The Aberdare Leader

BACK TO THE LAND." Another Poplar Paradise has been lost, never to be regained. The country is now aware that the system of philan- thropy on which the Poplar Workhouse was run has turned out to be more of a system of misanthropy. It has also been discovered that the Poplar Gua.r- dians' Labour Ctilony is a failure. It was an experiment which was greatly belauded as a very (practical mode of solving the unemployed problem by get- ting the idle workers "back to the land." Mr. Joseph Fels, who was the initiator of the experiment, is undoubtedly a rg former in spirit and also a very sincere man. But like most reformers Mr. Fels is an idealist who cannot discriminate between what must remain purely ideal- istic and what can by effort and energy be made practicable. He says that the colonists lost hope, initiative and aspirations to become self-supporting." Mr. Fels lays a great portion of the blame for this at the door of the Local Government Board, who, he claims, brought undue pressure to bear on the management, which caused the institu- tion to lose its distinctive character. He says further that the estab- lishment ceased to be a farm labour colony, and became simply a branch Workhouse. Well, if symptoms of ihaving inherited the objec- tionable characteristics of the parent workhouse at Poplar, then it was well that the Local Government Board did interfere. Back to the land! is a cry often raised by many reform doctors who know just enough about the land to enable them to tell barley from shrimps, and turnips from apples. Before the dwellers in cities and towns can be in- duced to return to the land, the condi- tions which drove them from the land to the cities and towns must be removed. What drives the toiling tiller from the soil ? The tyranny of landlordism, of course. Yes, partly. But if all lani- lords were suddenly transformed into angels, depopulation ;11 the country an:1 unemployment in the town would con- tinue to give trouble. The land would remain unattractive, and rural life would be dull. However much you may do in divers ways to brighten the exist- ence of Hodge, we fear that the attrac- tions of the country village will never bo able to compete with those of the oity. Town life has a magnetic charm that draws the best manhood from the soil—oftentimes to the slum. Urbanism has become a natural malady almost in this country. Those who talk so glibly of solving the problems of poverty and unemployment by placing the workless on the soil should realise that in order to make their pet schemes a success something must be done besides provid- ing the man with a spade.

Hipwaiti. PER,SONAL.-Mr William R. Edwards, solicitor, of Bank Chambers, Victoria Square, Aberdare, who recently pur- chased the practice of the late Alderman J. W. Eyaris, solicitor, has now taken up his residence at Ty Bruce, Hirwain. I

SCRAPS. (By The Scribe.") What do the Glamorgan Education Committee think of Mr. T. Walter Williams" candid description of their separation scheme screamingly funny." Evidently the genial barrister regards the scheme as a farce, and one which should never be put into force. Mrs. Mackenzie, on the other hand, was very cautious when asked on County School Day to give her opinion of this notorious scheme. Why, I wonder ? This lady, however, did not hesitate to affirm that as much could be learned flom games and sports as from books. Many will feel like disagreeing with her on this matter. But if we can get ser- mons in stones, and books in running brooks, why not lessons in leather and wisdom in the willow? Mr. Cox, the headmaster, has encour- aged the teachingof Welsh at the school, and he stated on this day that a large percentage of the children were receiv- ing-instruction in the Cymraeg. Mr. Cox, however, pointed out that in preparing for exams, it was impossible for the pupils to learn French, Latin and Welsh at the same time. Ah, there's the rub! You cannot put a quart into a pint measure. You may cram the child's cranium with lingual instruction, but that will not be knowledge. If Welsh is to be taken as a subject, then Latin or French must suffer. During the last few weeks a stranger with a flowing mane and a bearded mien strolled the streets and patrolled tho parks of Aberdare. He smilingly answered to the name of "David." Some said he was a transportation from an American communal co- lony. It transpired, however, that he was a non-unionist doing penance. He was refused a shave or a hair-cut at federated barbers' shops because he was badgeless, hence his Samsonian locks and whiskered countenance. Badgeless, but not beardless, he is now doomed to tramp the country with the brand of the Aberdare Trades Council on his hairy head. Last Saturday night a flnny phenome- non caused a very large crowd to stand opposite Mr J. W. Hurt's new fish shop in Canon-street, Aberdare. There was no end of speculation as to which species of the finny tribe the monster belonged. Some) held that it was a whale, while other minds were led to the scripture behemoth. One bystander assured the amazed audience that the fish was a shark, which had tried to swallow the Education Bill, and had perished in the attempt. Wth regard to Licensing laws, no one can say now that the police in the Aber- dare Valley are inactive. They appear to be very vigilant regarding the pubs and the clubs, and if convictionos do not follow prosecutions—well, it is not the fault of the P.C., but of the J.P. What is Socialism?—Reply: A system of government which will forbid anyone to labour without enjoyment, or to ob- tain enjoyment without labour.—The foregoing is, however, a dictionary defi- nition. Johnson's definition of an. ignoramus: A man who possesses but one idea, and that a wrong one. Is it the tavern or the times that has changed? Johnson wrote, "There is no- thing which has yet been continued by man by which so much happiness is pro- duced as by a good tavern or inn." That was but a century and a quarter ago, but we have travelled far since then. Un- doubtedly the inn of that age was of a higher moaral status than the hotel of to- day. But now the inn has had its inn- ings, and the flowing bowl" has been bowled outby temperance houses, public institutes and Y.M.C.A/s. Shenstone once inscribed on the win- dow of an inn the following lines: Whoe'er has travelled life's dull round, Wherever his stages may have been, May sigh to think he still has found The warmest welcome at an inn." The village inn may have still retained its virgin purity, but in the town the hos- tel has degenerated into a hotel. Even the most respectable commercial ho- tel has its low quaters—its East End as well as its West End. There is in opti- mistic spheres some talk of mending in- stead of ending the public-house. But I fear that it is like the House of Lords- past mending. At public dinners, grace is often said in a manner which is not graceful. At a "sumptuous repast" in Aberdare, a little before 'Xmas, the table invocation took the following crude form :—" May the Lord help us to have a good feed. Amen." One of the guests instantly cited the adage, God helps those who help themselves," and slogging into the feed suited the action to the word. Are Nonconformists more noted far belated attendance at their places of worship than Church people ? My experience teaches me that they are. I have attended an episcopal church in the Abordare Valley and I invariably find that at the stroke of six, practically all the congregation are seated, and the officiating clergyman commences punc- tually to the minute. A few stragglers enter after bhe service commences, but they are very few indeed. The other evening I attended a Nonconformist service. At six o'clock no one had arrived, not even the preacher. By and by some of the occupants of the set fawr and also the minister came. Then the seats began filling. When the open- ing scripture reading was over, crowds poured in, and likewise when the subsequent prayer was at an end. By half-past six there was a fairly large congregation. But still they poured in, and the doors kept swinging on their hinges until the sermon was nearly over.

Cwmaman Schools. DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES. On Wednesday week the presentation of prizes for good attendance awarded to the children attending the Cwmaman Schools took place. The children of the three departments attended at the Public Hall, which was filled to its utmost cap- acity, a goodly number of the mothers being; present. The chair was taken by Mr. Joseph Jones. B.A., B.D. Letters re- gretting inability to attend had been sent by Mr. W. J. Heppell and Council- lor W. Rees. The prizes were distribu- ted by the Rev. J. M. Jones, M.A. The children of the three departments en- livened the proceedings with school songs: Mr. Jones addressed the children, and also gave seasonable advice to the par- ents on the question of attendance. The Welsh National Anthem closed the meet- ing. The following is a list of the prize- winners, and also the number of com- plete weeks made by each for the year ended midsummer, 1906:- INFANTS' DEPARTMENT. (Head-mistress, Mrs. J. A. Williams). Edgar Davies, 45 weeks. Selina Hodder, 45. Edward Reeg Morgan, 45. Aurfron Thomas, 45. Willie Evans, 44. Dorothy B. Lewis, 44 Gwendoline Grifilths, 44. Clifford Johns, 44. Elizabeth Traylor, 44. Evan David Jones, 43. Lizzie A. Gittings, 43. I Emrys Owen, 43. David Williams, 43. Edgar Adams, 43. Willie Thomas Evans, 43. Blodwen Bushen, 43. Nellie Riddiford, 43. Oswald Bennett, 43. David James Evans, 43. Stephen Hy. Evans, 43, Reggio Scrivens, 42. Grace Dorey ,42. Leslie Young, 42. Enid Bailey Griffiths, 42. Lottie Lloyd, 42. "w art Hiram Roberts, 41. Maggie J. Bushen, 41. Gwenllian Harries, 41. Mary Evans, 41. Sarah L. Morris, 41. Dorris A. Griffiths, 41. Sidney Crumb, 41. ijewis John Thomas, 41. Ceinwen Howells, 41. Jj| Anna Morrisey, 41. Johnny Gittings, 41. Alice Lilian Lewis, 41 BOYS' DEPARTMENT. STANDARD VI. (Headmaster, Mr. J. A. Williams). Charles Soper, 41 weeks John Evan, 45 weeks. -t 45, ? STANDARD V. loan Vaughan, 45. Gwilym Lloyd Thomas, 45. Wm. Rees Davies, 44 weeks Jno. Evans, 44. Thomas Cheape, 42. Emrys Thomas, 41. Daniel J ones, 41. J 3 Cecil Lanfear, 41. STANDARD IV. Wm. Jonathan, 45 weeks. Albert Crumb, 45. Albert John Harries, 45. Lewis Daniel, 44 weeks. Charles Thomas Hay, 44. Thomas Webb, 44. Idris Hardidge, 43 weeks. Dd. Ephiiaim Saunders, 43. Wm. Charles Wales, 43. Essex Thomas James, 42 weeks, David Rees Owen, 42. Wm. Edwin Traylor, 42. Thomas Arch. Jones, 41 weeks. STANDARD III. Lewis Arthur Dorey, 45 weeks. Clifford Orlando Evans, 45. Erddig Maldwyn Evans, 44 weeks- Joseph Rowlands, 44. James Traylor, 43 weeks. Gwilym Griffiths, 41. Samuel Jones, 41. STANDARD II. Ivor Lanfear, 45 weeks. Jenkin Arthur Griffiths, 45. Thomas Isaac Evans, 45. Barnett Griffiths, 44 weeks. Jno. Leander Evans, 43 weeks- I Wm. Jno. Morgan, 43. STANDARD 1. Fredk. Jones, 45 weeks. Aneurin Lewis, 45. Theoph. G. Harries, 44 weeks. Anthoony Whatley, 44. Thomas Crumb, 43 weeks. Wm. Alfred Riddiford, 43. Wm. Edwards, 43. Richard Thomas, 43. Jesse Oox, 41. Dd. Owen Edwards, 41. John Davies, 41. List of prize-winners in Girls' depart- ment will appear next week.

Rev. T. T. Hughes and Rhos. The Rev T. T. Hughes, brought his week's mission with the Salvation Army to a close on Saturday evening. 00 the Friday he was assisted by the REW- D. S. Jones of Bridgend. Mr JoneS like Mr Hughes, has also severed his connection with his church. The Rfev T. T. Hughes conducted services on Sunday at Rev. W. S. Jones's chapel, Llwynypia; and on Monday left for Newcastle Emlyn, where he and Mr Jones are conducting special services. On Sunday a great many of Mr Hughes'S followers attended services at Ffr^a Baptist chapel A student from Cardiff College occupied the pulpit at Rhos. There is a great deal of conjecturing with regard to the Rev gentleman's future movements.

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