A ligature in such a case would interfere with the iree backward flow 01 the blood, and thus we should produce a temporary dropsy in these parts. The common causes of dropsy are chiefly related to some obstruction of the functions ot the heart or kidneys So, also, we have to take into consideration the fact that alterations in the quality of the blood itself may give rise to dropsy, and it is no uncommon thing to find in people who are ansemic or bloodless. swelling of tbe feet nr other parts of the body. The altered quality of the blood in such a case has a distinct effect upon tbe heart, with the result that the circulation is not perfe tly carried on, and the dropsical symptoms appear. Some Interesting Facts. In the case of heart disease the dropsy commences in the lower limb3. Doctors gener- ally look lor it to be seen at nierht at the ankles or on the back of the loot. The night's rest, however, will dissipate the flui. If the heart disease continues to grow worse, the dropsy iteel: will ge seen to pass upward> whilst, in very severe cases the face itself will appear puffy and dropsical. In kidney trouble, more especially in the condition known as Bright's disease, dropsy is also a commjn feature, and appeals to be largely p, oduced by the anasmia which is a feature of this trouble. Hence the importance in such cases of administering iron as a tonic, which, correcting the anaemia in its turn,lavourably affects tne disappearance ot the dropsy. When this affection has its oiigin from the kidneys, where the kidney affection is of a severe type, it is more generally diffused over the body, even in the case of heart trouble. It the patient is walking about the dropsy will generaliy be noticed at night, when the ankies become swollen and puffy. If, on the other band, the patient is confined to bed, it is usual to see the dropsy appearing in the eye-lids in the morning. Also in cases of dropsy depending on kidney trouble, it is notable the swelling aud paffiness appears and disappears, so that the eyelids may be perfect- ly free from swelling at night, when the feet exhibit the characteristic symptom. It has alsoo been remarked that when the affected person lies in bed on one side, the side of the face next, to the pillow will become s vollen, whilst the other remains of a natural size. Treatment. I have devoted a large part of this article to the consideration of this condition, because, as a rule, the presence of dropsy is the symptom of a grave disease, and one which sould be early noted, and medical advice obtained. The chief means for the relief of dropsy, placed in tbe hands of the physician, consist of trying to cure or relieve the disease of which dropsy itself is a sign and symptom. He will also act upon the skin,. the kidneys and the bowels, by way of affecting the dropsy, and I nay here remark that the securing of definite bowel action day by day is one of the most import-ant points connected with the relief of the condition we are considering. Again, ret is of great importance, and in the case of dropsical trouble affecting the feet, they should be kept in an elevated position, thus favouring the easy return of the fluid to the presence of which the dropsy is due.

Thought Out. A young man had been paying attentions to two girls at the same time—Saliy and Mary. Sally was a very nice girl. thrifty, indus- trious, and of a domestic turn She was not pretty, but James, the lover in question, had courted her in his early years. When he had prospered and earned a little money, he became infatuated withMary—sweet,pretty but aiways idle. The neighbours at first were puzzled by the double courtship, but they soon decided that Mary was the favoured one. Suddenly James married Sally. The minister who performed the ceremony had a little of the curiosity which possesses mankind. James said he, we all thought you were going to marry Mary" Yes," replied James, but I thought if I married Mary I should have to engage Sally to wait on her If I married Sally she would wait on herself." Hard Lines.—It is said that at least 450.000 meteors fall from the Leavens and stritethe earth eveiy hour dllrin the year; and yet when a man goes home with a damaged hat and tell wife that he was struck by a meteor she wilt cot believe him.

Illustrated Humour. Not In The Running. How many fellows have called on yoar sister this week ?" Five." That doesn't include me, does it?" Oh, no. Sister says you don't counts" t ————— No Longer a Child. I trust your Honour will excuse me this time," said an habitual drunkard at the Police Court it is my misiortune-l am a child of genius." And what is your age?" questioned the magistrate. Forty-two years." Then it is time you were weaned. You'll bave to do fourteen days away from the bottle." Then The Blow Fell Johnny You're a cooart ve're fricbtit tae fecht. Tommy: Nae, I'm no'. But; if I fecht I'll get a lickin' frae ma faither. Johnny: Hoo'll be ken?" Tommy He 11 see th' doctor gaun tae your hoose." A Wonderiul Bird. Bur-rds is great," young Brannigan ob- sclrved as he encountered O'Flahertv. "Ye can tache 'em any thing. Me uncle has wan as lives in a clock, and phin it's toime to tell the toime it comes out and says Cuckoo' as many toimes as the tome is." Dtbot's wondtherful said OTtaherty. It is," said Brann-,gan. An' th' wondtber- ful par rt av it all is, it's only a wooden bur-rd I" Looking Ahead. Professor Borem: Yes, my dear mad%vra, i go so far as to say that the baneful habit, of constantly eating sweets is gradually affecting and rendering smaller the teeth of coming generations More than this—in the course cf reactionary evolution, if I may so terii, it., we shall undoubtedly have children born with. out teeth at all." Didn't Dispute IL Said a distinguished politician to his son, Look at me I began as an alderman, and here I am at the top of the tree and what is my reward? Why, when I die my son will be the greatest rascal in the city." To this the young hopeful replied Yes, dad i when you die but not till then," His LiWe Mary. Baby Violet Can I come and play with your iit tie girl, Mr Smith? Confirmed Bachelor Little girl I My dear, I have no little girl Baby Violet: Well, mother said the other day that tbeonly thing you ever thought of was your little Mary. Tit For Tat. The restaurant waiter did not mean to be rude. The mistake was purely a social error What will you have next, lady!" he asked, with a courtesy that becomes a waiter. Don't address me as lady retorted the diner, with some show of irritation. 11 Excuse me. ma'am," replied the waiter but all of us is liable to make mistakes." I One View. Wife How can one become a fluent conver sationahst ? Husband The best way is to be born a woman. Two Trades. Lord Chumply: "Haw my name isn't Smith. Here's my card. I'm travelling incog. Mr Tubbins Indeed! I'll give you mine. I'm travelling in pickles. Economising. Mrs Stebbins is a very mean woman," What has she done?" She gave her little boy a slice of bread and butler and told him to go out and sit where he could smell the blackberry jam Mrs Perkins was making Now. Bridget"' said the young lady, 11 if peop:e call this afternoon, remember I'm not at home to an hody except Mr Jenkins." Two hours later she asked, Well, Bridget, did any body call Y" Several people, miss," replied Bridget, an I did what ye told me-I said you weren't at home to anybody except Mr Jenkins." (

WELSH GLEANINGS. News and Views in Lighter Vein. Outlying portions of Lord Glanusk's Brecon- shire and Radnorshire estates realised a total at both salei of over £45.000. Who says land is dear ? A London lady (Miss Dale) has just purchased 24 acres of free- hold grass land, rented at 2s per annum, with timber, near Aberedw Hill, Radnorshire, for the remarkably low figure of £1- In the October number of the Transac. tions of the Congregational Historical Society there appears a ietter iron Sir John Williams, of Plas LlansteDhan, describing an hitherto unknown edition of John Penri's Exhorta- tIOn" The edition is dated 1588, snd contains several pages that are not to be lound in the other edition of the same work which it known to bibliographers. "Elûnn Wvn's prize engtya to The Eeatber at the Carnarvon .National Eistedd. fod has been translate I tlius by Pro Patria ":— A peacefuJ torong surpassing fair, Brigut of the moorland air Their waving bell; the heights embower In tinted ieli and honied flower. Andrew Lang in his book on "Animism" quotes approvingly Joan lvhys's dictum, skulls are harder than consonants where- upon Gwili :— Hard-headed Kelt, meet that you Should find your maxim coVning true; Yet consonants are carder oft, Where brains are dull and skulls are soft. And you who clench the nail with bang. You merry-andrew Andrew Lang, Your liquid consonants are not Jaw-breakers of the Hieland Scot. The windows of the new Cardiff City Hall and Law Courts are well bestrewn with Latin mottoes. In spit" of the wealth of Welsh legal mottoes there is not one of them in the chief halls of justice of the Welsh Metropolis, A committee was once appointed to consider the nature of inscriptions to be placed in all these new buildings, but was informed by tbe archi- tects that no inscriptions wpre contemplated. Now there is a technical difference between a motto and in inscription no doubt, and hence the absence of Welsh mottoes and the presence of Latin maxims, which are displayed with marvellous prodigality, and without the acqui- escence of the City Council. Ni chred y mool hyd nes y gwei ei ymenydd." Dim Hen Gount!" I Many will be surprised to read the figures quoted by Judge Owen as to the number of rergons imprisoned for debt, notwithstanding the assurance we weie given by our legislators a few yearsagothat imprisonment for debt was abolished in this country. Cardiff Prison has always a corner filled with debtors, and one of the few privileges they obtain is tbat they do net. wear the regulation broad-arrow-marked pt isoo clothes, but clothes made of ordinary blue sere, and such as would not be notice, able if worn by the average citizen. A day wil' come, no doubt, when the State will refuse, further to helT) the tradesmen who have not the necessary moral backbone to say No ta customers who are habitual non-payers. Ths Coming Controversy. Referring to Mr Howard Evans's pamphlet on the Welsh Church controversy, the Man- chester Guardian remarks that the book contains some articles which Mr Howard Evans contributed recently to the South Waies Daily News.' Of course they are statistical. Mr Evans knows as much about statistics, church and cbapei, as any man on his side. He uses thm occasionally himself and can use them well, but he does even more in supplying ammunition for the artil ery of others. His pamphlet is a little storehouse which many will draw npon in the coming controversy. They vtl) find the materials very conveniently arranged for use." Churchwomen as Canvassers. Under the plea of canvassing for signatures to petitions against the Education Bill, some Cardiff ladies are sedulously seeking informa- tion to bolster up the ca-e for the State Elltab lishment in Wales. Frep Churchmen should therefore be on their guard. Last evening tha Roath district was the happy hunting ground of the lady canvassers. Will you kindly sign. th;s petition ?" asked one of them, with a winning smile, to an Albany-road householder. But the charm failed to act. Indeed I won't. ma'm. was the unexpected reply; but if you've a petition against Ritualistic practics? anywhere about you 1'11 sign it with pleasure." Not to be repelled the persistent one returned to the charge with—" Well, thsn. you might tell me how many people in this house attend Church ?" And then appeared a little book in which the information asked for was to be jotted down Are these little books to be put in in evidence ? Dr. Joseph Parry. Mr L. J. Roberts. M.A., one of H.M. Inspec- tors of Schools for Wales, contributes a highly appreciative article on Dr. Joseph Parry to the current number of Y Geninen." Mr Roberts notes a peeulin,rityin biscompositions tbat can be well verified by Dr. Parry's acquaintances. viz, the unfinished character of some of his works. It is known that he had the greatest difficulty in giving a second sitting to his com- positions. and for this reason he bad in his desk partly-written themes that were nevet sufficiently completed to be sent to the printer, What would have happe ned had he been freed of the necessity of runnmg away from his studies to attend to the duties of a teacher of music na one can tell. but sufficient is known of his dis. tress of mind often through his having to teir himself away from the work of composition tc justify a conviction that Wales lost a brilliant chance of figuring in the front rank for musical compositions through one 0; her 8ont! having to drudge for a living, and thus starve his highec musical genius. Proposed Eisteddfod Charter. Sir Lewis Morris, in a recent letter, takes a strong attitude against toe proposal that a Royal Charter be applied for in respect to the Eisteddfod. He feels confident that any appli. cation for a Government grant would not suc. ceed For my own part," Sir Lewis addst I think a Government grant, with ita necessary concomitants — a staff of in. spectors and examiners—would deprive the institution of its freedom of action as the crean tion of Welsh national feeling, and would sin- cerely imperil its extraordinary success. But I admit that there is much to be said on the other side- The palicv which commends itself to me is to make the National Eisteddfod meetings biennial, in North and South Wales, alternately, and to limit them to two or thres days at the utmost, with the freeat power ir the committees of eliminating competitions I should like also to see the Cymmrodorion ot social section developed as far as possible. I would no longer discourage local meetings, but rather encourage them. I am confident that this would remove any financial difficulty,, waile it would preserve tbe independence of tba ancient institution. The time has passed when it was the sole educative influence in Wales. In future it must be mainly, though not wholly, recreative and for this four days yeariy of feverish excitement are too much foe a little nation which has still to win its place in the world, and will."

What makes you think Blinks hasn't any troubles 7" Because he never has any to telL" We reap ItS we sow," said the moraliaer I never do," rejo ned the demoralises "I'm an amateur gardener, you know," Knicker Wouldn't you like to wake un and find your-elf iamousf-Subbubs: I'd rather sleep till I'd missed every blamed train to the city." "I found a bargain in men's shoes to.day." said Meeker. That's more than I evei found," rejoined Mrs Meeker, in a tone redo- lent of significance. Office Boy: Kill I have a week's vacation ?— Ilis employer Why, you've only been her. two days.—Office Uoy: Yes, but after I gits used ter the job, maybe 1 kin stand it longer.