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BY MABON, M,P, THE COAL TAX. Aa far as one c.an find the former export duty '1> roal was at the rate of 4s per toil. It proved Jo unpopular that it was removed in 1850. But too is told that in view of the liberal exports a fconple of yeara ago, when the naval manoeuvres Aad to be abamdoned in consequence of the short- ness of supply caused by the stoppage of col- lieries in South Wales, &c,, the import, it is said, Ought to bo regarded with greater unanimity at the present moment. The difference in our ex- Port trade that has arisen in the conditions since ihe tax was removed may be gathered from the 1act that, whereas Sir Robert Peel estimated the •lost of removing the duty would be £ 120,000, re- presenting an export of only 600,000 tons, the *otal exports of coal, coke, cinders, and patent inel amounted in 1900 to over 46,000,000 tons, of frhich coal proper accounted for 44,000,000 tons. <FheBoard of Trade returns do not specify what portion of this is steam coals," but if the Whole of the exports were taxed at the old rate of 4s a ton, the net- .result would be close upon 49,000,000. But by the tax of Is per ton, the Chancellor of the Exchequer tells us the amount Expects to raise will be £ 2,100,000. The Chancellor, T am afraid, has developed Into a strenuous false arguer. In the first place ne admits that his position is based upon -q,hat took place last year. Well one Scarcely imagine a more mistaken, to say nothing M unjust, position to take. This injustice is Snly surpassed by the inequality of the imposi- tion. He himself admits that South Wales alone *vill suffer nearly as much from the tax as will 11.11 the other parts of the country put together. It will doubtless materially affect the Midland and northern counties of England and Scotland to some extent. But it is on the South Wales coalfield it will have the most crushing effect, for here we depend almost entirely on an ex- port trade, and the collier as well as the colliery official that sold his birthright for a mess of pot- tage-a3 some did at the last election-will know what value to attach to the canting cry of f"te humbugs who wheedled them with the Empty talk that trade follows the flag." Yet there seems to be more truth in the phrase than Appears at first sight, for the flag has been trailed in the dust in South Africa, and this Government are determined evidently that the toal trade shall also be dragged through the taire. Evidently in considering the coal tax Sir ^licnael never dreamt of the storm of indigna- tion that he has already aroused. He should &ave remembered hew Match Tax Lowe bUrnt his fingers in the abortive effort to make Avenue out of the people's matches. But that Was insignificant as compared with the indigna- tion that has already been aroused over the grim determination of Sir Michael Hicks-Beach to put a shilling per tou upon all the coal to be ex- ported from the country. The impost is unjust in principle, fo• it is a tax upon industry and is an incentive to foreivn Nations to put an import tax upon our coal. In &>ct it stands unparalleled as a foolhardy pro- ceding, certain to cripple our staple trade in this part of the United Kingdom. Sir Michael never calculated, one is positively Certain, the effect this contribution to the Salisbury-cum-Chamberlain War God is going to have on the coal capital and colliery labour of this country. In fact, it is a proposition that will an extremely good chance of enriching the foreigners at the expense of impoverishing Britishers. Truth to tell, this tax is not calcu- lated to create mirth in any of the people of this country, but it will cetrainly cause heart rejoic- ing among our trade rivals in other countries. Doubtless that the old king himself—old King Coal I mean-will have lost his merry old soul" since the Tory Government has declared War upon him in order to enable them to scoop in the gold necessary to pay for their war in South Africa.

EDUCATIONAL CHA08. Sir Wm. Hart-Dyke is the new president of the Association of Technical Institutions. Sir William, as is well known, was a former Vice- president sf the Council of Education, and now, his hands being free from all official trammels, his opinions on this all-important matter are of great value as a lever for further improvement, or, indeed, for furthering the demand for the highly essential necessity for technical and com- mercial education in this country. Sir William, as We know, has always claimed and evinced a deep interest in technical education. One temembers well the intense and' in- telligent part he took in this matter lvheii a member on that. Commission ^hen he and myself first met in 1886 and 1887. In his present opinion the time "has Arrived for co-ordinating and bringing into focus OJI the various efforts existing and welding them I together into one harmonious whole, Something like a crisis has lately happened in our educa- tional policy the result of the appeal in the aw courts, disturbing as it has been, may in the elld bear good fruit if it served to stimulate the Government and secure a remedy. Higher Grade Schools have undergone an un- Weasant experience. They have, doubtless, from they very inception passed over the ill-defined 7°rder-line which should distinguish primary ^OQi secondary education, The minute issued y the Board of Education a little ^hila ago has not by any means Poured oil on the troubled waters, and were it for the impending legislation we might ave to witness endless friction in the future. The President thinks that it is impossible for present state of things to continue." We also hiJlk so, and hope that it will soon come to an end. He felt like one of the villains of the ^lece," for he had visited in his official capacity ^effield and Birmingham and other large towns perform the pleasing duty of distributing J^zes and certificates at those lawbreaking insti- ^tions. He had taken a leading part in their Cl!1ininality, and encouraged their career by com- mending their curricula in all respects, and urg- ltg them to increaso their efforts in the sa.me j Erection; and now came that minute as a sud- c'eri bolt out of the blue, and all was fraction and dismay. Dealing with the remedy ir William spoke rather too much in an inquisi- "1Ve mood and not in a distinct po3itive mood aa ,° ^hat should be done. Everyone knows that 111 past educational authorities have been too 3411140rous and lacking cohesion and sympathy. we now want this state of things remedied. It 18 high time we agreed to advocate that existing gapping authorities should bo brought Scther in one great central authority for each ^Unty at least. Bat upon technical education William was much more distinct. Oar ^mental neighbours, ho says, were keenly nva to the fact that every fresh sacrifice they a.do and their increasing expenditure upon chnieal education were lessening, if not in .4115 eases obliterating altogether, the gap which once existed between them So our|2slveg, in regard to commercial j6t>t'0>maey. The recognition of the use- Sa«ess of untrained men by the great merchants, ^^ufacturers, and employers of America was jj in the enormous sums that are do institutions of higher edncation 5 r°^8ho)it thg,t country.. He is also of the y li°n that, there is an urgent need of legisla- coN uPon thia matter, for the result of our so- 0| system of education was to produce a waste ^brain power and intelligence of our fo!]SUV:<?" Er'3 l°ng deplorable results will surely fcj'j°w- It was when trade was again at a low ^uether from over-production pr Bome other that we shall feel the pinch, Both «d 8r'C!^ and Germany, he nay S3, are with giant sSrideia, and day by day is forced xipon this country that j competition from those two countries alone will grow at an alarming rate, and he was anxious to warn us of the future that we have to meet. This, then, is the alarming warning that this great authority has to give, and it is to be sincerely hoped that the Government of the day will take it to heart. And surely no improve- ment can come out of the order to throw into the streets boys whose education is in no way com- plete just because they have reached 15 years of age. These are the young men that the country stand so much in need of, and in full possession of all the technical and commercial knowledge possible to prepare them to help fight the coming enormous struggle. And to us and others, and to more capable men who have this cause at heart, and are old advocates thereof, it is mo3t encouraging to find that a gentleman of Sir W m. Hart Dyke's position is taking up the cudgels on behalf of technical and commercial education and instruction that our country stands so much in need of. And on the other hand it is some- what comical-to say nothing of the absurdity of the thing — to find the law-abiding Duke of Devonshire going to Manchester to open an in- stitution which the Judges have declared is illegal.

GARDEN AND FIELD. With Hints en Poultry and Steck. By COUNTRY COUSIN. A Hint to Horse Breeders. There is now, and in all probability will be for several years to come, a rather sharp demand for horses for army remounts. And it is not at all unlikely that in the future the requirements will be in the direction of smaller and more cobby animals rather than those which have been considered the right sort up to the present. But it should be remembered that there must be breeding and pace combined with strength. There are plenty of 14 and 141 hands, well-bred, cobby animals, quite capable of holding their own in the hunting fields, and yet at the same time which are equal to long, tiring days of travel, so long as would in a very short time kill many of our cavalry horses at the present time. When these points are taken into consideration it is likely that horses such as the above will be requisite for warfare a good deal in the future. What would be the most likely breed to fulfil the above-mentioned conditions ? All things con- sidered, a strong strain of blood from the well- bred, never-tiring Dartmoor pony would be likely to suit the best. These animals will average about 134 hands, and if the right kind of stallion, is used they may very easily be brought up another hand in height. For ascending and defee rugged mountainous places with ease and in peMect safety, and for roughing it gene- rally in the way of shelter and food, there are probably no horses in the world capable of beating those native to the wilds of Dartmoor. At one large horse breeding establishment in the land of tors the experiment is being tried of crossing the Dartmoor ponies with a large Welsh cob-stallion, and it would not be a sur- prise if an exceedingly good stamp of horse for A Likely Type of & Horse. I army work was the result. It is somewhat singular that in all these kiiid of crosses the progeny has generally been found to surpass in size*either sire or dam, and that by a good deal. Whether our deductions are right or not ex- periments on the above lines are well worth trying, and we would especially draw the atten- tion of all breeders to this subject. The type of animal shown above would be a likely sire for this class of horse. Dwarf Beans as an Odd Crop. In many gardens there are little odd pieces of spare ground, and the owners sometimes have trouble in finding a suitable crop. Cabbages are not wanted, and peas are very often more or less a failure. Then the question is, Whit shall we plant?" In answer to this may we suggest dwarf beans ? They give less trouble and require less attention than almost any other vegetables. As nearly everyone likes French beans, they ought to be a very popular crop, especially to the novice. Moreover they are especially valuable for small gardens, because they will grow any- where, and no expense is involved for supports. Plant the early crop about the middle of April, and make a second sowing early in May. Draw drills two inches deep and plant the beans six inches apart in single rows, and let them have plenty of water from beginning to end. Many people after once trying them say they are no good and so tough and poor, which is simply because they have let them get dry. Given plenty of water they are as succulent and tender as can be desired. A mulch of half-decayed manure will be better than watering, and viill keep the plants thriving and fresh at a very small expense and if the beans are picked off as fast as they become fit they will bear continu- ously for a long time. French beans need a rich and deeply-worked soil, therefore get the ground into a good tilth by frequently forking u over as the finer the t oil is, and the more it is aerated, the better will it suit the crop As soon as the seedlings begin to form the third leaf mould them up on both sides to prevent the wind blow- ing them about, and keep the spaces between the roes well hoed. Dwarf beans require little attention beyond this if the land is well drained, moderately light, and fairly wel enriched The great secret of a. plentiful crop lies in gathering eaxly and with regularity. Celery for Exhibition. Celery for exhibition in August ought now to be strong, sturdy, plants in boxes. They should be at least six inches apart, and growing in rich soil on a layer of manure two inches deep at the bottom and about four inches of soil above. They ought not to be stimulated with too much lieat and moisture. A gentle bottom- heat to assist them in getting established when first pricked out is beneficial, but a due amount of air and light must be given to prevent the stems drawing. The plants should be removed to a cool pit or frame and hardened off by gradually exposing them, until by the end of the first week in" May the plants will be in fine condition for turning out into the trenches. A common prac- tice and one not always avoidaole, is to delay preparing the trenches until the plants are ready to go out, but it is not a good one. Rank manure, again, is not good for celery it is too forcing, and often causes the plants to bolt nrematurely and to form hollow stalks. The most suitable compost is thoroughly decayed manure, mixed with some decaying material from the srarden, and including a proportion of lime, soot, and Bait, which not only acts as manure but ovists to keep down snails and slugs and other garden pests that are fond of assembling together where there is moisture. The trenches A Well-grown Stem of White Celery. I should be 18 inches wide, 12 inches deep, and not less than five feet apart, and should be nearly filled with the compost mentioned above. Plant during dull, showery weather, or early in the morning or late in the evening. Water and shade the plants as required. Allow each plant sufficient space in which to attain its full size in most cases 12 inches from plant to plant will be enough. Until such time as the spaces between the rows are required for earthing up they may be planted with lettuces. It must be remembered that celery is a marsh plant, and therefore it requires to be kept in a fairly regular condition as regards moisture. When the plants have become well established and are growing freely liquid manure may bo given ofcen, and if a mulch of short manure be laid I among the plants it will prove of great assist- ance by checking evaporation and keeping the soil cool. We append an illustration of a well- grown stem of white celery. A further note on this subject will appear in a week or two, when we will deal with earthing-up and pre- paring for the exhibition table. Wall Climbers for the Town Garden. Where wall-climbers are intended to be planted, there should be no further delay in getting them in. There are many charming things suitable for growing over the walls of back yards and up the fronts of houses which would greatly improve the appearance of the neighbourhood, and after once planting would give very little or no further trouble. Among the non-flowering climbers nothing will be found to surpasa the Virginian creeper, and among them none better than Veitch's smaU- leaved variety, which will cling to anything and everything, including stone, wood, and even rough glass. True, all these suffer under the disadvantage of being bare in winter, but they make a brave show all through the summer, and for about a month in autumn are magnificent with their lien and varied hues. Ivy is another good town climber, the best variety being tbe large-leaved Irish kind, though it will need a little attention at the start in the way of nailing up. In towns where there is not too much smoke clematises will grow and flower well on house fronts. Tha purple Jaekmani is the best of these, and by growing the tropaBolum canariensis — canary creeper in conjunction with it a very fine effect will be produced. Clematis ilamniula or Clematis vitalba are best adapted for growing on arches over gates or doorways, as they grow very quickly and soon form a thick mass of greenery, from which spring during the summer innumerable clusters of small but most deliciously-scented flowers. Roses, honeysuckles, forsythrias, and the white and yellow jasmines are also good wall climbers, though in the case of roses none but the hardiest should be planted in towns unless the situation is open and the air pure. In many cases there is no convenience for planting permanent climbers, and in these instances a, few nastur- tiums, canary creepers, or even the well-known scarlet runners might be planted in pots or boxes to cover the walls during the summer months. In all our towns there are far too many bare unsightly walls, and it only requires a little thought and trouble and they might be made interesting and beautiful, and at a very small expense. Diary of Garden Work Week ending May 4th. Flower Garden.— Mulch roses. If there are any insects among the foliage of roses on walls, dust them with tobacco powder. Watch for and pick off mag- gots. A deal of watchfulness is necessary to keep roses clean and free from insects, but the extra care is amply repaid, as a plant badly attacked is injured for the season. Stake carna- tions in good time, and see that the ties are carefully adjusted, so that the spikes are not injured during growth. Seedlings of Mar- guerite carnations may be planted out now. Plants started in heat will now be strong and will flower early. Antirrhinums started under glass will be ready to plant out now, as also will pentstemons rooting under hand-lights or in a cold frame. The sites for stocks and asters should be prenared by deep digging and adding plenty of well-'rotted manure. Prick the plants out into cold frames or boxes to get strong weakly plants drawn out of seed boxes are a out into cold frames or boxes to get strong weakly plants drawn out of seed boxes are a long time getting established. Marigolds and zinnias are tender but asters and stocks may go out when strong and well hardened. Ice- land poppies sown in boxes last autumn may be planted out now. These are charming for cutting, and should be grown freely. All Dutch bulbs 0 which have flowered in greenhouse or window should be planted out, as they are of no use for potting next season. Prune evergreen shrubs, if not already done, if they require putting into shape. Fruit Garden.—Any cracks in the clay of recently-grafted fruit trees should be filled up at once. If the air gains admission the grafts may fail. Apple trees affected with canker or damaged in the bark should have the old wounds dressed with a sharp knife, and then covered with a poultice of cow manure and lime, secured with strips of canvas or cloth to exclude air and encourage the formation of new bark. This, however, though useful, will not cure canker. That disease is deep-seated, and must be dealt with in the case of trees of a manageable size in the autumn when the leaves are ripe, and the roots may be lifted and brought nearer the sur- face. Canker is sometimes said to be caused by a.i iusect, but the insects are more likely to be an effect of disease than a cause. Root-lifting, where properly done, rarely fails to effect a cure, bat this cannot well be done in the case of old trees, and then dressing wounds and filling crevices with cow-dung and lime will prolong life and extend the period of usefulness. Apples on the Paradise, and pears on the Quince, must have plenty of nounshnient in the shape of a heavy mnlch of manure now and an occasional soaking of water in dry weather. Vegetable Garden.—Clear away all exhausted green crops, and manure and dig the land ready for the next crop. Sow spinach. This will do well as a catch crop between rows of peas and other vegetables, but it is apt to bolt in dry, hot weather. Two good kinds are the late seeding and New Zealand. The former is very prolific, and stands a long time before bolting to seed. The New Zealand spinach is generally started in a warm frame, in p' cs, two or three seeds in a small pot, and planted out from 2 feet to 3 feet apart in a warm sunny spot at the end of May. It is a free-growing sort, and very useful for growing in moderate-sized gardens. Marrow peas sown now will be ready for gathering at the end of July. Carter's Danby Stratagem, Model Telephone, and Model Telegraph are good kinds for present sowing, while a sowing of Carter's Michaelmas about the end of May will give pickings in September. With a "little care in selecting and sowing suitable varieties there is no reason why a constant nnccession of peas may not be had from June to November. As soon as carrots, onions, and other crops are through the ground run the Dutch hoe between the rows. Greenhouse.—Thin the young shoots of vines to one on each spur, leaving the one showing the best bunch. Stop all shoots two leaves beyond the bunch if there is plenty of room, if not, only leave one. Tie the shoots down to the wires by degrees if drawn down at once the shoots will very possibly splinter off and leave an unsightly gap. Give liquid manure freely to vine borders, as these subjects are gross feeders. Do not over- crowd the plants. All kinds of bedding plants will do well now in cold frames, or in any tem- porary shelter if covered with mats at night. Fuchsias, pelargoniums, tuberous begonias, and other soft-wooded plants will now be growing freely, and should be opened out from time to time. Fuchsias are best trained as pyramids, with a neat stake in the centre, to which the main stem is tied. Sow three or four seeds of mignonette in a small pot, and when up thin to one, and grow on through the summer for flower- ing in autumn and winter. Window Garden.—Use the sponge freely to get rid of dust and insects. Do not allow anything to suffer from want of water, but newly-potted plants will not require much till the roots enter the new soil. Pot off seedlings and all rooted cuttings.

THE AUTHOR-OF "BEN HUR," Of Ben Hur," one of the most popular novels founded on Biblical incidents that nave ever been written, no fewer than 800,000 cloth copies have been sold in America alone. A contributor to the Leisure Hour recently visited the author, General Lew Wallace, at his home. Here is an account of General Wallace's typical working day :— I begin to write at about 9 a.m., keep at work till noon, resume about 1.30 p.m., and leave my studio at about 4. I then take exercise for two hours. I walk or ride, according to the weather. When it rains I put on a pair of heavy boots and trudge five or seven miles across the country. I usually ride a dozen miles. To this habit of taking regular exercise I attribute my good health. I eat just what I want, and as much as I want. When night comes I lie down and sleep like a child, never once waking till morning. I usually retire at 9.30 and rise at 7.30, aiming to secure nine hours' sleep." General Wallace smokes at pleasure a pipe or cigar, but never a cigarette, which he considers the deadliest thing a person can put in his mouth." The Novel of the Future. General Wallace discussed with his visitor what he thought would be the chief character- istics of the literature of the 20th century :— To begin with," he said, the novel of the next century will reflect the light of that age, unless the society is so barren and devoid of interest that writers shall be compelled to seek materials in former eras. Certain authors will always follow the latter course. But an increasing number will found their narratives on the acti- vities of the day." Labour," said Mr Wallace, is one of the elements which will play leading parts in the drama of the future. The American working man will have things his own way, bat there is no cause for alarm, for he is to be the saviour of our country." Modern Poetry. Of the poetry of to-day General Lew Wallace has not a high opinion :— "Modern poetry," he said, "lam in the habit of calling the poetry of adjectives. The abnor- mal preponderance of this part of speech in the poetry of to-day I consider its chief curse. It renders the thought obscure a.nd ha.zy. In Browning we see the climax of this fad. The finest poetry ever written is found in the Rook of Job, and you will notice that it contains very few adjectives." So saying, General Wallace walked over to his study table, opened a large Bible lying thereon, and, turning to the Psalms, read several verses, throwing in numerous adjectives as he did so. The effect, his visitor says, was most ludicrous.

Richard Marsh has, since his occupation of Egerton House, won the colossal sum of JE216,000 for his employers, and three Derbys, a couple of Two Thousand Guraeas, and the same number of St. Legers—the latter a race he won with Ossian so far back as 1883 for his staunch patten tho late Dulse of Hamilton.

Illustrated Fashions. I The shops at this season of the year are more than usually attractive, as the windows display an almost bewilderign multiplicity of dainty and fascinating goods. It seems, as year suc- ceeds year, the manufacture of lovely materials advances steadily along the path to perfection. This summer will see a still greater increase in both the millinery and modistic world, and the allurements of the same are so exceedingly as- sertive as to undoubtedly entice many women into extra extravagances. Among some of the prettiest of the new fabrics suitable for blouses or whole toilettes in milder weather are charm- ing flowered or spotted organdies or printed muslins, the design being sometimes varied by simulated stripes of lace insertion arranged in lines at regular intervals, the intervening space being occupied by sprays or nosegays of flowers or fruit expressed in very delicate tones. Both I useful and fashionable are the ready-made over- dresses, which, made with a ahaped and much A Charming Model Gown. be-flounced skirt, are also elaborated by lines of lace insertion or braiding. They can be obtained in almost any material, from the richest to the simplest, and therefore are suited to any purse. In cashmere, lines of silk cord and fanciful stitchery seem the favourite form of decoration, while the silk or satin models show many lace- edged small frills at the hem, interspersed with lace insertion, or restrained, so far as the trim- ming is concerned, to a "shaped flounce ornate with countless lines of fine and regular machine stitching. This idea of keeping the richest fabrics free from any ornamentation save stitchery has recently obtained much favour in the eyes of the ultra-fashionable dames who prefer, instead, to have the interior and seldom- visible part. of their skirts a mass of frou-frou and lace. My sketch represents a charming French model gown, in which the skirt, which clings tightly round the figure to the knees, from whence it flows outward in a full flounce, is composed of accordion-pleated heliotrope chif- fon, while the tight-fitting portion is of dia- monds of cream lace joined together, the inter- vening spaces showing the underdress of helio- trope chiffon. The bodice is made in very much the same faehion, with a pouching lace front and sleeve over a chiffon underdress. Everything in dress at present evinces a ten- dency towards a harmonious blending of shades. A Pretty Blouse. In some toilets three or four different tones are sometimes used, but they are all in accord, violent contrasts of colour are completely avoided, for the gown, toque, ruffle, and gloves are all in unison one with another. Japanese silk and foulard, with a floral pattern in some slightly variegated tone, are to be seen on all sides, while in very many of the most fashionable and up-to- date materials the Paisley, or an Oriental design, supersede all others. The handkerchief blouse, in dainty Chinese or Japanese silks, seems as great a favourite as ever, and fills up the gap for something smart for morning wear. But what could be more striking, and elegant than the blouse shown in the illustration, in which is to be found expressed a wonderful combination of style and simplicity? It is this combination which occasionally the home worker fails quite to catch, for fussiness of trimming is at times used to conceal defects, while quiet simplicity betrays the touch of a master hand. The point to be aimed at by all who seek to make their own clothes is not elaborateness, but a neat and well- fitting garment, the little details of which are the cause of its success, very probably. This blouse was part of the trousseau of a very smart young lady, and bore the stamp of Paris to the meanest observer. It was designed of very pale- grey silk, so pale as to be merely a tone or two off white. The piping was of black silk, and a smart bow of the same material appears at the left side of the corsage. One of the most strik- ing effects is obtained by the motif of black lace, appliqued at the front. The sleeves are-merely small Bishops, tucked in lines of three, and finished at the wrists by narrow bands. It is a I noticeable fact that the Bell sleeves, or those whica pouch very much at the wrists, are I The Latest Toque. rapidly going out of fashion. This is, M & rule, the fate of most very pronoanced modes, as, when the populace become suffioiently accustomed to them to take them up, the elegantes imme- diately view them with disfavour. One feature of this blouse which I have neglected to point out is that the yoke of tucked silk is detachable, and can be replaced by a transparent one of lace. In the sketch you will find a pretty toque, made of violet parme, trimmed solely by a. wreath of shaded foliage, viuxgipg from a> tender green to a reddish pnrpls* COQUETTE.

WELSH GLEANINGS. Mr Willis James, Crnmlin, the president of the Monmouthshire Rugby League, has taken his seat on the Abercarn District Council. The wish of his many friends is that he will make his mark." Mr J. Strachan, of Cardiff, has secured the contract for the construction of the light railway between Llanfaircaereinion and Welshpool. The line is to be completed in time for opening at the beginning of 1903. The principal of Hackney College—Dr. Peter Taylor Forsythe, of Cambridge—has agreed to deliver the conference sermon at Merthyr next September on the occasion of the annual meet- ing of the conference of the English Presbyterian Churches of Wales. The Rev. Gwynoro Davies has once more, for the seventh year in succession, been unanimously elected chairman of the Barmouth Urban Coun- cil. It must be gratifying to the rev. gentle- man to nnd that his efforts on behalf of Bar- mouth are appreciated by the inhabitants. The Rev. Edward Morris, a Welsh Congrega- tional minister, now residing at Duffryn, Merionethshire, has the distinction of having been in the ministry longer than any Welsh preacher now living. According to the official returns he entered the ministry in 1828, and thus commenced his ministerial labours 73 years ago. John Wesley, in his frequent evangelistic journeys, visited the Rev. Thomas Price, rector of Merthyr, in 1739. Open-air meetings and cottage prayer meetings were held by some of the puddlers and rollers from the North in 1790, and six years afterwards the foundation stone of the Wesley Chapel was laid. In 1807 a Sunday school was started in connection with the chapel. Last week the Revs. Charles Davies, of Car- diff, and J. H. Shakespeare, of London, visited the Baptist churches of Wales on behalf of the Twentieth Century Fund of the denomination, and they did excellent work in various parts of the Principality. Several conferences and public meetings were held at convenient centres, and promises amounting to several hundreds of pounds were made. Mr Lloyd George a brilliant debating powers are admired by friend and foe alike. What- ever may be thought of his views," writes the Daily Mail, in an article on "People in Parliament," he is rapidly increasing his hold on the House. Merely as an effective fighting force his personality is well worth considering. He has now many opportunities, and he is not the man to 1st them escape him. He works harder and knows more about Parliamentary procedure than any of the Radical contingent. "The Baptists of Wales," remarks the Goleuad," continue to discuss among them- selves what attitude they shall assume towards other Nonconformist bodies. It is clear that a good many people desire to see the Free Churches Councils something very different from what they are. It is suggested that it is possible to co-operate with other denominations in matters of Sabbath observance, religious equality, and temperance— in their political aspects, presumably. Meantime the efficiency of the Councils is being sacrificed, and in many places the movement is scarcely worth being kept going." Most Welshmen will recollect the time when the late Sir Edward Watkin, the railway king," who died on Sunday morning, bought half of the mountain of Snowdod.. He had intended to place on the summit df 41:e> famous heigh- a huge electric light, but opposition proved too strong for such a vandalistic project. This is how one bard sang :— Maent wedi gwerthni Wyddfa, I'r gwr a'r geiniog ucha' Pe ciliai'r wlad o fryn i fryn Mae'r delyn fyth yn dala. Mae'r Sais yn cenfigenu Wrth hen fyryddoedd Cymrn, Mae'r ceisio dal yr hyfryd sain, Sydd yn y rhai'r yn llechu. T. C. U. who is now recuperating at New Quay,whose recovery we hope will be rapid, raises an interesting question as to the identity of the schoolmasters who taught Tennyson Welsh. The great Laureate, in a letter dated September 16th, 1856, wrote :—" The Usk murmurs by the win- dows, and I sit like King Arthur in Caerleon. This is a most quiet, half-ruined village of about 1,500 inhabitants,with a little museum of Roman tombstones and other things." From Caerleon he made expeditions to Caerphilly, Merthyr Tyd- fil, Raglan, and then" we all returned by Brecon, Gloucester, and Salisbury, home. With the help of local schoolmasters in Wales, my parents had learned some Welsh, and now we read together I the Hanes Cymru, the Mabinogion, and Lly- warch Hen." It was somewhat of a novelty then, and is more or less still, for an Englishman to make any attempt to master the Welsh lan- guage. Wales and Welshmen (remarks the u Liver- pool Mercury ") are likely to play a prominent part in the settlement of the vexed question of the Oath of Succession. It has been reported that a Welsh Nonconformist organisation has emphatically declared against any relaxation of the conditions to a Protestant succession to the Throne. On the other hand, a Welshman— Cardinal Vaughant, to wit-has succeeded in the request preferred by him to his Majesty to re- ceive a Roman Catholic deputation. The recep- tion of such a deputation will be an historic event, as it will be probably the first time since the Re formation that a Roman Catholic deputation, as a Roman Catholic deputation, has been received by an English Sovereign. A Welshman's vote is is said to have settled the succession of the House of Brunswick to the Throne and now a Welshman's persistence has upset the traditional practice of centuries. On the Cambrian Railways it has long been the custom to give Welsh names to the locomotives, but the practice, it appears, is now doomed. Mr Herbert E. Jones, M.I.M.E., the locomotive superintendent of the company, discussing with a Pressman the relative advantage of numbers •r names for locomotives, said :—" I agree to a certain extent that it is more interesting to the general public to see names on engines, but when you have to deal with names, such as the follow- ing, in telegraphing up and down the line when an engine failure occurs :—' Send piston head for II Tubal Cain or Castell Deudraeth off road at Pendeudraeth then. again, take your choice of a few of these old engine names Llaner- chydol,' Nant Clwyd,' Rhiewport,' Plyn- limon,' Rheidol,' Cyfronydd,' and Plasfyn- non,' I think you will agree with me, from a Cambrian railwayman's point of view, it is much easier to deal with numbers. 1 agree as to the interest, but the saving in time and trouble by adopting numbers more than compensates for this besides, the names selected are always those most difficult to spell and pronounce."

BRITISH TRADE. STATISTICAL RETURNS FOR 1900. Amongst the Parliamentary papers just issued is the annual statement of the trade of the United Kingdom with foreign countries and British possessions. The statistics relate to the year 1900, and they occupy more than 700 closely printed pages. The total value of imports and exports is recorded at £877,448,917, compared with JE814,570,241 in the preceding year. Im- ports last year totalled £52,3,075,163, as against £485035583 in the preceding 12 months. The exports were £ 354,373,754, as against £ 329,534,658. Imports from foreign coimtries amounted to £413,544,528. From British possessions they reached £109,530,635; while the exports to foreign countries aggregated £252.349,700, and those to British possessions £102,0?.A.054.. It is of interest, in the light of Budget pro- posals, to note that the imports of suga.r,molasses, and glucose last year reached more than 35 millions cwt. in weight, and over 20 millions in money value. The total value of the coal, cinders, etc., exported was just over 40 millions.

Lawyer (to witness) Did you say that an in- competent man could keep a hotel just as well as anybody ?—Witness No I said an inn-ex- perienced man could, A school teacher lately put the question, What is the highest form of animal life?' Tl i giraffe!" responded a bright member of the class.

r Illustrated Humour. The inexperienced sculptor cannot expect to cut much of a figure. A celebrated artist recently painted the picture of a dog under a tree so lifelike that it was im- possible to distinguish the bark of the tree from that of the dog. I I You Never Know Your Luck. .Jol'gins: I see that old Noorich shot a brace of pheasants yesterday. Morgins: t didn't know he could hit a hay- St Jorgins: No, but some birds will occasionally fly into the shot, you know. Jack: But, Harry, I don't see that you need be so cut up because Gertie has jilted you. Harry: It isn't the jilting I mind, but she returned the ring in a parcel marked, Glass, with Care." Compensation. I Driver Waiter, this chop is very small. Waiter (a raw hand): Yes, sir, but you'll find it will take you a good while to eat it. Sir Robert Peel and a friend were once going through a picture gallery where there was a por- trait of a well-known man who was famous for saying sharp things. How wonderfully like!" said the friend; you can see the quiver on his lips. "Yes," replied Sir Robert, "and the arrows coming out of it." r- No Fear! j Friend: Hallo, Mike! Off back to Ould Ire- land, eh? But where's your box? Murphy: Faith, an' phwat ud I do with a box? Friend: Why, put your clothes in of course. Murphy: Phat! 'an me go widout? ,>¡¡,¡ When a man looks back at a woman, He sees but her face and her figure; When a woman looks back, simply human, It's to see if her costume's de rigueur. I must admit," said the mannish girl, that I'm very fond of men's clothes. Ycu don't like them, do you?" Yes, I do," replied the girly girl, frankly, when there's a man in them." .kr Not in Earnest. I Clergyman (much shocked): Boys, boys! don t you know it is very wrong of you to play cricket on Sunday? The Wicket Keeper: Please, sir, we ain't playin'. We're only practisin' for the openin o' the season. A Birmingham minister had the usual notice to j marry a couple one morning, but when the time came found that only the woman had arrived, After waiting some time and no bridegroom ap- pearing, she reluctantly withdrew. A week later the woman turned up as before, and again no man. After waiting a considerable time she became furious, and exclaimed, Drat 'im! 'Tain't 'is trousers this time, 'cos I mended 'em myself." A very poor actor having played the part of the ghost in Hamlet for many years, Saphir, the German wit, on seeing him, said, It would be a good thing if this man gave up the ghost, so that somebody else could take his part. A young poet once sent the humourist an Ode to Immor- tality," requesting his opinion of it. Saphir re- turned the manuscript with the message, This package will never reach its address." Three persons," remarked the wit, sleep soundly—a child, a corpse, and a night watchman." During his sojourn in X., Saphir was frequently in the rsociety of a well-known theatrical manager whose dulncsa was notorious. How strange it is that my logs go to sleep every day!" he remarked upon one occasion. How can yon wonder?" returned S&pUir, they are always in your com- pany." i

MUSIC IN WALES. BY D. EMLYN EVANS. THE DEATH OF SIR JOHN 8TAINER. We have already referred in this column to the number of eminent men in the English musical world who have been galled to the" great majority during the last few months but who were chiefly those who had attained a good age, and may be said to have accomplished their day's work—with one notable exception in the matter of age—viz., Sir Arthur Sulliyan. And now there has been added his contem- porary and friend, Sir John Stainer, who also was called away many years before the allotted span had been reached, and who held a pre-eminent position in that particular field of musical art which he had selected. As regards Wales, indeed, the keen regret which the news of his sudden and. apparently, unexpected death created, was hardly less than in the case of the composer of the Golden Legend and the Savoy operas. Both Sullivan and Stainer began life as boy choristers, both became organists, and wrote Church music but whilst the former ultimately bent his chief energies in the direction of the opera house and the concert-room, the latter adhered to the sacred branch of his art the I hymn-tune, anthem, Church service, and sacred cantata; forms that appeal in a particular manner to Welsh music-lovers, and especially so when combined with that melodious and expres- sive beauty which characterises Stainer's pro- ductions so greatly. His personal connection with the Principality was but limited, we think, except in so far as his duties as chief inspector of music in training col- leges may have been concerned but we know that he acted as adjudicator at one of our national gatherings at least—that at Carnarvon, 1880 and we have also reasons to know that he was offered a similar position at other places, but which he did not elect to accept. A pathetic interest is now attached to the current number of the Musical Times," issued on the next day following his demise at Verona. The subject of the chief article (with portrait) is Sir John Goss, Stainer's predecessor as organist of St. Paul's Cathedral, and which contains an interesting account by Stainer of an incident that once occurred in the organ gallery some 45 years ago, in which Goss was chief actor, and Stainer and little Arthur Sullivan witnesses. The music contained in the number is a beautiful anthem by Goss, The King shall Rejoice," edited by J. Stainer," and two settings of the Benedic- tus Qui Venit," and Agnus Dei," scarcely less beautiful, by Stainer himself. And—to add to the completeness of the In Memoriam—the other piece forming the extra supplement is a very effective hvmn-tune by Sullivan. The roseate hues of early dawn," a hymn which is already associated with one of Stainer's happiest efforts in this form while on one page of the journal a photograph is given of The house in which Sir Arthur Sullivan was born." In his compositions Sir John Stainer well sua- tained the best traditions of that school of Eng- lish Church musicians which, in its own particu- lar class, holds a position that is second to none. Some of his anthems have been re-issued with Welsh words in Novello's Llyfr Anthemau for instance, and in the Caniedydd Cynulleid- faol —the collection of the Welsh Congrega- tionalists—where his Who are These ?" (Pwy yw y Rhai hyn ?) is found, and which has become very popular amongst that body. But apart from compositions, Stainer did eminent service as a writer upon theoretical matters his Music of the Bible" (Cassell and Co.) for example, is a very valuable work, and the Dictionary of Mublcal Terms (Novello and Co.), in which he was assisted by Mr W. A. Barrett, is a volume that no musician should be without, whilst the series of Music Primers (also published by Messrs Novello), edited by himself and Sir Hubert Parry, and which includes various contributions from his own pen, is probably one of the best and cheapest ever issued, and which has been and must continue to be of immense service to our young musicians. This varied and extensive series alone would suffice to keep in grateful re- membrance the name and memory of Sir John Stainer.

Mr D'Oyly Carte. In connection with the death of Mr D'Oyly Carte, the second member called away of that celebrated trio of men concerned in the produc- tion of the Savoy operas, a Montgomeryshire paper has the following:—"Mr Carte was in former years connected with Welshpool. For some time he lived at Leighton with his grand- father, a retired quartermaster who had seen service at Waterloo. About 14 years ago Mr Carte stagod a play in Welshpool, and his visit happening to coincide with his birthday he gave a supper in celebration of the event, and also in recognition of his connection with the town of his boyhood." When Mr D'Oyly Carte produced Sir Arthur Sullivan's grand opera Ivanhoe at the Eng- lish Opera House-now called the Palace Theatre —two of the characters in that fine if not alto- gether successful wOlk were represented by Welshmen, viz., Mr Ben Davies in the title role and Mr Ffrangcon-Davies in the part Çof Cedric the Saxon. Apropos Mr Ben Davies, an interesting article in the current number of the Strand Magazine," by Mr Frederick Dolman, gives us the opinion— and photographs—of a number of eminent musical men and women, on What is the Greatest Achievement in Music which Piece of Musical Composition is an Example of the Most Perfect Art ?" and amongst them those of our tenor, Mr Davies gives precedence to the air—or cavatina, as it is technically termed—"Behold and see," from the Messiah," and which may surprise some people, for, as he says, it is only a little thing—only twelve bars." But starting with the proposition that he thinks highest of the com- position which in the smallest compass contains the greatest amount of expression, the argu- ment and the conclusion he arrives at not easily assailed. "There is more feeling in this little thing than anything else that I know of in music, are Mr Davies's words, and he refers to the in- tense impression made upon him when he first heard it sung by Sims Reeves. Those who had the privilege of hearing the great English tenor in the Messiah," and realising the wonderful impressiveness of this air, brief though it is, can but endorse the above estimate, and the appre- ciation by our distinguished fellow-countryman, and who now so worthily follows Sims Reeves as the first oratorio tenor .ocalist of his day. It is somewhat remarkable that Madame Albani, too, selects an air from the Messiah," but one of larger dimensions, and better known to the public generally, and which is also asso- ciated with the names of all great oratorio sopranos—" I know that my Redeemer liveth," For depth of feeling, however, one feels con- strained to turn back to the little air of twelve bars, and which forms a fitting climax to the music of the passion in the world's great Chris- tian musical epic.

KING'S WILD BOARS AT LARGE. The King has announced his intention of pre- senting four wild boars from the famous herd in Windsor Great Park to the Zoological Society. Two will be placed in the gardens in Regent s Park, and two will be sent to Ireland, while the remainder of the herd—over 30 in number—will be shot. They were first introduced into Wind- sor Park about 20 years ago, the original herd having been brought from India by the Prince of Wales as a present to the late Queen. Since then their chief use has been to furnish the boar's head for the Royal sideboard at Christ- mas. In the open plantation the animals are tractable enough, but in captivity they are savage in the extreme. Two of them were captured vesterdav by the keeper and secured in a pen, but they became so infuriated that they burst the stout bolts of the doors and made their escape. They are still at large.

What kind of ships are most like scissors ?— Cutters. A minister made a rather long call upon a lady of his acquaintance. Her little daughter, who was present, grew weary of his conversation, and whispered, in an audible key, Don't he bring his Amen with him, mamma ?" Instances of neglecting the antecedent are amusing. In an old geography we are told that Albany is a town with 300 houses and 1,200 inhabitants, all with their gable-ends toward the street." I The popalar idea of an Anarchist is that of a man who is liable to take anything valuable that comes in his way, except bath.

THE HOUSEHOLD. 0 In some country districts where wood is plenti- ful it is found to be a less expensive fuel than coals, and in other places peat is to be had for the carrying. In both instances the ordinary coal scuttle is not of any use for keeping it to- gether in the room, so some sort of provision has to be made. Ornamental wicker baskets can be procured for this purpose, but they are rather ex- pensive. and with just a little time and very little trouble a wood box like the one in my illustration can be put together, wfth the advantage that it will act equally well for peat, which the wicker does not. as its contents are apt to slip through. A grocer's ordinary large box does very well for the foundation if fresh planks are not procurable, •nLj s^es must be taken off, ths curves pen- culed, and then sawn to the drawing. The sides snomd then be covered with felt or serge, which can be more or less artistically treated according An Ornamental Fuel Holder. to the embroidering capacity of the worker- certainly a monogram is a decided addition. Some worsted cord must be purchased of the size used to hang back curtains, and this is firmly laid round the edge with nails .and twisted into a strong handle, by which, however, the box should never be lifted when full. Rhubarb is now coming in, and very delicious and spring-like it is—in some localities a tart made of it is known as Spring Tart." But there are a great many dishes that can be made of it besides tarts. A certain virtue that rhubarb possesses is not very generally known, and that is that mixed with other fruits it at once takes their flavour, retaining none of its own. It is therefore of the greatest use in eking out a rather short supply of various kinds of berries. Bkck currant jelly can be made by boiling rhubarb and black currants together un til the juiceis extracted from both then strain through two sieves, the second finer than the first, and boil with its own weight of sugar. I have not very much sympathy for the people who simply sit-down and do without things be- cause they cannot afford to get what is offered for the purpose in shops, but I have a great respect for those who do not grudge personal trouble in order to have things really nice and as they should be, and I am going to tell my readers of a very smart basket for a baby's clothes which was made out of a cardboard box. And here it is sketched. The handle was of crinoline steel, fastened all ths way round underneath the box so as to be quite firm, and it was stitched into galoon binding in the first instance, aud then sewn on either side of the box. I think the kind A Baby's Basket. I of covered dress boning sold by the yatd would be an improvement on this myself. Then the c basket or box was wadded, covered with pale blue sateen and little frills of lace-imitation Torchon at;a penny the yard, which washes and wears to the last-were run on at the edge, falling over a gathered and frilled spotted muslin. Little pockets were made to hold the powder box, etc., and a pincushion was sewn to one side. Strips of blue sateen were wound round and round the handle and finished off by a blue bow at each side. I am sure a great number of people would keep fowls were it not for the expense of erecting houses for them. It is of course never well to build the fowlhouse itself of anything but good matchboarding, but I am going to show how one of the most important of its fittings, i.e., the nests, may be constructed with very little outlay. The only materials required are about 100 feet of wood of li inches by 1 inch quartering, and six of the boxes in which cube sugar is bought. The nests should not be in the fowlhouse proper, but placed in a pen, so arranged that you can prevent the hens from sleeping in them. The pen here given answers the latter purpose splendidly, and may be made rat proof with very little more expense. The two ends of the pen must Neats for a Fowl-Honee. I be cut from our 100 feet of timber, measuring 2ft. wide by 2ft. 9in. at the back, and 1ft. 9in. in the front. These should be boarded on different sides, and one end must have a trap for the purpose of admitting the fowls. The long sides of a cube sugar box will board up to the joist crossbar, and the remainder can be filled in with short pieces. The back, which measures 5ft. by 2ft. 9in., can be made in the same way. The front as is shown in Fig. B must be partly covered with wire netting, and measures 5ft. by 2ft. 9in. The short pieces of the boxes may be used again to make the screens dividing the four nests, which measures 14in. by 18in. When the four sides are shut together the roof may be made in such a manner as to take only three lengths of wood, where couplets must be fastened to the back by two strong hinges, and should have a good padlock and key. The pen must then be thoroughly limewashed before it is ready for the reception of the actual nests, which are made of four pieces of wood 17in. by 8in.. nailed together at right angles. These are of course bottomless, and must be placed on the ground. When these have been filled with turf to the depth of about 3 inches, and some straw and a nest egg placed in each, they will be ready for the fowls. It is advisable that the nests in any fowl-house should be taken out and burned, and new ones put in every three months, as one of the chief causes of drooping and ill-conditioned hens is the insects which get into the wood. The only way to eradicate these pests is by periodical! y burning the nests. ETHEL.

Elderly Maiden (to chemist's assistant) Well, I I do declare if I haven't forgot what I came for —Assistant (full of business) Hair-dye, rouge, lotion to remove freckles, wrinkle-eradicator, bottle Bloom of Youth ?"-Elderly maiden; hails a passing tram car. j At a meeting of the doctors of France at Mar- I seilles, part of the programme was an excursion to Algiers and, before they sailed, one among them announced the preventive virtues of anti- pyrine in sea sickness. Now," said he, there I is an opportunity to test its value in away rarely occurring. Here are 150 doctors of us going to sea, not one of whom is a sailor. Let us all take I the drug, sail across the middle sea like veterans, and enjoy our little trip like old salts." Adopted. So every doctor armed himself with capsules of anti-pyrine and began to take them as the ship swung out of the dock and headed for Africa and in half an hour afterwards that society, without exception, was laid out. Dr. Robert Anderson, C.B., who retires next month, on attaining his sixtieth birthday, from the post he has held since 1888 as head of the Criminal Investigation Department, is an Irish- man by birth and education. For more than 20 years he occupied a responsible position in the Home Office, and in this capacity was the inter- mediary by whom the notorious Major Le Caron communicated with the English Government. Dr. Anderson, who has manifested a lifelong interest in philanthropic and religious work, and is a frequent speaker in the meeting-places of a section of the Plymouth Brethren, has pub- lished a number of volumes of a theological character.

Welsh Tit-Bits. Ticyn o Dipynau Cymreig. By CADRAWO. Dewi Wyn o Eifion. Amongst those who wrote in favour of Frev Trade in the early part of the last century we should never forget our distinguished country. man and poet, Dewi Wyn, author of "Gardd Eifion. It is said that he suffered some perse- cution for his advanced opinions which he boldly propounded in some of his odes. The two linea in his masterpiece, his ode on "Almsgiving" (" Elusengarwch"), describing the poor honest labourer, are proverbial among Welshmen:— Yn dwyn ei geiniog dan gwynaw, Yn rhoi angen un rhwng y naw. How to improve the pitiable condition of the labouring classes, he breaks forth full of confi- dence in the principles of Free Trade, which were very little understood in hie days, only by such men as Messrs Cobden and Bright:— Symndwch y dreth sy'n ein dyfetha, Un glo'n Aberoedd, un gwlan a bar*. Treth yd, nid rith o dda,—dilewch o lwg; O! gwyliwch lewygu Gwalia. But it was not the duty on corn alone he wanteA abolished, but would repeal all Navigation Laws, which proves that our old bard was en- dowed with opinions far advanced of his genera- tion. We cannot omit the following beautiful lines, after reading the proposed new Budget by the Chancellor of the Exchequer last week Dadrwymed byd i dramwy Cyfeillach a masnach mwy. I Yn mhyrth Rwa mae drws i drvsor,—meddir, A moddion i w hebgor I'w gario i bob goror, I wlad Prydain hyd fain for. CyDnyrchion mawrion Amerig,—coedydd Ag ydau puredig, Rhag eisiau rhwng dorau dig. A gludir yn dreigiedig. What volumes of thought are contained in the above few lines, and how true in the light of the present day. A Welsh Clergyman Keeping a Public- house. When Mrs Sinclair visited Wales in 1833, the publican at Capel Curig was at the same time a parson at Llanrwst, and he officiated there every Sunday, and served another small church, which is described to be of the dimensions of a good sized bathing-machine, near his home. Mis Sinclair published a book after her sojourn in Wales which she called "Hill and Valley; or Wales and the Welsh," which has gone through several editions. It is a book of over 400 pages, and the subject she professes to treat upon is Wales, but her object was evidently to write a book. It is reviewed by one in the following comprehensive style:—" The first hundred pages she devotes to approaching the subject, in the next one hundred and fifty she plays round the subject, and for the remainder she runs away from the subject." To the credit of Welshmen at that time, she sayi that during the whole of her stay in Walet she saw not a single case of drunkenness, and the national beverage she declares was butter-milk, after being kept till quite sour, consequently therw was no fear for anybody to indulge in it beyond moderation, and the authoress expresses her per- sonal wish that the people of the whole of th« Isles of Britain may become as sober as she found the inhabitants of the Principality oi Wales. Further, she writes that "there was not a spark of Irish animation in their nature, and a Welshman would no more try to crack a joke than to break a. neighbour s head; and should he make an endeavour to laugh, the skin of his face would split in the attempt. The fairs of the country appear much like a Quakers' meeting, and the people who frequent them seem as if their mouths were locked. At Brecon Fair there was nothing to be heard bur the squealing of pigs in the Market-place. merriment, no quarrelling—nothing. The people stood in the market like sheep all silent, sober idle, and civil. Most of the Welsh people are possessed of remarkably large faces and crooked noses; of small stature, comparable to their ponies and sheep, which appear quite Liliputian." Mrs Sinclair gives her raaders a specimen of what she calls the Welsh language in the follow. ing absurd lines :— Gwryndch y Llandrygjmth wydfanz rig broloch. bimnwaer cwrwyntddmawr dywreoed rwrclch. Curious Old Welsh Hymns. (Fourth instalment.) Y defa:d gwynion a r traed glan, Sy n pori n mysg yr eithin man; Y gaseg wen a'r pilvn britb Sydd fel apostol yn en plith. The following was given out by an old WelsS. Methodist, who was noted for his "hwyl und«, the sermon. Fifty years ago there were met! belonging to every denomination in Wales, 8,nf one or more almost in every chapel, who upo#1 special occasions broke out in loud praise, an £ for a moment their shouting drowned the voicf. of the preachers. These were proverbially called "Cciliogod vrArfaeth." The hymn 1,(/ in justification of the Welsh "hwyl:" Fe dd'wed y bobl nawr ar go'dd Fy mod i'n feddw a ma's o nghof; Ond d'wedaf finau, os meadwdod YfI, Rwy'n yfed gwin o sgfev Dnw. Mae nhad yn byw yn Seion, Yn cadw ty fy mam Mae mrawd yn byw yn Seion, Ni chaf fi oddef cam Mae r Ysbryd Glan yn Seion, Yn gysur mawr i'r saint, A byw yn Seion, Yn diolch am v fraint. The two following are hymns givea "■ £ ? funerals:— Fy nghymydogion o bob rhyw, 'Nghyfeillion gyut ar dir y byw, Yr enaid aeth o'r corff i ma's, Trwy ddwylaw oerion angau glaa. Codwch y corff ac ewch i bant. A chariwch ef dros fryn a phant, Hyd at y bedd rhowch i orphwys nMft, Hyd foren'r Adgyfodiad mawr. The Ancient" Gododin of Aneurin. In reply to a query re the meaning of the wotit "Gododin," the answer is found in Dr. Pughe'if Dictionary. It is the name of a poem detailing the adventures of the Ottadini (in Welsh, Y Go. dodiniaid), before their emigration from Cumber- land and the adjoining country to that portion of the kingdom now known as Wales. The poem ill the longest of the ancient British poems, and lit a very distinguished monument of antiquity. n. is an heroic poem, of 920 lines, with one subject. The bard was a warrior, and had fought in tht" conflict he describes. Whatever its merits may be as a poetical production, it will never fat! tCf, be of value as an historical record of an evenf which took place in the first half of the sixtbj century. Mr Sharon Turner, in his able Vindi- cation of the British Bards," has nobly definef the characteristics of the Gododin." There arC several translations of the poem, to both modent Welsh and into English. Aneurin is mentioned by Taliesin. the chief of bards, in one of hiJ" poems:— Aneurin. of flowing muse, know I not his fa.me? And I, Taliesin, who on Ceirion Lake reside.

Military Conundrums.—Is a flying column o £ artillery one of the wings of the army ? Whif pays for the bayonets when the soldiers charge them ? When the shrill music of the sheH is spoken of, is a bomb bard meant ? How many spokes are there in the right wheel ? Dtt you use a pen or a pencil to right about face Can stealing a leg of pork be called a flauk mover ment ? Can pickpockets be classed as rifle men £ Is the major general's staff made of oak or ash1 Can you plav or sing a pla-toon ? Are the re ports from the artillery regiments to be heard b* the cannon-ears ? Resources of Quackery.—A quack in immense practice in London once consulted the great Abernethy for some personal ailment. Curioof to know the secret of his success in attracting clients, the surgeon asked him if he knew why h. had so many more patients than any regnlaS physician. Drawing Abernethy to the window, he pointed to the surging crowd in the street below, and asked, Doctor, of every one hundred persons who pass this window, how many, de yot( suppose, are educated people, capable of appre* ciatmg study and cultivation in others ?" Poiv haps ten, answered the charlatan. Well, yoir get those ten the rest come to me." I will send the cook to see yonr private &.h0lF: tricals, Mrs Brown,8.s you are kind enough to sa^ the servants can come." Do, my dear madamp I shall be delighted to ICO (he cook make be entree tU