The Carmarthen Weekly Reporter

CARMARTHEN I" WEEK BY WEEK.! Butting Las invaded even religions circlcs. A Ca rmarthon maa who was out a few miles in tlie country last week heard a peculiar conversation going on in a refreshment room. "I have always been the best man to the cause, aiul I will bo the first to pray in the now chapel," remarks No 1. Indeed to goodness Thomas," says No 2, you will not. I will make you a bet of a bottlo of brandy that I will pray there before, you." And the bet was taken on the spot I know a man very well who would not mind holding the stakes f The Infirmary Governors have awarded the local press a vote of thanks for the readiness with which they have made known the wants of the institution. The Governors of the Infirmary are the only people in Carmarthen who have so much courtesy. There are many others—who have not the same claim to consideration as the Infirmary Governors—who seem to imagine that the Press should as a matter t, of duty be always at their disposal, and that they in return should not give as much in return as even a Thank you." The thing has come to such a pass in Carmarthen that it is quite common to hear people say Oh, the Press will support us," or The Press must support us," or The Press ought to support us." By support they mean doing all their work for nothing. And if the Press looks for any support to them—Heaven help the Press It is our usual experience in this part of the world to find that the people who never benefit us by as much as a Is per aunum, always expect that we should lay aside all other considerations, and carry on the paper just to suit them. There is nothing like a colossal cheek 7{ Mr II. Brunei White and Mr J. S. Lester have been elected Churchwardens of St. Peter's. A better choice could not be made. The affairs of the Church will not look black with Mr White at the helm on the other hand, no better man than Mr J. S. Lester could be got to look after the tin." Towyside Mission lloom has now been fully licensed as a Church, so that the Com- munion can be administered there. St. Peter's Parsh is now like a composite rail- way carriage :—First Class The Parish Church. Second Class St. John's AVelsh Church. Third Class Towyside Mission Room. There is certainly any amount of room for choice. r • • Very undemocratic views of Christianity are held amongst the third class worshippers, when—as the Bishop of Swansea remarked at the Yestry Meeting—some of them imagine that their clothes are not good enough to come to Church in. I am afraid the imagination is not all on one side a good many superior persons would be kee much annoyed if—even in Church—they ° -s brushed their frock coats against a fisher- ""N iiiiii's or a bricklayer's jacket. It may be [ that there will be no class distinctions in H eavon but we have all to keep our own 5A!J?,!acws. here in the meantime. If the ovuiiler of Christianity came into one of our n f •nodorn Christian Churches He would pro- bably have to take a seat near the door, while His betters went higher up." y f In the report of Water-street Chapel Eis- f toddfod which appeared in the Reporter last week, it ought to have been stated that Mr John Thomas, Llanelly, acted as adjudica- tor in an extremely satisfactory manner and that, Mis* Flnvn'o I)..Tones took part in the evening concert. A A committee of the County Council sat at tho Town Hall on Saturday for the purpose of granting licences for explosives. If you n wish to keep gunpowder or dynamite or any- thing else which might blow you up, you must have a licence. I know some married men who ought, under these circumstances, to take ought licenses for their wives. I have seen a dynamite explosion and I have seen several domestic explosions, and, per- sonally, I prefer the dynamite. Mr H. Reeves, jeweller, King-street, has introduced what is a novelty to Carmarthen, at any rate, in the way of window decoration. L A coloured ball revolves before a concave mirror, and the novelty has certainly a pretty appearance—a quality in which a good few novelties are sadly deficient. "Misfortune makes some strange bed- fellows and theatrical bill-posters certainly make some queer combinations at times. At the door of the Assemby Rooms the public gaze lias, during the week, been assailed by announcements of Elijah and Irdby." What will be the next combina- tlOn? "Tho Lord Chief Justice" and "Bill Sikes"; or "King Solomon" and the "Carmarthen Town Councillor." In whatever other capacities Mr James John has appeared before the public, it was reserved for the lightning camera to confer upon him the appointment of Honorary- Chaplain in -Chief-to-the-Carmarthen-Cor- poratioi-i- cc-E-ugin c. The snap- shot reveals him with his hat in his hand and a devout expression on his face, as the fire of the engine is being lit. If ever there was a realistic picture of "asking a blessing it is this. A pair of gaiters, and a little rigging on the hat would make Mr John an ideal archdeacon — in the picture, at any rate. It is is no good offering as an explanation that the hat was taken off to avoid its being spoiled by sparks. The picture tells its own tale. Who is responsible for the shutting of the gates of St. Peter's Church ? First of all, the Bishop of Swansea said he believed the power lay with him, and that he took full responsibility for shutting up the church- yard next of all, he said, he had not "intcrfored with the churchwardens in the matter and he wound up by stating that if the new churchwardens wanted the gates open that he would consider the matter. It will take all the ingenuity even of a Stiffm, Bishop — to reconcile these utterances. One thing, however, appears pretty cer- tain—that the gates were shut to keep people from dumping rubbish in the church- yard and to prevent boys from coming in to throw stones at the chestnut trees. Now these arguments won't hold water one gate has been left open all along, and there is nothing to prevent people going in by it to deposit as many old boots and dead dogs as they wish. It seems impossible to separate the wheat from the tares if you shut out people who come with a bag load of rubbish, you shut out people who como to pray. Besides people who wish to get rid of lumber can throw it over the railings, At the same time I have never heard of anyone—even in these days of Christian athletes-who was so anxious to pray that he would scale a fence to get into Church. There is one thing, however, which the Bishop said, and with which all fair minded people will agree. If the Carmarthen public wish to use the path through the churchyard, they have a right to contribute towards its maintenance. On the other hand, the vicar and churchwardens had | better think twice before they ask for j public subscriptions towards the up-keep of the path. If the public subscribe, they will at once come to the conclusion that they have a right to go through the churchyaid. And it is this idea of a public right, which have a right to go through the churchyard. And it is this idea of a public right, which the ecclesiastical authorities aforesaid wish t' to knock on the head. To close the church on market and fair days is a duty which the Churchpeoplo owe I to themselves; for I am certain that the Turkish soldiery in Armenia never outraged Christian sentiment more than some of the man-beasts would who visit this town at inteivals. Rag, tag, and bob-tail" is a mild name for these human vermin. The scum which resides regularly in Carmarthen is-if possible-a shade worse. The most pregnant commentary on our nineteen centuries of Christianity is the fact that the only protection of the House of Gocl in this Christian land is-a lock and key! After the attention of the Fishery Board and the public having for years past been monopolised by the grievances of the coracle- men, it now appears that the anglers are zi going to ventilate their troubles. The trout licenses it is averred are the mainstay of the Board and yet'nothing has hitherto been heard of the grievances of the anglers. The trout appear to be a scarce as-policemen are when there is a row. It seems pretty clear that if the anglers made up their minds to take out no more licenses, that the Board would find themselves pretty well cornered. {-(. It seems that we shall have another "Infirmary Saturday this year. This is very proper, but it would be well to extend the idea and to have also an "Asylu III Saturday." The proceeds of the latter should be devoted towards providing asylum accomodation for uncertificated lunatics. JL J £ A*" There have been three prisoners tried at the Carmarthen Borough Quarter Sessions during about five years. Of these two were reformatory boys. It is difficult to see where the reformation comes in. The Chamber of Commerce has apparently been unable to do anything in regard to the Recreation Ground. Perhaps this is not much of a pity after all. These bene- ficient social schemes seldom come to much. The committee of the Literary and Scientific Institution opened a Recreation Room a few years ago to save the young men from the streets." As a matter of fact it savel the streets from the young men. The room soon became the means of focussing and organising the rowdy element, which had been hitherto distributed over the town in isolated groups. After all, there is this much to be said in favour of the much maligned public-house if those who meet there misbehave themselves beyond a certain point, they get kicked out. It would be regarded in certain quarters as a public-spirited act on the part of some citizen t) set his premises on fire in order to give the Fire Brigade a chance of testing their new engine. Now that they have been initiated into its working, the men are itching for a fire they feel like the Irishman who was blue moulded for want of a batin' The saddest spectacle in Carmarthen is the sight of the desperate efforts of some of our damsels to hook a militiaman. This sadness is accentuated in the case of those who have been making similarly desperate efforts for the last seventeen trainings and who might be told that they are still in the condition summed up in the military command, As you were • i-N Apropoa of Quarter Sessions week, a Car- marthen man states that the three things he most detests are (1) a visit from his mother- in law, (2) having a tooth extracted, and (3) having a summons to serve on a jury. Religious fervour affects even a militia- man. One of our brave defenders was heard to say as ho came out of one of our chapels, on Sunday evening Os oedd y diawl yno fi, canes i ef macs heno." Another eviction! In one of our churches every Sunday afternoon is held a class comprising a group of 30 very young men of exuberant intellects. Now here's a rich item anent one of them This young vaunter in his teens, who upholds enthusiastically the thorough, clear, and extensive scriptural knowledge the b 0 members possess-was trying to convince another Churchman lately that the 30 members were on a par with their teacher in scripture knowledge. Yes," he said, with great bravado It we gave him a question last Sunday and he was completely cornered." The gentleman who was cornered is con- sidered—and very properly too—one of the best men in the county in this branch. The career of this young man will be watched with keen interest! There is no need for him to prjxy for a good conceit of himself "Ladies avd Gentlemen," harangued a Bogus-Mesmerist at a Swansea theatre, to prove to you that my subject is completely under my mesmeric influence I will now give him this hair-oil, and tell him it is whiskey, and you will observe him draining the glass to the very dregs The subject had not swollowed a teaspoonful when his features presented to the audience a most diabolical expression! The fellow was acting a rote at the expense of his stomach People don't look daggers when imbibing whiskey, but as a rule "look honey especially, some of the Carmarthen whiskeyed water! That incident reminds me of another clever actor who infused a great deal of realism into his role last Saturday morning as he leaned for support against one of the pillars at tho entrance gate of the market. 'Xliis professional mondicant liold out liis licit and in a heart-rending tone implored the sympathy and coppers of those who passed by; and, as a means of melting those adamantine hearts, who snort at a beggar, he exhibited a pair of foot-less legs. Being of a sympathetic turn this gruesomo sight had the effect of bursting my lachrymal valves and great drops trickled down my cheeks when I thought that the fellows boots were at homo, and his feet—lost. Oh no turned up inside his trousers and there he was standing alternately on his heels. A dolorous expression there was on his face; ultimately, its cause was palpable to me! This class of lazzaront would eke an exis- tence as knockabout items of humanity on the Drury Lane boards; but whell they impose upon public sympathy in this artful manner they deserve twenty-foui hours on the treadmill. Now this sort of hideous sight on a Saturday morning has a depressing effect on the spirits of some of those faint-hearted ladies who visit the j market. So despondent had one of them become on last Saturday morning at the sight of those fellows legs that she was compelled to visit the tea and coffeo stall to resuscitate herself. The boisterous roaring wind of last Sunday night subsided into a faint murmur as the pathetic strains of "Lead Kindly Light came swelling forth in a volume of soft and tender sounds from the lungs of half-a-dozen damsels. The very air was sauctified with the affecting hymn and all was bleak and gloomy. What could have suggested that hymn ? Forty yards ahead the mystery was solved—there was a dapper, zlu prim, Shoni-militiaman blazing away at a stump of a clay pipe. As the six damsels drew near the military man they sang co "Rock of Wages cleft for me, let me be alone with thee a I From the stories which reaches one's ears ever and anon the conduct of some of the owners of property in Carmarthen is ultra- business like. As an instance of a monoy- I grabbing lady," I am told of one who walked from one end of the town to the 1 other in search of a man who was in arrears in payment of the rent of a rickety lowl- house. After walking here and there she I succeeded in finding him and this "lady" demanded the rent. from a man who was on top of a step ladder. The amount was eight copper pennies! ill This again is an instance nothing short of scandalous. Two cottages situate in one of the less fashionable thoroughfares were sold by auction. Now these cottages have had a piece of garden allotted to them for the last SO years. At the auction a man who kuew that tho plots of ground were domes- tically indispensible to the occupants bid determinedly until he went higher than the buyer of the houses who hardly thought it worth paying such a sum as f,38 for the ground. #Ir The outages were put down in one lot- and the pieces of ground as another lot-a most peculiar action indeed, and devoid of much consideration for the tenants. To deprive people (one of the occupants awidow) of pieces of garden which to them are indispensable for the sake of a few pounds- grubbing it with a vengance—is rather a sordid action. Under the guidance of its energetic secretary, Mr A. E. Davies, the Social Club at the Assembly Rooms is gaining popu- larity. At the meeting on Wednesday evening there were more now members proposed than the total on the roll at its old quarters. The new members number nearly 60. TOBIAS TWISTER.