The Cardiff Times

.^WORKMEN'S topics. i BY MABON. fhe new COVERNMCNT-ITS WORK AND DISPOSITION. the Cooperative Movement-Its Exhibi- j tion and Flower Show. Uew taken the new Government or the Administration lone to show the l*te (/ °' t^10 which it is made, The ltef Overnment, as we have said before, were on the question of the supply of cordite The new Government, which came to Woyf* uP°n that defeat, not only has not said a oj» 0,1 subject since their accession to pa subject so short a time ago they held to na^ona* importance, but they have w** 7 reduoed the estimate for ammunition ^P*ted by the defeated Government. 'he recent elections the prevailing <ye, f "n addresses and speeches of the *id 48 Tories, was the deep and agricultural distress, and the absolute .auy0f some steps t0 be taken immediately W*rv'16Ve ^armer aud to give work for the Uj labourer. Yea for three long years *8rf i beeD sayin2 that the question of *tte°t- ral dePres8ion demanded immediate *ke t*10n* "^6 ^J''30r;i's were blamed for wasting W lm0 ^-ouse Commons discuss- •tteh*"1188^0118 «»"itutional changes, and gea Questions as the Employers' Liability, I ra Atncndmenb Acts, reduction in the labour, etc. While the country SQmg into rack and ruin through the immen- bgial aBricultural depression, and remedial .*t,on was at once imperative, it was J»ibe asserted that it was the fact that, the ra Government being in power, was the jjj ?0^ "*e bad trade and the prices of agricul- *a]v ?r°^uce being low. Ilenoe, the temporal ^a 10n ° £ the country rested with a change of |L etni»ent. This and more was circulated *ot,°U*h^ England and AVales. Still, and *rith^standing the Tory i3 now in power, and ttost "n Unprecedented majority, they bavo calmly doa''ng with the question for an indefi- .P^^od. Even the amendment proposed to the 4ie and which suggested that it is oxpe- *hi* ^ass remedial measures for agriculture I* y*ar» was proposed and thrown out by the nllTe*n,aent. The farmers have been betrayed ffi labourers deluded. The Tories are now ^office, and their agricultural reforms have kftrd which mean the relief of the J0(. ea rural r ates, and seeing that the land- au Pays most of these rates. This therefore Of to that privileged class at the expense genera, taxpayer. Ijj 1 'egard to the question of the unemployed, attitude of the Government and its suppor- jj.18 ^so the same, and equally unsatisfactory,if •sh'"10'9 80° In dealing with the question the Xn ,Was burked, and the debate closed. In a farther question, the head of the Government Board (Mr Chaplin) confessed he knew nothing as to whether there were intentions of ever carrying out the pledges of Salisbury on the subjeob; and according to have not yet been long enough in office ^*OQW much about the matter. Yet these were h P^>ple that were strongly deniwwwiwthe late Ternment for being lukewarm "in this respect. it turns out that they, when in office, would «* touch the question, and that all tall talk had no other purpose but Siting prejudice against the late Government- Ae to Wales Wales can make up its mind to since the Government to be backed up by some five or six Welsh *Ombers who are, even in this respect, prepared 10 Commit) breaches of their election promises to "a.'ch over the welfare of Welsh agriculturists the occupiers of small holdings." If the »ernment is to be supported by its Welsh in its course of injustice to the occupiers small holdings held under the Crown, and » poor people, by dint of their hard labour, turned that which previously was almost y. ea roo'c into patches of cultivated ground, «r workers.may expeot nothing but rock barren from the barren promised land of this Government. { ^OPBSAXTVB EXHIBITION AND nowtm SHOW. *6ek before last was a great one for our oo-operators. Besides the Inter- Congress at the Society of Arts, which ^nitlfM?^ delegates from all parts of the Ihe Kingdom, or rather the world at large, ■*d a^!ai, mee'ine of the Labour Association feho«. Co-operative Exhibition and Flower Q "ere held at the Crystal Palace. Mr W ^y presided over the meeting of the asso- fottv and it was attended by delegates from V°"°perative Production Societies through- kingdom. The report showed a con- ^iob 'e increase in the number of the societies ave joined the association. I LABOUR CO-PABrNRBSHIP. h -t.a reported that this branch of the movement "uccessful, and that the organ of the that name is a great success. 1 6d •i'TOan, in his address, placed great stress • lrnP°rtance of defining and extending the distinctions in co-operative workshops. his opinion, should make clear what of their demand on the profits. He I ^*itf cent, was nob an unreasonable ho oommitted this question to the kr4ftt of the association. ^'Operation first rose the pioneers were V> j|j 6 of labour, and they ascended Jwf where the principles of equality After reaching that altitude practical %f ■ was proclaimed as the new religion °8tr* w^'°h brought to the workers the tre^.?4e,,t of unity, because it promised self- means without State help, State interfer- -jjil State pensions, and it now becomes the of all friends of co-operation in its various «*dn revive this faith in the hearts of all the Tfc t'68 the world. V> cannot be -the slightest doubt with regard fcikjw 8a^oeaa of the cooperative movement ^Is realm. Wo are told that nothing likes success, and that nothiug competes I H the°Perat'0D. Rosebery onco said that Wiejr oo-operators form a State within a State— I almost every article of utility, I k> °n all styles of business, from shipping C^g'' It is firmly stated that there is I serious enough to be called j >r<w 10n 'n co-operative business. The rate of m*y be a little dull and slow occasionally, are never any aetual stoppages, fcave r^e3 cannot be where the workers voice in the control of their own &ben"tru\! affairs, The other day, when | tit" a quarter of a million boot and ^i'h kK -rS were *,av'n £ a desperate struggle ?otorieaeLr employers, the co-operative boot 1 were working smoothly and at full pelt. I be the one aim of all the free I toi^i'°* movement to make the co-operative ff'adually supersede that of competition, to get all their oo-workers in I fc^d life to agree to disestablish and the middleman and join together in the I lifo an<l distribution of the necessaries of knows but that the effort may be I receiving a small donation of the 08 hereof as well.

An Averted Tragedy. Ef''0Ut lamp which did duty for the same w seven nights in the week, had struck Boiog °«t- The red glow grew by 0„ .lnker, and, as the shadows merged -° thf« lnto the gloom, an eerie feeling crept maid's soul. Juto.uKU si, asked, in tones tremulous in* You agitation, what would you J a hand and foot in a chair, !\¡"Powd candle, stuck in the top of a keg of A1 a foot from your head, burned slowly lar^T*8' wbo had been gasing expectantly "^t ^ffwered* •• i would Wow it) out."

The Commonwealth in Breconshire. (Continued.) BRKCONSHIRK INFORMATIONS. The informations laid against the Breconshire gentry are of an interesting nature, and the Com- mittee for Advance of Money mnst have devoted considerable time to examining tliem. Of course, it w U understood, when the character of the nformers is taken into consideration, coupled with the fact that they were promised a share of the fines levied by the Royalists for making these discoveries, that the facts contained in these informations must not necessarily be taken as true without corroborative proof, for not only were they liable to exaggeration and misrepresentation, but they also afforded tempta. tion to malicious persons to falsely accuse their neighbours of the crime of delinquency, and thereby payoff a personal grudge under the guis e of zeal for the State. 1615, August 20. — Sir Henry Vaughsn, county of Carmarthen, prisoner in the Tower, and Wm. Morgan, of Dderw, county of Brecon, late M.P. 's. Vaughan assessed at £ 500. Information, 25th of August, 1647, that they both deserted Parliament in its greatest need, coun- tenanced the raising of the forces against it; sat in the junto at Oxford, and enforced the raising money by privy seals contributed themselves, money, horses, and man had Commissions of Array under the Great Seal at Oxford raised taxes to maintain the war aeainst Parliament, and Vaughan was taken in arms iu Gloucester- shire, and has long been a prisoner. 1648.—Brian Thomas, county of! Brocon, peti- tions that he faithfully served the State hoping to reap the fruit of which he is deprived by the partial favour shown to enemies and disturbers. y„. Henry WiHiams, Bart., a man of great power til the county, and four years since Commissioner of Array for the King, levying men and moneys, to the terror of the well affected, is maintained in his tyranny, through the unjust proceedings of tjie malignant county commissioners, and the swaying powers of som6 rotten M.P.'s. William Morgan, M.P., betrayed his trust some six years ago, and sat in tho junto at Oxford, voting the'members at Parliament to be traitors and enemies, yet their estates are unsequestered and they unpunished, so that they trrind the fact of the poor, especially such as hate their ungodly proceedings. Begs that they may be sent for to answer their delinquency and apostacy. Sir Henry Vaughan, Kut., of Derwydd, Car- marthenshire, was a brother of the first Earl of Carbery and uncle to the second Ear), the Royalist leader in South Wales. He married Miss Herbert, of Tiutern, and having been returned several times for the borough of Car- marthen, was chosen for the county in 1640. but was disabled to sit in 1644 for the share he had taken in the Civil War. He was knighted by the King 14bh Jan., 1643, and was a colonel in the Royal army was. in command of the garrison at Haverfordwest m 1664, and foughtfat the Battle of Naseby in June, 1645, when ho was taken prisoner, and committed to the Tower. He was High Sheriff of Carmarthenshire in 1620, Mayor of Carmarthen in 1670, and again member for the county from 1668, till his death at an advanced age in 1676. Wm. Morgan, of Ddeiw, was a barristo King's Attorney for South Wales, Recorder of Brecon 1637-49, and M.P. for Breconshire March to May 1640, and Oct.. 1640, until his death in 1649. Mr Morgan, who was buried in the Priory Church, Brecon, was a son-in-law of Sir Win. Morgan, of Tredegar, and his grand-dau. and heir took the Dderw estate to her husband, Wm. Morgan, of Tredegar. Sir Henry Williams, of Gwernyfed, was the eldest son of Sir David Williams of that place, a Judge of the King's Bench, and was Sheriff of Breconshire in 1613, and member 1620-2, and 1624-5. He was one of tho Council of the Marches ol WaiesV ^aa knighted by James I. in i6Q3, and created a Baronet in 1644, and had the honour of entertaining Charles I. at Gwernyfed 7th July, 1652. He died 1652, aged 72. 1649, Feb. 5.-Henry, Matthew and Walter (or Wm.) Herbert, Crickhowell Edw. Williams, John Edwards, and Edw. Lewis, Llangattock Wm. Morgan and Hen. Edward, Llanelly Wm. and Lewis Morgan, Llangeney; Thos. Cecil, clerk, Peter Jenkin, and Llewellm Gwilliams, Llanbedor David Phillipp and Cecil Watkin, Partrisso (Patrishow) John Williams, Cowerdwy (Cwmdu), all co. Brecon. Informa- tion that they were extremely disaffected and voluntarily contributed money and arms, if not a horse, against Parliament. That they levied taxes in their parishes to maintain the war, bore arms in several rendezvous, encouraged others to take arms and led them as officers and n Crickhowell and Llangroyne they took. oath of association against Parliainen • • Depositions to prove that the two Morgans lieutenants under Cap*. Edw. Williams; that Llewellin Gwilliams was a thatHenr. Herbert and Thos. Cecil re to raise the country against Sir W. Waller. Feb. 6,—County Commrs. to take in Edw. Williams' case. Feb. 8. County Commrs. to seize and secure all theirestat^. The Earl of Worcester had naturally g ItZ* .» the n.*hbo„,hood of C^o^.11. Edward Lewis of Llangattock, Sheriff shire 1640, died 2 June, 1648, and a monument to his memory was erected in Llangattook Church. HIs family subsequently took the name of Edwards, so he and the above-named John Edwards were probably related. El^u Williams, died 1657, had also a ment in Llangattock Church, together wi Alice Hopkins, bis wife. William Herbert was the eldest son of Edward Herbert of Cwrt-y- Carw. inCrickhowel, and was seated at the Hall, Llaneenny. He married Mary, dan. of !>• ■ Awbrey the civilian, M.P. Cardigan, 1601, and his eldest son Edward Herbert, of The Ha sheriff of Breconshire in 1666, and a son-in-^w Col. John Jeffreys, M.P., of Abercynfig- aor>nnd son John Herbert was knighted. WBJ* Herbert's brother, Henry Herbert, the eighth son, was of Crickhowell, and married Mary, Jan. Edward Williams of Llangattock. His Edward lived some time at Buckland, ba g married Margaret, third dau and co-hejr of flames of that place, and died 1688. matl> Herbert, the brother of William and Henry, wi later on. Th. Morgan, ol M»- y.garth ot Nsuadd in Llan([Mi.y, ««« one of principal old families i„ th. p.r..h, "4 monuments to their "*°B Tll* Church for dates between, 1675 and 17^. x S.thorn.. Cecil «. rector of Ll.nW £ manv years from about till 1661. lh i» L'anbedr Church to*. family of Gwilyms. Peter Jenkin was probaby aeon of the Rev. Peter Jenkins, appointedli 1635 rector of fLlanbedr, unless be was tha 1635 rector of fLlanbedr, unless be was that gentleman himself. John WiUiams of Cwmdu, was High Sheriff of Breconshire in 1653 and 1664. -=:

OLD LADY: You bachelors ought to be taxed. HE: I agree with you perfectly, ma'am, bachelorism is certainly a luxury.

NOT A VKGBTABIAN.—Little Boy (picking raspberries): I say, uia have some r^Pb™3 got legs ?-Ma: Why, of course not. my child. Why do you ask suoha foolish questionj-Little Boy If raspberries haven't got any le*e then I swallowed a bug, that a all. nnnntoo A crowning dwgw W tb<J Wild ImWB OOUUwy g1piq.

WELSH GLEANINGS. II Fifty years ago Margaret Jones, a midwife, of the Pant, near Oswestry, died. She received into the world no less than 764 children. When 87 years of ae'e she fell and broke her leg, and the medical man called to attend on her told her that she was too old for the bone to re-set, and she was placed on her bed, and although she lived for another seven years, dying when 94, the bone was never set. One of the preachers at the monthly meeting of the Cardiganshire Congregational Association, held in Tynygwndwn, on the banks of the Aeron, December 4th and 5th, 1844, was the Rev. W. Evans, Neuaddlwyd. Mr Evans had been ordained at Neuaddlwyd nine years before as co- pastor with the late Dr. Phillips, and is still the minister of that church;and is to-day hale and strong after a ministry of over 60 years. The first book published by the Union of the Welsh Independents made its appearance last week—the "Caniedydd Cynulleidfaol"—the new hymn and tune book of the Congregationalists of Wales. The book is sold at a very low price, and the profits from its sale is to be divided among the weaker churches of the denomination in proportion to the number of copies sold in each county and district Union. The publication departments of the Welsh Baptists and Calvinistio Methodists nay well, and the Congregationalists ought to be able to make their recently established publication department pay well. While the Welsh Baptists were assembling in their thousands at the great festival at the Rosebery Hall on Monday, the Welsh Wesleyans of Glamorganshire were congregating for a like object at the New Town Hall, Pontypridd. The eastern part of the county was thus a sea of song." Tho Pontypridd festival was held under the auspices of the South Wales Mission, of which Eglwysbach is the life and soul, and among other interesting features was a full orchestra, a new and welcome departure at such gatherings, while the versatile Mabon, M.P., was to speak at the evening meeting. Mr Pritchard Morgan means to persevere with his efforts to generally relax the conditions of gold mining in Wales. Sir Wm Harcourt promised to assist him in getting rid of the difficulties in a Bill, and this measure the Chancellor of the Exchequer is, privately speaking, disposed to assist. Mr Morgan des- cribes the opposition as quite an affair of rack- renting the owners of the soil to be broken into put it upon the destruction of the scenic beauties of their estates, the diversion of their streams, and the ruin of their fishing. Mr Morgan said in the lobby that there is gold enough in Wales to make a "score of Coolgardies dance." Apropos of the old ruins lately discovered on Barry Island, a correspondent points out that in the Penny Cyclopsedia, Vol. 11, Fue.Ha.d," there is the following:—"Between Lavernock and Brealcsea Points are Sully and Barry Islands. Barry Island, the largest of the two, is joined to the mainland by an isthmus, or causeway, dry at low water. It is about a mile and a half in com- pass, and contains about 300 acres of land, occu- pied by a farmer, but for the most part retained in the state of a heath or warren for rabbits. The island is supposed to have derived its name from St. Baruch, a Welsh Saint, who is said to have died here about A D. 700. Leland, who has described the island, says, Ther ys no dwelling in the isle, but ther is in the midle of it a fair little chapel, of St. Barrock, wher much pilgrim- age was used." The Rev. Parry Davies is the vicar of Llany. chaer and Puncheston. Lest the parishioners should be overwhelmed with the opportunities of worshipping God in the respective churches of these two placps (says the Chweh IHme*) Mr Davies provides only ana device on Sundays in each. On the most liberal computation this can scarcely be regarded as excessive. Apparently, however, the vicar thought it too much on the second Sunday of this mouth, when he Baptists arranged to open a new place of worship, which their energy bad been the means of erecting. On that day, we are gravely informed in the local Press, the services at Llanychaer Church were suspended in order that the Baptists might have the field to themselves. It would seem that the Rev, P. Davies has views respecting the strength and scope of ordination views which differ very largely from those of the majority of his brethren. It would be pertinent to inquire if Mr Davies's diocesan agrees with him in this matter, and whether the episcopal sanction for this breach of the law relating to the conditions on which two benefices are held together was first obtained. Those who are interested in the National Eisteddfod will be amused to learn that there exists in Wales ft rival institution which is annually held m one of the most romantic spots in the mountains of Carnarvonshire. Last week this gathering was held, as usual, on the shores of Lake Geirionydd. The rivalry that exists between the Geirionydd Assembly and the National Eisteddfod is confined chiefly to the bards. /The Geirionydd "Gorsedd" claims that it follows the true bardic traditions far more closely and faith- fully than the hybrid body which controls the bardic honours of the National Eisteddfod. The headquarters of the Geirionydd fraternity is at Llanwrat, where Gwilym Cowlyd, the Chief Bard Positive," resides. It is a curious custom in many parts of Wales to speak of Llanrwst os a separate division of the United Kingdom, and it is common enough to bear the expression, England, Wales, and Llanrwst." In eistedd- fodio matters, at any rate, there is some reason for adhering to the distinction. The Geirionydd gathering is always an interesting and somewhat an impressive function, and this year's festival enjoyed favourable weather and attracted a large number of visitors. In a Welsh periodical issued in 1845 a corres- pondent writes :—" I found the following peti- tion, alleged to have been sent some years before by the Calvinistic Methodist denomination in Wales to Parliament against the relief of Catholics and the Disestablishment of the Church. Can any of the readers of this column furnish me with the date it was sent, and was it authorised by the General Assembly ?—' Your petitioners, though subject to the same disabilities as the Roman Catholics, are nevertheless perfectly satisfied with and highly gratified for the inestim- able privileges they enjoy, having liberty of conscience unrestricted, toleration for religious exercises, and protection from all interruption in divine worship, that they cannot reasonably wish for any more. Yonr petitioners conclude by beseeching your hon. House, as guardians of the Constitution and protectors of peace and liberty in the nation, to preserve for them and their posterity in aU its original vigour the bulwarks raised by the wisdom and cemented by the blood of their forefathers around a Protestant Throne, a Protestant Church, a Protestant asccndenoy in Church and State which your petitioners value as the choicest blessing of Heaven.' Although Malcolm MacGregor sounds anything but Welsh, yet it is the name of an old Cardiff boy who is doing exceedingly well in the States. In a recent number of the Metronome, an American monthly journal devoted to musical matters, a fine frontispiece portrait of Malcolm W. Macgregor appears. It is accompanied by an appreciative sketch of his career. MacGregor, it seems, is celebrated in the land of his adoption as a euphonium soloist. He was born in Splotlanda on January 15th, 1860. He was son of John MacGregor, who drove the first engine on the Rhymney Railway, and who was for some time foreman of fitters in Rhymney. MacGregor, senior, afterwards went to Bea as chief engineer, and was drowned in the 8.8. Rhoda, of Glasgow. Malcolm's mother was a Miss Turner, a native ot Chepstow. When he was 15 years ot age he secured the consent of his mother to join the band of her Majesty's Royal Welsh Fusilers, where he stayed eight years. Shortly afterwards he went to Amerioa, where his brother lived, and there he has remained. He has made for himself a repa tation as a thoroughly sound musician, and is deemed one of tho best performers on the eupho. nium in the United States. Since the conclusion of the World's Fair he has held an engagement as soloist in the celebrated Bellstedt Ballensberg Band, of Cincinnati. The Cardiff and South Wales friends oordiftlJy extend to Mr MftoGrtegor Db. ,ohll.

THE HOUSEHOLD. EOPLE say that there is not so much fashion in ^furniture as in foloth«s, but there I think they make a great mistake; the fashion itself does not change so rapidly, but it is there all the same, and a room is furnished to. day with a dis- tinctly different aspect to those furnished seven or eight years ago, or, if we wish to be really very much up-to-date, one might say even three or four years ago. For instance, white wood took our hearts by storm, and certainly in its fresh cleanli- ness it is a delightful surrounding to have, but unless very skilfully treated it is not restful, and in these days of wear and tear and of strained tension, something to rest our eyes on is what we care for most. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why we began to tire of the elaborate forms of inlay work in which we revelled such a short time back. Plain rosewood and plain mahogany seem to have taken its place; it is plain and unre- lieved, save perhaps for tie delicate coloured lining of some cabinet, tinted brocado curtains, or well-arranged draperies, which mnst always be found, though in a lesser degree than formerly, m every beautiful room. And, talking of draperies, by no means the least important of them is that which inevitably finds its way on to the back of I the piano, if it be of the cottage type and here my theory of fashion in furniture is again A DBAPKD PIANO BACK. I accentuated. The drapery which is shown on the back of the piano in my sketch is fastened on by an arrangement of brass rods. whioli is very much better than tacking it to the piano itself; in the first place, the draperies are much more easily moved and cleaned, and next, the piano is not so likely to be injured. The materials used are slightly drawn full silk, in a pale shade of pink, giving somewhat the effect of a puckered window blind, and over this is draped, curtain- wise. a silk tapestry, brocaded with a pattern of the Louis XV. period. When talking about poker work, a week or two ago, I promised to give a design suitable for the decoration of leather in this fashion. A very charming design will be found in my second 80RKEN, LHTTJCB, AND STAWOlOtBT HOLDEB: 8ACK VIKW. B.wlt vnew. illustration, showing a little screen meant to otand on a writing table it is prettily lined with soft silk, and slat pockets are made to hold writing paper. invitation cards, or whatever may be desired by its owner. I remember, when I was a girl, it was con- sidered not a little odd that I should take to carpentering just as my brothers did, but we have changed all that now. and it is by no means unusual for school girls to handle tools as well as their brothers, and I am sure a number of them might find immense amusement in fretwork. Having chosen your design, and procured a piece of wood planed quite smooth on each side, and from to U inch thick, according to the size and strength of the work required (the woods most suitable are mahogany, walnut, oak, holly, maple, butternut, and oedar), paste the design upon the wood, and give it time to dry, then with the drill bore a small hole through each of the interior parts of the design which have to be cut out the bradawl may be used for this purpose if the wood be of a kind, soft nature, but great care will be required to avoid splitting it, and tor the same reason it is better to bore all holes before cutting out any part of the design. Fix the cutting board firmly to a table by means of a screw clamp, fastening it by the piece which is screwed across it, allowing one of the ends with A WINDOW FRAME. I BBAOKXT. PHOTO KRAMH. the V-shaped opening to project a few inches beyond the table. 'Next fasten one of the saw webs in the lower part of the frame. being parti. cular to place the tooth so that they will out most keenly with the downward stroke of the saw. Seat yourself opposite the board, but rather to the left hand, and place your work upon the table; thread the web through one of the holes in the design now compress the frame with the thumb and the finger of one hand, and while thus held secure the web with the other to the upper part of the frame, and when the pressure of the thumb and finger is rembved the web will be found to be sufficiently tight. Now cut round the pattern, feeding the work to the saw, and turning it upon the board with the left hand until the piece is cut out; then detach the saw from the upper part and prooped as before. When the whole of the work is out out the paper side of it should be slightly damped with a sponge, or, better stil), have a pieoe of web blotting paper placed upon it for a few minutes, when it will readily come off. Careshontd be taken not to use more water than is necessary, or it will cause the wood to warp. It should now be trimmed up with the files where required, then got up smoothly with sand paper. ETHEL.

AN EXPLANATION.—Justice Simms to Thomp- son-street culprit, a dusky Senegambian Were you arrested before ?—" No, boss, when I was arrested de policeman grabbed me from behind. CHBKBFULINVITATION.—Boston Philanthropist: I would be glad to see the coloured man rise in the world. —Southerner: You would, eh t Well, come down to West Virginia where I live. Tnjee of 'em were hong there :.|*9ek before lft»o for itaalimr. :I'

Cheese, Butter, and Milk. I WITH SPECIAL RKFKRRNCK TO THE PRODUCTION IN BRITAIN OF THE BEST CONTINENTAL CHEESES, By JAMES tONG. Ill.—Soft Cheese Manufacture, BRIB AND CAMEMBBBT. There is no doubt that the soft cheese industry is the most profitable branoh of dairy farming in France. I have for many years paid much attention to this subject, in the hope that the system might be introduced into thisoountry; but, chiefly, perhaps, from want of knowledge of the system of manufacture, and to some extent from want of enterprise, our dairy farmerssbill allow the French to supply our markets, hesitating to take up a class of work which a little study of the sub- ject would show them to be extremely profitable. The following remarks are not based upon theory, they are the result of a considerable amount of labour between the years 1885 and 1887, during which a great deal of time was devoted to the study of the process of manufacture of the leading varieties of soft cheese made in France. At that time no one in this country had taken the matter up, and in spite of considerable help from personal friends in France I found great difficulty in arriving at realiy correct methods, while success was only achieved by continual experimeut and practice. BRIE, In 1887, in an article ill the Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society, speaking of the Brie cheese, I pointed out that in five parishes in the Brie district alone six million cheeses were made annually. Assuming that each cheese weighed, upon the average, 4tb! this quantity represented the yield of 25,500 cows, assuming each cow to produce 450 gallons of milk per annum. Reference to the agricultural returns will show that in a very large number of our Euglish counties there are con- siderably fewer than this number. It has been urged that if every dairy farmer took up the manufacture of a particular kind of soft cheese, the market would rapidly b-3 overdone but it is beside the mark to suggest: what never has taken place and never will take p'Jbe in connection with any industry, especially iijlthis country, where farmers are proverbially cadful in the extreme. The prices realised for in Paris are often very considerable, sometime reaching a shilling a pound. The Parisians t £ large cheese eaters, consuming about 121b?. pj-ff fcead of the popula- tion per annum nnd" e" money spent in the wholesale markets efffaris in tins one variety of cheese alone ill" nunllyestimated at about four million francs., e Brie is a large, round flat cheese, varying fiwn thiee-quartera of an inch to an inch iu thickn^lg, and from eight to 12 inches in diameter but ik a market like that of London, where the consumption is not large, chiefly, perhaps, because cf tWuliffio-ilty of placing chiefly, perhaps, because cf tWuliffio-ilty of placing the Brie before the public in theprimestoon dition, is is seldom offered in more than one size. In my own practice (for experimental work was followed by systematic manufacture) 10 Ibs. of rich ,milk or 12% lbs. of ordinary milk were required to make a cheese which sold at Is 61. The milk must not be skimmed, as the creamy character of the cheese is, by this process, very much diminished, as wet! as the mildness of its flavour. The plant required in the manufacture of soft cheese is neither considerable nor expensive. The draining table should be slightly inclined to the front, on the edge of which should be a narrow gutter on wooden tables covered with metal these gutters are usually of zinc, but on brick- built tables faced with cement a small depression is made near tho edge which answers the same purpose. In either case the whiay is enabled to run by gravitation into the gutter, and similarly to be carried off into a rcc•$. icie made for the purpose. The Hoocof tho diwry should also bo of cement laid on concrete, aud the walls either of glazed bricks or sn.ootli«faced cement-kept washed with lime. The utensils necessary are round wooden tubs with lids, stools on which to stand them-preferably with rollers on the legs —a large metal skimmer without perforations, a thermometer, a rennet measure, moulds made of tinned iron the exact diameter of the cheese to be made, boards made of seasoned wood so that they will not shrink, and sufficiently large to piftC0 the cheeses upon, mats made either of rush or fine rye straw, and large enough to cover tha moulds, a salt dredger, aud some round osier plsquos or plates, called by the French clayeltes, The plate is intended for the cheese to rest upon Instead of a plain board, so that air may penetrate beneath it. The mould is in two pieces, the bottom having a rim into which the upper portion fits. The object of these two pieces is that the cheese may be conveniently turned, as we shall presently see. In the process of manufacture the milk is strained into a ten-gallon tub. wood being used to prevent loss of heat, and the rennet added at a temperature of from 82 to 86 deg. F. A little practice will show the manufacturer what tem- perature suits his milk beat, and which to adopt at different'seasons'of the year. The curd should be fit to remove into the mouido in four hours, the apartment in which the work is performed being kept at from 60 to 62 deg. F. Great care must be exercised to set exactly tho quantity of milk required for the manufacture of a given number of cheeses, and, as far as possible, each mould should be filled equally. Before moulding, the boards must bo placed upon the draining table, a dry, clean mat being '.laid on each," with the moulds on the top. '1'he curd, which must be elastic, not sticking to the finger or the ther- mometer when inserted, is removed in largo thin slices into the moulds. If the slides aro thick the whey escapes with greater difficulty. When the moulds are filled the curd is left to drain, and in three to four hours, perhaps more in colder weather, the whey will have escaped and the curd have sunk into the lower portion of the mould. In this case the upper portion is removed, a mat iy placed over the lower portion, followed by a board, the whole is rapidly inverted, the bottom matand board removedand subseq uen tly cleaused, when the bottom of the cheese will be seen to be marked by the straws. On the following morning the same operation will take place again, so that the cheeso will be marked on either side; but with this turning the new mat is placed so that the marks will be crossed, causing a number of little poiuts to appear on the surface of the cheese instead of lines. These points will subsequently be covered with mould. In a few hours the last turning takes place, and again in from four to six hours the curd will be sum- ciently firm to stand alone, the mould will be removed, and the cheese fit to salt, this being done with extremely fine salt distributed by a dredger. Unless every portion of the crust receives salt the mould will not appear. Salting on the second side occurs some hours after the first salting the cheese is then removed on its mat to a olayette and taken to the drying room. Here it stays for a few days, being systemically turned until it is covered with white mould. In seme oases it may stay in this apart- ment; in others a third room will be essential for the development of the blue mould, which gradually appears until the whole of the cheese is covered, so that all the end of from three to four weeks it is saleable. In France, however, con- sumers of Brie are fond of a somewhat advanced cheese, and the blue Brie is taken to an under. ground cave until it becomes so oreamy that upon the breaking of the crust it runs, and in this condition it realises a higher price. I venture to think, however, that the English taste would prefer the blue cheese, which is. milder and more substantial. No Brie is thoroughly ripe until the white and somewhat solid curb has become yellowish and creamy throughout. Ripening proceeds from one outside, and on cutting any soft oheese of this character while this process is going on it will be seen, it the ripening is not complete, that while beneath the crust the cheese is creamy, in the centre it is still solid and to some extent insoluble. It has been pointed out by Duclaux, a French chemist of oonsidtrable eminence, who hua'studud this question perhaps more than any other investi- gator, that the moulds which grow upon Brie aud similar cheeses practically remove the acid present through the medium of what we may crudely term their roots, or mycelium, and that until this acid is removed the bacteria which are responsible for the ripening process are unable to complete their work. CAMBMBIBT. Several years ago, as a guest of the French Dairy Farmers' Association, I had the oppor. tunity of inspecting a number of the most important Camembert dairies in the North ot France, having already a olose acquaintance with the system of manufacture. In on8;of these dairies —that of M. Rcnssel—1,800 cheeses were made daily from 800 gallons of milk, the produce of 400 cows. I estimated at the time that if M. Roussel produced Camembert during only five months of the year he would turn out 107 tons of cheese, which at that time was realising a somewhat extravagant price, It is. therefore, Dot surprising that the Camembert makers were able to save money and to buy the farms they occupy. In a work published some years ago I was enabled to show from investigations made in the county of Calvados, in which Camembert is chiefly made, that there are large numbers of farmers who each make from 10,000 to 160,000 cheeses per annum. There were 50 makers manufacturing more than 25,000 per annum, and large numbers making MnaHecqumtttiM. From the station of Lisioux the village station of Mesnzlmauger 12,500 cases containiug 62,000 dozen. In some other counties the manufacture was also considerable, but now it is possible that it is doubled, Certain it is that Cameniberfc is much more largely consumed, and that the bulk of the cheese which arrives in this country is produced from milk which has been partially deprived of its cream. Camembert was invented during the Revolution of 1791 by the ancestress of M. Cyrille Payne), a large maker in Calvados, recently dead, whose acquaintance I made on my first visit to the district. It is well known in every part of England, and would be certain to sell in much larger numbers than at present if it were taken up as an industry. A gallon of rich milk produces about 2y,, cheeses, so that a cow yielding 600 gallons would make about 1,350 cheeses, which a £ 4%d each— which I believe to be the lowest wholesale price for second class cbeese-would .realise J625 69 3d without the whey. The manufacture of Camembert, in a word, enables the producer to realise from lOd to Is per gallon for his milk during the summer season, when Cheddar realises only 5d a gallon (more or less in accordance with its quality) and butter about 4d. The following is a description of the system adopted in th6 manufacture of the cheeses made in my own diary, which gained the JS10 prize at the Royal Agricultural Show at New- castle, and the Silver Medal at the London Dairy Show. Seventy-five pounds of milk was set in the morning and a similar quantity in the evening, at a temperature of 80. deg. F. The quantity of rennet added to each lot was 2% cubic centimetres. The curd was fit for removal into the moulds in 8% hours. The moulds are small deep cylinders, the inside diameter being equal to the width of the cheese. They are perforated and are placed close together on an inclined draining table upon large mats. A hundred and fifty pounds of the milk used, which by the bye was of high quality, produced three dozen cheeses; the 36 moulds were, therefore, nearly filled with the curd of the morning. In the afternoon the curd had sunk more than half way down the moulds, which were again filled to the brim with the curd of the even- ing. On the following day, the curd having become fairly firm by drainage, each mould was inverted on fresh mats. This is a somewhat delicate operation, and skill is only acquired by practice. Turning continues until the cheeses are firm enough for the moulds to be removed. They are then salted alternately on each side and placed in batches upon clean mats, which are laid upon boards irade for the purpose, and left upon shelves which are fixed above the draining table. Here they ar(i,turyied until the white mould has commenced to grow, when they are taken to the sechoir or drying-room. In this apartment they remain until the blue mould commences to grow when they are removed to the cave, which in my case was excavatedfn the chalk. Here great attention had to be paid to ventilation and to the hygrometric condition of the atmosphere, and until this was perfected it was impossible to obtain first-class cheese. But onco the condition was acquired there was no further difficulty. With the continued growth of the mould ripening is pursued insoluble curd be- comes soluble the flavour is acquired and the cheese becomes fit for market. In some cases it may be necessary to heat the milk up to 36 deg., while some makers in France do not remove the curd until four hours, and others remove it in two. Small quantities of milk are always renneted in preference to large quantities. Great care must be taken in preventiucr a damp atmos. phere either in the drying or ripening rooms. During fine weather both rooms are well venti- lated, cross draughts being arranged in the former apartment; but during wet weather the draughts are excluded and the room kept as dry as possible. With excessive humidity the white mould changos to black, a variety known as the Aspergillus niger, while the blue mould, which is responsible for so much work in the process of ripening, is the common PenciUium glaucum, the shape of the tiny filaments known as hyphae, which are responsible for the propagation of some of the mould varieties resembling painters' brushes, hence the Latin wotd pencillium. It is curious that these tiny fungoid plants should have so important an influence in the ripening of cheese. The blue mould is unquestion- ably the dominant fungus in the atmosphere of the dairy; it will not only grow luxuriantly at the temperature at which the soft cheese ripens, but at a still lower temperature when it is provided with a suitable soil of feeding material. It has been assumed by some writers that it is essential to success to cultivate the moulds common to cheese; but this is net the case. It is common to every household, and its spores or se^ds are so easily dispersed by the movement of the atmosphere that wherever such a material as cheese is placed it ia certain to be attacked abundantly! The softcheesemaker should therefore observe the reoognised rules of cleanliness which apply, to all dairies, lime, boiling water, and the scrubbing brush beiug used with absolute freedom and without any fear of entirely eradicating the fungus, the aid of which is so essential to success. Next Article GORQONZOLA & THE VARIETIES OF BLUE OR MOULDED CHEESE." ¿h.Jto-

Andrew Fletcher, of Saltonn, in a letter te the Marquis- of Montrose, wrote :—" I know a very wise man that believed that if a man wore permitted to make all the ballads he need not care who should make the laws of the nation."

THREESCORE AND TEN. Who reach their threescore years and ten, As I have mine, without a sigh, Are either more or less than men-r* Nob such am I. I am not of them; life to me Has been a strange, bewildered dream, Wherein I knew not things that be From things that seem. I thought, I hoped, I knew one thing, And had one gift, when I was young— The impulse and the power to sing, And so I sung. To have a place in the high ohoir Of poets, and deserve the same- What more could mortal man desire Than poets' fame ? I sought it long, but never found The choir so full was, and so strong The jubilant voices there, they drownod My simple song. Men would not hear me then, and now I care not, I accept: my fate When white hairs thatch the furrowed brow Crowns come too late ( The besb of life went long ago From me it was not much at best Only the love that young hearts know, The dear unrest. Back on my past, through gathering tears Once more I cast my eyes, and see Bright shapes that in my better years: Surrounded me! They left me here, they left me there. Went down dark pathways, one by one— The wise, the great, the young, the fair But I went on And I go on! And, bad or good, The old allotted years of men I have endured, as best I could- Threescore and ten I —Richard Henry Stoddard in the Independent (New York),

TO A FRIEND. Fpr better or for worse," so runs the phrase, Till death the bond shall break To darken, or to make Life sweeter flow beneath Love's quickening rays. Ob wedded state where souls akin do meet To ohoer each other up, Hold to their lips the cup Of Life and Love's red wine, rich and complete. Oh may the bond ne'er sully or grow dark But be a brotherhood Where tide of Love's sweet flood Shall ever flow at it's high water mark. Ob may these newer paths—untrodden now- Prove sweet Elysian fields Where life's besb treasure yields A balm for aching heart and fretted brow. So when shall come the inevitable end. No pain of sad regret Shalt be where loves have met To sweeten life-to better and befriend. E. PATTERSON. I

MISS GLADYS You appeared very abruptly with your errand a while ago. You mnst not come so suddenly into the room when Mr Smithers is spending the efvening with nje. BBIDOET: Suddent i And is it suddont you call jfl. and me at the kay*hoIe a fall -thneomvosowl tVKJwnrV

Our Country Column. Dahlias for Exhibition. Next to the rose, the dahlia receives the most notice as a show bloom, but the two flowers do not come together. The rose shows are at an end early in July, while the dahlia is not seen in perfection until August and September. The dahlia is a more certain bloom than the rose, as should rain or other cause spoil the labter* shewing for that season is out of the question; dahlias, on the other hand, bloom continuously from July until the frost cuts them off. To insure good blooms, secure a strong, healthy plant. Without this the blooms will be useless for exhibition. To secure perfect flowers the plants should be potted in a rich soil, leaving sufficient space to grow. Should there be no manure in the soil, give liquid made from horse or cow droppings, about twice a week. This should be given from the time the buds form. Be careful that all shoots receive support to prevent damage from wind or other cause. The main stem, that is, the centre one in each of the leaders, produces the finest blooms. Those on the side growths are smaller and less massive. If these are removed when the bud is small, the full strength of the shoot will be engaged in develop- ing one bloom. Plants that show a desire to bloom now, but whose flowers are required for showing late in September, should have the buds pinched off; the bloom should only be allowed to form about a fortnight previous to the exhibition. A first-class bloom should be massive, well formed, spotless, and possess a full centre. Shade the bloom during very bright weather a few days previous to showing. A little rain will not hurt them, but they should be caiefully protected from storms. Fowls for Meat. Just as the shorthorn or Hereford of high breeding is significant of multum in parvo and of quality, as compared with the ill- bred cattle of the country, and just as the Southdown, Hampshire, or the Oxford sheep is typical of mutton production upon a high scale as compared with sheep which have no breed about them, so are Dorkings, the best types of game, the Indian game, and the Scotch grey, types of fowls which present the same quali- fications, aud are, therefore, adapted to the economical production of meat. In addition to form, however, it is necessary to look for quality and this is found not only in the above varieties, but in the La. Fleohe," the Creve Cceur, and to some extent in the lately improved Oriental fowl known as the Langshan- Our object is to show how it is possible, by crossing certain pairs of these varities, or by improving selected farmyard stock, commonly known as the barn-door fowl, that chickens of great size, excellent form, and good quality of fiesb, may be produced form indicating in its very necessary sense the larger production of meat upon those parts which it is well known produce meat of the whitest, tenderest, and most succulent quality. In crossing two pure breeds no better cross can be adopted than that of mating the Dorking with the Indian game. the Scotch grey, or the Langshan. The Dorking is the shorthorn of the poultry world, its breadth of chest and depth of body being peculiarly adapted to the requirements of the market, and, therefore, to the requirements of the consumer. The game fowls, more particularly the Indian game, although less typical in form, possess large quantities ot firm and richly flavoured meat upon very fine bone. Both classes of fowl handle, as it is termed, much plumper while alive than would appear when they are upon the ground. The combination, therefore, of the Dorking and the game blood produces abundant meat, which is white, tender, and of rich flavour and it would be difficult, if not impossible, to produce poultry from any cross, or from any pure bird, which would excel that bred from the crosses in question. Ouc illustration shows a pair of Indian game fowls. Spinach for Winter and Spring. Where there is a demand for spinach during winter and spring a good bed of it is valuable. In winter spinach is more or less a. fuilure. chiefly owing to the ravages of the spinach moth. The besb rsmody fo" tha ia to wall fork the ground over and all#w^ the^atiposphercr -W "t%t, birds to cieanse it. There is much difference of optnion as to the time of sowing the matu crop. Should it be sown early and the autumn prove warm and dry, it runs to seed if sown too late it will not grow large enough to be of use. The best plan is to make two sowings, one not later than the first week in August, the second during the third week. By doing this the earlier sowing may be gathered in the autumn, while the later will come iu during the winter. At the end of September, another sowing can be made which will come in after the winter crop is exhausted. The September sowing grows very little before the frost begins, but grows and bears well when the weather breaks, and will be in condition long before any sown in the early part of the year. It is best to have the crop in an open spot, as the grub is less likely to attack it. Fork the soil well, but before breaking the surface down give a top- dressing of soot and burnt refuse. Prickly-seeded spinach is mostly grown for winter use, but many prefer Victoria. Whatever are the merits of the Victoria, the prickly-seeded still holds its own both for quantity and quality. Sow rather thinly in rows 18 inches apart. If crowded, the young plants are disturbed in thinning. Keep the hoe going to assist growth, and to disturb the grubs. A Useful Poultry Hamper. I give this week an illustration of a poultry basket, an artiole which every poultry-keeper requires, and which comes in exceedingly useful from time to time. It is sometimes a temptation to convey fowls in anything which bappeus to be handy, but this often proves costly transit in the end. The special hampers cost little more than the ordinary appliances, are far more convenient, aud are safe whether for sending exhibition fowls or to market. Another advantage is that hampers are both strong and light-a consideration in long POULTRY BASKET. I railway journeys. The two-oompartment hamper shown above ia without its canvas lining, but this should always be used when on rail. The life of an exhibition bird is hard enough, and in transit it ought to have as much protection from beat and cold as possible. Hampers similar to the one shown in the illustration are made for turkeys, geese, fowls, ducks, and pigeons, and are in a great variety of sizes. Once in possession of these hampers, it is wonderful for how many purposes they can be used. Another type is made specially for conveyance by rail of clutches of eggs for batching and sixpence spent in this way ofteu proves a great saving, for it is the rarest occur- rence that eggs so sent are broken. When a shil- ling per egg is paid for valuable stock every precaution has to be taken, and an egg lost is equal to the cost of two egg.basket& Managing an Aquarium. It is an impossibility to secure natural results in any glass, or glass-sided vessel, such as is sold bylthe dealers. Therefore, in starting an aquarium, the first requisite is plenty of rockwork, arranged in such a manner that it forms darkened recesses, into which the inhabitants can retire for rest or shelter. A few pieces of Vallisneria spiralis, or American weed, either of which may bo had of a dealer in such articles at a few pence per root, not only give a finished appearance bo the rockery. but assist in supplying oxygen to the water, and by vso doing Keeping the balance required for maintaining animal life. The tiny duckweed, to be obtained for the trouble of gathering at almost any pond or ditch, is another excellent plant for the aquarium. This will be found doubly useful if the aquarium stands in a window, as the fish not only feed upon it, but it acts as a shade to the light. One important rule in keeping these pets is to feed regularly. The general impression is that fish receive sufficient nourishment from, the various minute insects in the water, and L, therefore require no other food. This idea is utterly wrong. Like other animals fish require feeding, and if food is not forthcoming they will die of starvation. For an ordinary sized bell glasB three or four fish wiU live And remain healthy. If the aquarium is well supplied with aquatic plants the water will not require changing oftener than every three or four weeks. Feed the fish twice a week on blood-worms, meat finely shredded, or a little vermicelli. Be careful not to allow any food to remain in the water to become offensive. Answers toJCorfespondtnts. The Indian Banner" (in answer to Jessie Lee) is to be met with commonly in West Cumberland. Don't go in for fancy prices, thinking you have discovered something new Others have been there before you. Still the breed will pay well, as they produce a large number of eggs. Thanks for kind approval. Potato Grower," Leek.—The new variety called Duke of York is from a cross between Early Primrose (one of the old Lemon Kidney type) and King Kidney. Besides being handsome and large, it is very early and has no haulm to speak I Consider it a first-class potato( aDd WiU m

Welsh Tit-Bits. Neu Wreichion Oddiar yr Eingion. (BY CADRAWD.) Social Standing of the Clergy in Glamsrgan in 1826. Dr. Richard Sumner, sometime chaplain to Geo.ge IV., became Bishop of Llandaff in 1826. The social standing of the Glamorganshire clergy may be gathered from the following extract from the Bishop's Life In his new post he found work of no ordinary kind awaiting him, as may be judged from the following description of affairs in 1827. In that part of Glamorganshire which was in the Llandaff diocese, 62 out of 107 incum- bencies were without any house of residence for the clcrgy, and in Monmouthshire the case was still worse: for while 55 incumbencies were provided with glebe houses, 72 had none. In the whole diocese 137 out of 234 parishes were without a resident clergyman, and HI parishes bad neither Sunday nor day school. It is difficult to transport ourselves back in thought to such a state of things where the Holy Communion was sometimes administered without any offertory collection when the alms were constantly distributed directly after the ministration of the Lord's Supper to those who had just knelt at the Holy Table, and where the clergy themselves, if by chance they desired an interview with their Bishop, were in the habit of coming to the back door of the Episcopal Palace, and expected to be regaled in the servants' hall, Dr. Sumner set himself manfully to meet the evils he saw aiound him. He did not stay long enough to effect much, for in 1827 he was translated to the See of Winchester, which see he held uutil his resignation m 1873. H9 died in 1875. He maintained a pleasant relationship with his first bishopric as long as he lived, sending a haunch of venison from his park at Farnham to grace the board of the clergy dinner at Cow- bridge for more than forty year.?. Th^ position of the minor clergy of the Established Church was at this time, no doubt, one of great misery, hardship, and degradation. They were, in truth, in a state of bondage as cruel and merci- less as that in which the children ot Israel were held by the Egyptians. Their task masters were their beloved bretheren in Christ—the beneficed clergy. These harpies were scions of distin- guished or at least influential families, who went into the Church for plunder. The too-well authenticated tales of the poverty of Welsh curates of the whole of the 18th century and of the full first quarter of the present sounds now to our ears incredible. One curate in Car- marthenshire, to fill a Parliamentary return regarding the pauperism in his parish, gives indeed the required statistics, but <*dds a most heartrending wail by way of postcri pt. The poor- est and most wretched family in the parish, he says, is his own. He has a wife and eight children depending on him, and has but JB15 a year to support them. Some of his children have hardly ever known the taste of animal food there is but one pair of shoes in the bouse, and these are his own his children are in rags, and his wife has not been to church for years because her garments are insufficient to serve the end for which clothing is designed. Another poor Welsh curate, somewhat similarly circumstanced, seeing his wife and family starving around him, unable to beg, and reluctant to steal, was tempted to enlist into the army that he might send the "bounty" (which was then Urge) to his wife and little ones, and give them thus a temporary relief from very urgent want. Cases like these might be multiplied, and though those quoted were indeed extreme, yet the grada. tions between the poverty of J315 a year and the affluence of £40, which \'4il8 the extreme of the other side, were very evenly maintained, aud the wordly wealth of the walking clergy was of the slenderest kind. They were Franciscans without knowing it. All tnis misery lay at the door of the higher clergy, who oonsidered them- selves a select and privileged class to whom, as by right, all the good things of the Church should come, and come in abundance. The social doctrine most in favour at the time was, that a high grade cleric could not be too rich, and that he could not hold too many fat rectories and vicarages. Foui piecies of perferment in the hands of one of these gentry" was a mere nothing; he was rather commiserated by his friends upon his ill-luck, and, far and near, his aunts, mother-in-law, or any other benign philanthropic, and affectionate kinswoman was ou the alert, and kept a watch- ful feminine eye for some additional good thing for him. Or he bad been a fellow of his college perhaps, and he retained his fellowship until he had feathered his nest with two or three of the best college livings. Rarest chance of all, he gets admitted into the charmed circle of a cathedral chapter. His genius speedily lifts him into a duly recognised place, and to what is far better to an undisputed influence amdngst the ruling clique of that spiritually-minded body. Hero he has his p ick of the unconsidered trifles that are going. It was among these bodies that the greatest pluralists were found. The diocese of Llandaff offered a few glaring examples of this kind of abuse. Six pieces of perferment in the hands of one capitular dignitary was of common occur- rence there were it is said instances of their holding seven or eight, one by the name of H-. a D.D., by the way, a. targe pluralist. He wasatonceamtsor, a bon vivanfc, and a mau of gallantry. Ho desired to found a family, and he did so by grasping every living he could get. and reaped all the profit that was to be made from each, over and above the outlay of from JS15 to j320 a year for the curate. For himself he never saw his parishes or bis parishioners oftener than once a year; and truth to say few or any of the members of bis many flocks ever wished to see him. The object of his life was, however, accom- plished, he died rich, lattened upon the spoils of Church; and the country had the inestimable advantage of seeing his wealth blossom into a baronetcy for one of bis descendants. A clergy- man by the name of Casbert, a D.D., was one time Vicar of Penmark (where he resided), of Llantwit Major, and Lysworney, three livings, I believe, in the gift of the Dean and Chapter of Gloucester. He was also Rector of Eglwys- Brewis, and holder of two other places of preferment elsewhere. The Welsh bards have drawn several very suggestive little pictures of things as they appeared to them in their days. We shall end our column this week with a few quotations. Sion Brwynog, 1530, said :— Wrth ddau betb yr aeth y byd, Wrth ofn ac ar werth hefyd: Oerder yn ein hamser Ol. Yr i& glas yw'r eglwysi." Iorwerth Vynglwyd :— Swyddau gwlad sy' heddyw gloff, Swvddau eglwys sydd oglolf Y Pab fel am yr abertb, Ammeu'r gwir y mae er gwerth." Gwilym Lew o Gydweli :— Y trahusaf o'r trawsion, Oreu fydd yn yr oes hen Ar wr mawr, bob awr o bydd A'i law'n cael, ni bin c'wilydd. o chaiff fo, ddau bolio byd Ei dy'n wych, dyna iecbyd, A gadu heb helpu hon, Eglwys Duw'n gleisieu duon. Ar fonwent oreu fynnoch, Anferth y mae'n fuarth moch, A byohan lie hir bechwyd, Ac i un bol ugain bwyd. Iago ab Dewi:— Mawr yw'r dadlou yn y jgwledydd, Ynghylch corpi. a ciiadach crafydd, Ond am enaid crefydd ddiddan Ntd oes nemawr o ymddiddan. Eisiau mawr ar wlad y Cymro Y cyfarch Duw a diolch lddo, A mwy undeb yn ei chaerydd Rhwng athrawon ynghylch Orefydd. Nid yw deall, dysg a donieu Heb gydwybod dda'o ddiammeu Ond fel llysieu Corph dtewedig yn ei amdo. Vicar Prichard :— Fe wneir 'stalwn o ben faroh tywyll, "Fe wneir tan o hen dy oandryll, Fe wneir peth a chrochan tyllosr, Ond ni wneir dim a Veiriad diog.

A Promieing Child, Me Manhattan Beach What are you reading Ml\mie! Mamie (aged eleven): Only one ef those French novels, You should not read them. tt is not proper for you to read such books." "But I am not reading it for my own good. I am just looking through it to see if it is a prwper book to have lying around where rauanui might wick it up mi re*dit."

GOSSIPS' CORNER. The August number of the Jewish Mittitnmrg Herald contains a portrait and biography of the Rev. W. E. Winks. Principal Edwards, D.D., has written an ex. cellent Welsh version of the well-known linas, entitled, "A man of kindness" ("Caredig Ddyu "). Mr Tom Ellis, M.P., and a party of frltttds have booked a passage for the Cape in the s.s. Moor, which will sail from Southampton on the 14th inst. The Liverpool Congregational Magazine for August contains a portrait and biography of the Rev. Dr. Herber Evans, principal of Bala-Bangor Congregational College. A readable Welsh Idyll, entitled Uncrowned Kings," appears in tho last issue of the British Weekly. The author is the Rev. John Thomas, M.A., of Liverpool. Mr S. H. Stockwood, solicitor and clerk to the magistrates, Bridgend, has been confined to hie bt-1 with a severe cold for over a week. He was, we are glad to state, reported to be much better on Sunday. The City Council of Bangor have adopted a motion in favour of power being at once obtained for an installation of the electric light. A field near the police station is to be purchased from Lord Penrhyn as a site for the works. Mr J. E. Griffiths, the popular manager of tht Neath and Brecon Railway, has held his present post for ten years, and it is simply marvellous what improvements and developments he h", brought about in the period indicated. Mr J. C. Fowler, the Swansea Stipendiary thinks no man can calculate how much the Welch owe to the influence of the long Roman occupa. tion of the country. He has no doubt that the British mind was touched and tinged by that of Italy. The district meetings of the Welsh Wesleyans, where representatives from the whole of South Wales will meet, will be held at Aberdare on the 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th inst. under ..1M presidency of the Rev. J. Evans (Egiwysbach), the president of the district. The old boys of the Swansea Grammar School are getting up a presentation to the Rev. J. Young, who after being headmaster for many years is about to remove to Lincolnshire, where he has accepted a rectory. Mr D. Jones Powell, solicitor, has the matter in hand. The Welsh Independents have determined to raise a fund, £ 20,000, to assist their weaker churches, and to move forward to reclaim the unattached in Wales, and the Welsh in English towns. For a long time past the Independents in Wales have suffered from great isolation. They are now about to attempt concerted action. Principal Prys, of Trofecca, it is gratifying to learn, is fast recovering from his recent indis- position. Considerable sensation was caused ill North Wales last week by the announcement published in a local papsr that She rev. gentle* man had died. TtJ\! explanation seems to be that an English eccleaiasticai paper, seeing that Me Absalon Prys, the principal's father, had died. A striking diminution appears to have takee plac? in the number ot tramps in Montgome^fc shire. At the quarterly meeting of the Jotjv Police Committee of the County *5ounciI hetcKot Welshpool the Chief Constable reported that tjk number of tiao>i:s noted at the workhouses aftJ lodging-iiouses duting the past quarter bad been 5,626. being a decrease of 1,620 ou the number tØIJ tho corresponding quarter of last yenr. An unusual interest has been evinced in tht formation of a united choral society for Tony- pandy district. In addition to other resolutions^ an influential committee have appointed the following gentlemen as officers:—Chairnpan, T. Jones, Paris House treasurer, J. Metford and J. W. Price, secretary. A strong feeling prevatta that this society should compete for the chief prize at the forthcoming National Eisteddfod, to be held at Llandudno. Three years ago the Rev. R.H. Mcrgans.M.A., of Menai Bridge, undertook the enormous task ot collecting £20,000 in aid of the Bala Theological College. So great has been the success attending his efforts that 216,000 has been already collected and deposited in the bank, thus leaving only another 24,000 be raised. The rev. gentleman is a son of the late Morgans of Duffryn," whe was himself one of the most successful" fund. raisers" of his time. George Fox visited Cardiff in 1657. He records it in his journal that A justice of thepeRce sent to me desiring I would corns up, with half-a-doien of my friends, to his houee so I took a friend 01 two and went up to him, and hø and his wifa received us very civilly. The next day we had meeting in Cardiff, in the Town Hall, aud that justice sent: about 17 of his family to the meet- ing. There caine some disturbers, but the Lordx power was over them, and many were turned to the Lnrd there." Cwin Rbondda is a well-known name. It is defined thus ;—" Cwm is a dale, hollow betwaev two hills, or adiugle; "Rhon a. pike, lance, tail, or something in the shape cf a fish dda again is good. Abono time corn grew abundantly here, and the lofty rocks and forests were valuable and attractive. This combination, with its renowned coal-field, accounts for the adjective "dda" being added to cwm and rhon," which jointly inakes Cwm Rhondda. Mr Gladstone, the Westminster Qazeltc says, is holidaying with the rest of the world. A day or two ago a party from Hawarden went up Moat y Famman in Denbighshire, and among the climbers there was a difference of 80 years, the oldest being Mr Gladstone and the youngest Dorothy Drew, Mr Gladstone walked very nearly to the top of the hill (which is 1,800 feet above the level of the sea), and his little grand- daughter walked up to the top and down again, barefooted and without tatigue. Y) Hanwr for September contains a portraib and biography of Alderman D. Davies, Glebe t land, Merthyr, the president of the Welsh Baptist Union. Mr Davies was born April, 1842, at Cefn-y-Maee, in the parish of Clydey, in Pembrokeshire. When 10 years of age he removed to Merthyr to re3ide with his uncle, who then kept a shop at Glebeland," to which Mr Davies ultimately succeeded. He is a deacon of the Tabernacle Baptist Church, and the tluper. mtendent of the Sunday school. He has been the chairman of the East Glamorgan Baptist Association, and is at present one of the trusted of the PonSypool Cardiff Baptist College, a treasurer of the Baptist Building Society, and of the Mnisters' Provident Society, of which hL is also a trustee. In politics he is an ardent Radical and Temperance reformer, and has devoted many years to local affairs. He has been for over 20 years member of the Merthyr Board of Guardians, and for a considerable time past vice-chairman of the Merthyr School Board. He is a member of the Glamorgan County (Jounci and of tha Merthyr Urban District Council

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A SATUROAY SERMON. If anyone gave you a few aore*, you would say that you had received a benefit; can you deny; that the boundleas extent of the earth is a benefitlt If anyone gave you money, you would call that a benefit. God has buried countless masses of gold and silver in the earth. If a house were given you, brighb ] with marble, its roof beautifully painted with colours and gilding, you would calt it no small benefit. God has built for you a mansion that fears no fire or roin covered with a roof which glitters in one fashion by day. and in another by night. Whence comes the breath you draw; the light by which you perform the actions of your life ? titeblood by which your life is maintained ? tho meat by which your hunger is appeased ? The true God has planted, not a few oxen, but all the herds on their pastures throughout the world, and furnished food to all the flocks; He has ordainf-d the alter. nations of summer and winter has invented so many arts and varieties i f voice, ra j many notes to make music. V/e have implanted in us the seed of all ages, of all arts| and God our Master briDS- forth our intelleoia ison^dbwority. ftnifli