The Aberdare Leader

To Readers and Corres- pondents. All contributions of local in/terest will be gratefully received at the offices of this paper. Clergymen and Ministers, Secre- taries, and organisers of social functions, political meetings, and all public events secure reports of the proceedings. When a reporter is required, notification should are respectfully asked to acquaint us of these events before hand, so that we may arrive at our office punctually. Our Correspondents will oblige us by for- warding their reports at the very earliest convenience. All communications to be addressed, "Leader" Office, Aberdare.

THE CWMBACH ROAD. THE road that leads from Aberdare to Cwmbach is notoriously narrow, crooked and uneven. We do not know whether the constructors of this road anticipated the discovery of perpetual motion, but we know that they took a switchback course over the summit of every available eminence. Last Saturday an inquest was held at Aberdare concerning the death of a brake-driver, who had met his death through his vehicle colliding with a lamp-post on this very narrow road The Coroner dwelt at length and with emphasis on the need of improving this road so as to obviate accidents. He held that the widening of the Cwmbach road is more expedient than the widening of the Park lake. Perhaps so, but there is no reason why the two undertakings should not be proceeded with. The Gwmbach road is a veritable 'death-trap, especially on Saturday nights when in- furiated Jehus enter into an exciting competition in annihilating distance. There was a great deal of talk some time ago about having a road from Aberaman to Cwmbach. And later it was rumoured that the G.W.R. were going to establish a motor service between Aberdare and Cwmbach. Just now there is no im- mediate prospect of either of these pro- jects being proceeded with. But the acquisition of road facilities between Aberaman and Cwmbach and rail facilities between Aberdare and Cwmbach would not obviate the necessity of a good road between the last named places, although the carrying out of either of these under- takings would materially lessen the traffic on the antediluvian road complained of. Some time ago our hopes were raised by an announcement that a new road from Aberdare' to Cwmbach would be con- structed forthwith, and that some generous local gentleman was prepared to give the necessary land at a reason- able rate, if not gratis. What has become of that most valuable proposal? We trust that it does not peacefully rest among the irrecoverables in the cemetery of oblivion.

Mountain Ash Jottings. BY "LUCIFER." Easter Vestries are seldom like the pro- verbial Easter egg-full. These annual gatherings never hardly suggest reflec- tion on a phase of the housing question- in other words, their unfrequent fre- quenters are not troubled by overcrowd- ing. However, there was a fairly good attendance at the Mountain Ash Vestry last week. Perhaps some had gone there with vivid' expectations of "scenes," for it is not the pressman alone that loves "animated proceedings." To show that his experience was differ- ent to that of some of his brethren in Holy Orders, the genial Vicar told the meeting that a neighbouring clergyman was once asked when would the Vestry be held. His reply was, "I must wait till the warden gets well, because he and I generally comprise the Vestry." The Vicar of Mountain Ash shudders at the thought of an Atheist, a. Unitar- ian, or a Roman Catholic sitting on the throne of Britain. He regards all Es- tablished Church as a shield that wards off such a terrible possibility. Well, Catholics have ere now sat on the British throne, and it did not crumble under the sitter. And it is just possible that the wearing of our national jewelled head- gear by an Agnostic or Unitariam, head would not wreck the British constitu- tion. Italy has survived the eruption of Vesuvius, America will probably exist after the Californian seismic disturb- ance is quelled, and it is just possible that Great Britain may outlive the national disaster of having an Agnostic at the head of the State. But why bracket the two c-xtremes—Borne and Unitariauism ? This reminds me of an incident at a Trecynon revival meeting, when the one who was testing—not the spirits but the spirited ones—asked all believing Christians to stand, all Catho- lies and Unitarians not to count. The great poet tells us that conscience makes cowards of usi all. This is not. true, for it made a brave mallr of the Mountain Ash ex-Churchwarden. He was cut out for the plain of Dinah, for he evidently possesses the stuff that mar- tyrs are made of. But thanks to the toleration of the Churchmen of the Mount, Mr. Dally was not compelled to undergo the martyr's ordeail to the ex- tent of entering a, fiery furnace. He had to choose between principle and privi- lege, and like Moses and "the four Non- conformists from home"—to quote Bar- row WilliaDi.s-b.e chose the former. The heretical Churchwarden was re- ferred to by more than one speaker as "an enemy of the Church." But surely an opposer of the establishment is not necessarily an enemy of the Church which it is thought to disestablish. Is it not a fact that some of the best friends of the church are clamouring for its separation from the State? The late Mr. C. R. Jones, a militant Disestablishment campaigner and pro- phet, was wont to say, "Surely as Tabor is among the moutitaiÍmSl and Carmel by the sea, so shall it come." His prophetic mantle seems to have fallen on Mr. Dally, for lie exclaims in substance, "Surely as Penarr is among the moun- bins and Cardiff by the sea, so shall it come." At the Vestry iix question he assured the Churchmen present that Dis- establishment would certainly arrive, and he entreated them to set their house in order. "My time will come!" were his (parting words. Sir Waltfr Parrott's agonising fight with the powers of darkness at the Mountain Ash Eisteddfod, when the shades cf night and the cour- age of the brave Eisteddfodwyr present were falling fast, reminded me vividly of Tennyson's "infant"— An infant crying in the night, An infant crying for the light, And all his language but a cry. Why did not the conductor get some pro- fundo basso.. to roar, "Total eclipse," or some sweet soprano to sing forth "Abide with me ?" I am told that one member of the Cwmbach Choir burst out with "Ring down rthe curtain, I can't sing to-night!" The C.E.T.S. is a Society which is giv- ing material and valualble aid to the cause of sobriety, but I am not sure whether it has hit upon the best means of promoting temperance. It has been. urging upon the Mountain Ash District Council the desirability of placarding the district with posters pointing out the evils of alcohol. I do not think this necessary. People do not require to be convinced of the pernicious effect of the cup that inebriates. Every drunkard in Mountain Ash knows full well that he is doing wrong in imbibing too freely of alcoholic drinks. He does not require blazing posters to convince him that "wine is a mocker and strong drink is raging." No man is a drunkard on prin- ciple. He drinks because passion over- rules principle iin his instance. Tem- perance promoters will never save the people until they provide those who drink with something that will be equally as attractive as the bar of the inn, but minus its objectionable features. A friend of mine has divulged to me some information regarding a movement which was set on foot some time ago. It seems that a number of young Church- men have banded themselves together and called themselves "Bachelors," and are busy preparing for a great event-a. Bazaar—which is to come off shortly. Meetings have been held pretty fre- quently, and the discussions have been lively. However, I am told 018 good authority that many of these enthusi- asts are in terrible straits, and that, as soon as the Bazaar is over, there will be a tremendous exit from "Baebelordoin," and a general rush for the "United State." A great many secrets have been given to me in confidence, but as I am of a rather timid nature, I will not give them away this time. I may, at some future date, have something to say re- garding "the tube of radium." Dr. Macnamara states that the low- percentage of "certificated teachers in Welsh Schools constitutes "a grave na- tional disgrace and scandal." In the areas under County Councils, Glamorgan andl Monmouth run very closely for the- lowest place, the percentage of certifi- cated teachers in the former county- being 28.3, and in the latter 28.0. In boroughs and urban districts, Carmar- then Borough takes the lead with the very low figure of 26.3 per cent. Aber- dare Urban District comes in a good second with a percentage of 30.7, while the Rhondda is at its heels with 30.6 per cent. The percentage in the Moun- tain Ash District is 33.0. There was a pathetic note in the wail uttered by the Chairman of the Moun- tain Ash Education Committee at the last meeting of that body. A newly-ap- pointed teacher had changed his mind- having probably found a. better berth— and resigned. The Chairman observed that they were a. most unfortunate body. That was the third time they were simi- larly served within a short space of time.. In Aberdaro things are no better. There they have a standing advertisement run- ning in a newspaper-is this a paradox? -which advertisement is a standing re- minder of the existence of a pedagogic famine. But would not the raising of the standard of qualifications in Aber- dare and Mountain Ash tend to allay the. famine? The new chairman of the Mountain Ash District Council observed at the- annual meeting that their amiability and amicability iasi a public body was an example worthy of emulation by neigh- bouring bodies. True; Aberdare could well copy the example of the Mount. But I am not sure but that of late the- Mount has been trying to imitate the Dare at the Education Committee of the former. "Evil communications corrupt good manners." Tread gently, Pennar "Mr. Henry Radcliffe, the Cardiff ship- owner, is being urged to give, his consent, to being nominated as Liberal candi- date for the Parliamentary vacancy in South Carnarvonshire, caused by the re- tirement of Mr. Bryn Roberts." This appeared in the "South Wales Daily News" last week. Mr. Radcliffe, the re- jected of Merthyr and Aberdare, seems determined! to reach Westminister by hook or by crook. There would be some appropriateness in selecting Mi. Rad- cliffe to contest Eifion, the seat vacated. through the appointment of Mr. Bryn Roberts as Judge of the South Wales cir- cuit. If South Wales people are to have,, their Judges from the North, it is but fair that North Wales should take its M.P. from the South. Reciprocity is, the salt of life. In an article in the "Magazine of Commerce" Sir William Thomas Lewis, Bart., is described as the Pierpont Mor- gan of Wales; a giant in Trusts; the greatest financial thinker in Wales; the most powerful personality of the Prin- cipality; the greatest authorirty on coal getting, perhaps, iu the United King- dom. When Mr. Chamberlain framed his Commission on Tariff Reform, Sir; William was included in the list of authorities on Britain's great industries. "Be is," the article states, "emphatically and professionally a capitalist fighting for the employer of labour against the toiler and the moiler, but there is a de- finite straili of justice in Sir William's bearing which comes out at the meeting! with workmen's representatives." b

To Correspondents. ONE OF THE VICTIMS. We advise you. to place your grievance before the District Council.

Accident at Llettyshenkin; Colliery. On Wednesday Thomas Charratt was following his employment on the surface of Llettyshenkin Colliery, when the cir- cular saw caught his foot, and cut off his toes. He was immediately conveyed to his home in Mill Cottages, and attended to by Dr. Hugh Davies Jones. It was found necessary to have the injured man, removed to the Cottage Hospital.

o Abercynon Child Drowned A singular case of drowning occurred, at Abercynon on Saturday. Mrs Jones, of Greenfield-terrace, left her adopted child, 13 months old, in the kitchen while she went upstairs. On her return in a few minutes the child had dis- appeared from the kitchen, and the mother was startled to find that it had fallen on its head into a zinc pan which had been placed under a tap in the washhouse. It was snatched out by a next door neighbour, who tried hard to restore animation, but when the doctor came life was extinct. On Monday an inquest was held at, the Police Station before the coroner, Mr R, J. Rhys. A verdict of Accidentally Drowned was passed.

YOUR CHILDREN will be well t dressed in these smart frocks. They H are Tailor made in our noted I ''HARDWEAR" cloth. Yoke I is lined, skirt gathered back & H front and yoke, cuffs and skirt I fJR CHILDREN will be well H are trimmed fancy braid. Cut H very full and well made. In H NAVY, CARDINAL AND ■ BROWN. ■ WONDERFUL BARGAINS I L^n CARRIAGE^PAJ p ■ Prices^2/4 2/10 3/4 3/10 4/4 I ALL POST FREE. SEND AT ONCE TO Dept.C Mr "^IOHNS(DN»sr^H 132, Broadwall, Blackfriars, I Loudon S.E.