The Aberdare Leader

BIRTHS, DEATHS and MAty^CES, BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, DEATHS, ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND IN MEMORIAM NOTICES Are charged at the minimum rate of 1/6 for 30 words, hnd sixpence for each additional ten words or part of ten words, and must be prepaid. Lists of wreaths and wedding pres- ents are charged at the minimum rate of Is. 6d. for one inch and Is. for each additional inch. DEATH. WILLIAMS—Mary, beloved wife of I Evan Williams (late Grocer)1, died Wednesday, May 10, age 76 years. Funeral 3 o'clock Monday, May 15, from Goodwick Villa, Abernant Rd., for Aberdare Cemetery. Gentlemen only. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. FINE.—Mrs. HannaJi Fine and family tender their sincere thanks for messages of sympathy received on the death of their beloved husband and father, Jacob Fine, Fair View, Penrhiwceiber. DA VIES.-The widow and daughters of the late Mr. George Davies, 14 Pleasant View, Godreaman, desire to thank all friends who sent messages of sympathy to them in their recent shd bereavement; also for the floral tributes received. IN MEMORIAM. MORGAN.—In loving memory of Mrs Sarah Morgan, Mount Pleasant Hotel, Miskin, Mountain Ash, who passed away on May 11, 1915. Greatly missed by only sister; also nephew and nieces, Ivor, Gwennie and Cissie Powell, Oakfield, Aber- nant Road, Aberdare. PRITCHARD.—In loving memory of Mary Ann, the dearly beloved daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. John Pritchard, 48 George Street, Aberaman, who died at a Sanatorium on May 9th, 1915. Sadly missed by daddie, mammie and sister. WILLIAMS.—In loving memory of our dear brother Fred, who was killed in France on May 9th, 1915. Ever re- membered by his father, sisters, and brothers, Jack and Archie. "Never will he be forgotten." WILLIAMS.—In loving memory of my dea,r husband, Pte. Fred Williams, who was killed in action May 9th, 1915. One year has passed, yet how we miss him, Many think the wound is healed, For a smile oft hides the sorrow Deep within our hearts concealed He bade no one a last good-bve, He said farewell to none, His spirit fled before we knew That he from us had gone. Never forgotten by his loving wife and children.

FOR ALL KINDS OF ARMY AND RAILWAY CLOTHING Call at Army St Railway Stores, 15 Cardiff Road, Aberdare (Opposite Full Moon). Army Boots a speciality. N.B.— Second-hand Clothing Bought and Sold. The Pavilion, Mountain Ash, Concert Direction, DALE, FORTY & Co., Ltd., Cardiff, have pleasure to announce A Grand Evening Concert On WEDNESDAY, 31st MAY, 1916, at 7.30, By THE WORLD'S GREATEST CONTRALTO Madame CLARA BUTT And other EMINENT ARTISTES, Assisted by the MOUNTAIN ASH AND DISTRICT CHORAL SOCIETY. TICKETS (including Government Tax): Reserved 5/3 & 3/3, Unreserved 2/2. Admission (Limited) 1/2. Plan and Seats at William Peters, Stationer, Oxford street, Mountain Ash, Phone 42, or Messrs. Dale, Forty & Co., Ltd., Piano Merchants, Cardiff. EMPIRE MOUNTAIN ASH. Resident manaliffer EDPIOND PERRY. I 6.15 TWICE NIGHTLY. 8.1S WEEK COMMENCING MAY 15th. SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT OF Cis & Frank Penrose In their Special Instrumental & Vocal Act. Direct from Moss & Stoll Tour. MONDAY, TUESDAY" WEDNESDAY, OFFICIAL WAR FILM. GRAND STAR EXCLUSIVE, Blind -t;9 A Thrilling Drama of Great Heart Interest. 3,400 ft. Three Parts. HARRIS and FOWLER IN THEIR COMEDY SPECIALITY ACT. # THURSDAY, FRIDAY A SATURDAY, Grand Drama-Exclusive to Empire, FORGE TO FOOTLIGHTS, Thrilling & Sensational. 4,000 ft. Three Parts. Official War Film. The most successful Comedian ever appeared in Mountain Ash- HAROLD BAKER The Great Lancashire Comedian. Next Week —ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA COMPANY, Late Castellano Opera Company. (No Advance in Prices). Usual Prices with the addition of the Government Theatre Tax. TO LET. OMFORTABLE Rooms. Centre of c town. Suit two ladies.—Apply, D.J., Leader Office. TWO Furnished Rooms or Three Unfurnished Rooms in respect- able locality. Only respectable people need apply.—Write F.A., "Leader Office, Mountain Ash. COMFORTABLE lodgings or rooms, C suit married couple, young men or ladies.-Apply, 16 Hawthorn Ter- race. 1 4 Q CARDIFF Road, Aberaman, X~lvacant.—Apply, 46 Monk St., Aberdare. HOME from home, suit one or two respectable young ladies or gentlemen. H. and c. bath. Terms moderate.-Apply, T.D.G., 'Leader' Office. SITTING Room and one or two bed- rooms, suitable for gentlemen or lady friends.—Apply, R.S.P., "Leader" Office. FOUR Rooms, lately occupied by Mr. MacCormack, Dentist- — Apply, 2 Cardiff Street, Aberdare. 11 — —l—J-L—— ADVERTISE IN THE ———— ABERDARE LEADER. I THE ABERDARE STEAM LAUNDRY i Co., Ltd. j» NOTICE. O K ING to the increased cost of materials, such as Soap, Starch, Soda, Paper, etc., we are obliged to; make all additional charge for all Laundry work done on and after May 20th, 1916. J E. PRATT, Manager. f ——-—-

he Wmr. Cratitude for an Egg. Trooper J. Jenkins, 20th Hussars, No. 3 Canadian General Hospital, B.E.F., France, has written the following letter to Mr. Cox, Blaenaman Fawr Farm. Cwmaman, in recognition of an egg received by him I through the medium of the Aberdare Egg Fund:—"To whom it may con- cern,—I don't know whether it is Mr., Madam or Miss, but I am taking the liberty to write you these few lines as I got your address on an egg which I had for my tea. T am at the above address, and we are very grateful to you for being so kind to the sick and wounded. Perhaps you may know me, as previous to mobilisation for active service I was a Police Constable in Aberdare and groom to Superintendent E. Rees." Wounded Aberamanite. Mr. and Mis. Benj. Williams, 67 Brook Street, Aberaman, have been notified that their son, Pte. Oliver E. Williams, Car- I diff Pals, has been wounded in the thigh while fighting somewhere in France. He now lies at the Sahore British General Hospital, France. Prior to enlisting he was a clerk at the Maesylfynon Offices. A telegram has been received this week stating that the patient's condition is satisfactory and that he is off the dangerously ill list. A letter has been received by the parents from the chaplain, Rev. G. F. Walters, stating that their son receives every care and attention, and is quite cheerful. Sister Martin, the nurse, had previously written to the parents. Killed in Action.-Pte. Tom Strong, of Merthyr, a native of Aberdare, at- tached to the 8th South Lancashire Regt., has been killed in action in France on Friday, May 5th. His wife has received a letter from Lieut. Smed- ley, of the 8th Lanes., stating that her husband died in hospital from wounds received The officer pays deceased a splendid tribute, s&ying that he was un- swerving and uncomplaining however arduous the duty. Pte. Strong's mother resides at 30 Pembroke Street, Aberdare. His father is in the Na- tional Reserve stationed at Ponty- pridd. The deceased soldier, who was only 28 years of age, leaves a wife and three children.

MOUNTAIN ASH CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR'S CASE. Sir William Byles asked the President of the Local Government Board, in the House of Commons on Monday, whether a conscientious objector, the son. ot the Rev. G. Neighbour, Mountain Ash, is suffering 14 days' imprisonment m a camp near Rhyl for refusing to obey orders; whether he was first sentenced to U hours' solitary confinement, and then marched through the streets of Cardiff by an escort of eight soldiers with fixed bayonets; whether for refus- ing to take an oath or to wear military uniform he was subjected to threats and vile language; whether he has been drafted to a fighting regiment though he holds a non-combatant certificate; and, if so, whether conscientious ob- jectors will be afforded the protection which the Military Service Act, 1916, is intended to secure for them. Mr. Tennant: I am obtaining a re- port. As regards the last part of the question, this man no doubt had the opportunity of making an appeal for exemption on the ground of conscientious objection as provided by the Military Service Act.

Letters to the Editor. i WELSHMEN AND THE WELSH LANGUAGE. Mr. Editor,—Kindly allow a little space for a slight protest by a Welsh- man against the inadequacy of Welsh books at the Aberdare Free Library. I would be more than pleased if our valuable Welsh literature was placed within the reach of all Welshmen. Many a native, such as I, has not the means to buy those volumes, although our minds are thirsting for them. And I am afraid that we are destined to live and die without tasting the "rare and refreshing fruit." Of course, we have an alternative, and that is to read the English books, which are provided in abundance. ,By studying those volumes we would become more or less pro- ficient in English literature and lore to the neglect of our own. Probably now that we have a Welshman at the helm of the Aberdare Library, the stock of Welsh volumes will be replenished, so that young and old may be regaled with good "Welsh rare-bits." Many a young Welshman arrives at Aberdare from West Wales-where, by the way, nearly all our best men hail from-and in the course of time many of them become our public-men. I maintain that it is our duty to provide these young men with a good Welsh fare. Aberdare prides itself on being a Welsh town, and I believe that it is as Welsh as any town in South Wales. There is, however, room for improvement. What is the reason that Welsh men and women do not speak their beautiful language when they go abroad? Many Englishmen who have mastered it wonder at our stupidity in not making use of it. Often. times when I hear my brothers and sisters speak the Saxon tongue I blush with shame. Of course I know that our language is not the language of the dancing class, cinemas and whist drives, and I am proud that it is not. Some young Welsh men and women have a habit of conversing in a foreign tongue, in order to impress others that they are English. Of course, it is so very much more aristocratic and genteel-poor souls! Last Sunday, while passing a Welsh chapel, when the congregation was trooping out after listening to a Welsh sermon, the first sentence I heard was— I "How are you, Mrs. -? Didn't our dear Mr. preach a lovely sermon 1 this morning?" "Fiddlesticks with your lovely sermon!" I said to myself, and hastened away to brood on the sad hypocrisy of it all. I agree that the English language is the language of law and commerce, and should be spoken in those departments. But for the sake of our forefathers and the babes unborn let us stick to the dear old Welsh language in our homes and abroad, and bv so doing prove to our English friends that we are not ashaned hut proud of Taffy's mother tongue.-Yours, OAltN INQLI.

MERTHYR BOARD OF CUARDIANS, Mr. T. T. Jenkins presided over the ordinary meeting of the Merthyr Boafrd of Guardians last Saturday. Mrs. Richards, Mr. John Prowle and the Rev. Llewelyn M. Williams were elected members of the National Memorial Association, who have charge of Pontsarn Sanatorium.—Mrs. A. N. Jenkins has been appointed chairman of the Children's Homes' Committee for the ensuing year, and Mr. John Hughes (Cwmbach) as vice-chairman. At their last meeting the committee passed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Morgan Williams (Abernant) for his services as chairman during the past year. In future the committee will meet every Thursday at Llwydcoed and Merthyr alternately. It has been resolved to recommend to the Board that an appli- cation be made to the War Office for allowance in respect of the children of Mrs. Price, Abernant, whose husband is in the Army. Mrs. Price was re- cently sent to prison at the Aberdare Police Court for neglecting her chil- dren, who have become chargeable to- the Union.

QUESTION IN PARLIAMENT. In the House of Commons on Tuesday the Under-Secretary for War was asked by Mr. King (R., Somerset, N.) whether Stanley Minor and Walter Rees, of Mountain Ash, were both proceeded against as absentees under the Military Service Act, 1916; whether, after various prosecutions and other costly proceed- ings, they were found medically unfit; if so, on what grounds, and why was no medical examination of these men made before these expenses were incurred.— Mr. Tennant writes: On the information given I cannot affirm that it was un- necessary or inadvisable to proceed against the men in question as absentees.

N.S.P.C.C. AND CHILD-NEGLECT. The National Society for the Pre- vention of Cruelty to Children investiga- ted 4,188 complaints of neglect and cruelty in England, Wales, and Ireland during the month of March. Of the 3,962 completed cases 3,859 were found true, affecting the welfare of 12,384. children and involving 5,017 offenders. Warnings were issued in 3,531 cases; 192 were prosecuted (resulting in 191 convictions), and 136 were dealt with by transfer or in other ways. From its- foundation in 1884 the Society has dealt with 905,779 complaints involving- 2,537,113 children. In the Pontypridd, etc., Branch during the same month 20 cases were dealt with, affecting 64 children.

CWMBACH. YOU will be pleased after calling at JAY'S. DON'T FORGET the Temperance Rally at Nebo Hall, Hirwain, on May 15th at 6. All cordially invited. LECTURE. On Tuesday evening; last an interesting lecture was given at the Workmen's Institute on "Signs of the Times pointing out the evidence of the approaching end of the age" by Mr. J. Marshall, Aberdare. MEETING. At Bryn Seion (Oong.) Chapel on Thursday evening an inter- esting paper was read by Mr. David E. Williams on "Amodau Bywyd y Deyrnas." The following took part in. the discussion: -Meissrs. James Jones, W. M. Lewis, D. W. Wilcox, and Wil- liam James. The Rev. R. Hugh Davies, B.A., presided. HOME ON FURLOUGH. — The following have been home on furlough: Lance-Corporal David E. Button and Private John Nicholls, both with the 18th Welsh (Bantams), stationed at Blackdown; Private Thomas John Evans, of Tirfounder Road, 23rd Welsh, stationed at Porthcawl, and Private Amos Edwards, 18th Welsh. SEND-OFF CONCERT. At the Royal Oak Inn on Tuesday evening last a send-off concert was given to Private James Biggs, who was home on leave after nine months in the trenches in France. He was in the memorable charge at Loos. The chairman was Mr. Thomas Evans; vice-chairman, Mr. John Protheroe. Songs were rendered, by Messrs. James Rees, D. C. Jones, J. Protheroe, Jack Bevan, Moses Price, Francis Davies, William Phillips, and Morgan Hughes. The hostess presented., Private Biggs on behalf of the company with a purse of gold, and he suitably responded. "Hen Wlad fy Nhadau was sung by Mr. James Rees. WEDDING. At Calfaria Chapel on Saturday morning last a pretty wedding was solemnised by the Rev. J. Griffiths, the contracting parties being Miss Catherine Jane Thomas, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dayid Thomas, of Well Place, and Mr. David Emrys Davies, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Davies, of Brynmair Road, Cwmaman. The bride, who was given away by her father, was smartly attired in a biscuit colour costume with leghorn hat. The brides- maids were Miss Sarah Ann Thomas,, sister of bride, who was attired in an old rose colour costume with hat to, match, and Miss Dilys Davies, sister of the bridegroom, who was attired in a pink dress with hat to match. The best man was Mr. Thomas Williams, Aber- dare. Also present were Mr. William Davies, father of the bridegroom; Mr. David James Thomas, brother of bride, and Mr. Daniel Palmer, brother-in-law of bride. At the home of the bride's parents a sumptuous breakfast had been prepared. A large number of friends were present. VALEDICTORY. At the Victoria, Inn on Wednesday evening a send-off concert was given to Driver Ted New- man, R.F.A., and Private W. J. Lewis. of the S.W.B. Both were time-expired men, but had re-enlisted at the com- mencement of the war. They were both home for a few days' leave from the trenches in France. The chairman was Mr. D. George Pugsley; vice-chairman, Mr. W. Jenkins. Songs, Messrs. Jamee Williams, Morgan Jones, Jack Ryan, George Maggs, R. Phillips, John Protheroe, Will Brown, Jack Bevan. Morgan Davies, James Paries, John Cottle, and E. Humphreys. Duet by e Messrs. J. R. James and James Jones. The hostess, Mrs. James, presented the guests of the evening with a purse of gold each, and both suitably responded. A vote of thanks to the Host and Hostess, chairman, artistes, and the accompanist was proposed by Mr. James Rees, and seconded by Mr. B. Phillips. The National Anthem was sung by Ih. J. R. James. The accompanist wtm Mr, Daniel Palmer.