Penarth Chronicle and District Advertiser

G orrespondence. To the Editor of the Penarth Chronicle. Dear Sir, I shall be extremely obliged if you will extend to me the courtesy of your columns I am animated by no desire to air any personal grievance, but beg to assure you that I am one of these rare and precious jewels—the disinterested persons who write <( jpro bono publico. If there were the smallest pros- pect of exciting the animosity of others by this communicationJI would refrain from penning it. I immediately apologise 'o Messrs. Campbell, and Edwards, Robertson & Co., for offering the following suggestion, addressing myself particularly to visitors to Penarth. Briefly, my suggestion is that by way of breaking the monotony of boat trips to Weston and Ilfracombe a visit should now and then be paid to Penartft Pest Office. This sounds prosaic, prima facie, but I hasten to assure the sceptic that it is absolutely not so One's intention upon entering the Office is to transact a little business with the State; but one finds that his intentitm is anticipated by a whole colony of "young men anCmaidenS) old men and children," who have arrived there before him. (I frankly admit that my experience has been limited to Evening Trips without any special reduction in fares,) Permit me to jot down in a compendious form a few of the advantages accruing from the proposed arrange- ment, (merely saying that the State pays me no commission for the promotion of her interests-)— 1; A healthy and invigorating breeze direct from the Bristol Channel, There is no. finer air in South Wales than is to be obtained on the door- step of these commodious little premises. If any body has a grievance-Post Office or otherwise— to air, he can get a sufficient quantity of atmos- phere to air not only his grievance but his whole man. It is given away on the bath-to wel- with-a-quar-ter-of-a-pound-of-tea principle, to every purchaser. 2. Cultivation of the beautiful virtues of patience, self-ccntrol, resignation. S' Fine appeal to the emotions, at the sound of the small voice which comes from the unfortunate in- fant who is unable to reach the top of the counter, and announces in a weak and trembling voice after painful intervals, that he desires to put a shilling out to interest, at the cur-rerlt rate. 4' Excellent study in physiology. a. The facial contortions of the worthy coal- trimmer who is not sure whether to hold his pen like a clasp-knife or a coal-shovel, and tries to squeeze his signature into some strange corner of a form, instead of the space provided by the thoughtful government. 0 b. The irritated expression of the man who paces up and down and foams like a horse "champing the bit" (in this case a threepenny-bit, or some other coin which he ktaws discontentedly.) G. d. e ad inf. 5. Vocal and instrumental music provided by the errand-boy who is used to wailing about, and who hums melodies through his nostrils. His vocal music is principally instrumental in calling on his head the curses of the man specified in Sec-1 tion 4, subsection b, who has not practised the vir- tues mentioned in Section 2. 6. A supply of light, healthy literature in the sh ape of telegram forms, tables of charges on let- ters to Singapore Tea. In view of these and numerous other inestimable advantages, Mr. Editor, I will not suggest that the Post Office at Penarth is either understaffed or keep 3 its staff under a bushel. I would not for a moment observe that when ones one has fought his way to the counter and stood a sufficiently long time with a lamb- and-mint-sauce-like expression on his face, he is not promptly attended to. I should not dream of assert- ing thit the brow-knitting and pencil-nibbling and the zealous way the fair attendants stamp everything they can gat hold of, with a uasty black stamp, is not worthy of a better cause. Far be it from me on the other hand to suggest to the "long-suffering" public that instead of sending a score of times in the week for one penny stamp and one halfpenny stamp at a time, they sheffifld make a desperate effort now and then, and lay out a whole shilling- at once. Neither would I point out that it would facilitate matters if people would mentally compose their tele- grams in the street instead of making draft compositions in the Post Office itself, or sounding the poor maidens behind the counter for suggestions and wrestling with the odd halfpenny, because their telegram will come lo 13 instead of 12 words. Neither that when others are waiting to transact business, it is inadvisable to expound Linsan8 theories on the weather and kindred topics. None of these things will, I deliberately suggest; but I venture to commend my arrangement for half-holiday and evening trips to the Post Office, Penarth, to all residents and visitors. Apologising for trespassing so largely on your valu- able space, I beg to remain, Mr. Editor, Yours faithfully, X. Y. Z. Penarth, 2nd. July, 1895. GAMBLING. To the Editor of the Penarth Ghronicle. Dear Sir,—Seeing that some of our men in high places are become leaders in this practice which is bringing damnation to the bodies and souls of so many of our young men and women, perhaps you will find a corner in your paper for these cuttings.— 0 June 7th, 1895. Dear Sir,—In the aim of your work (for which I bag to thank you)you have the poor advantage of my hearty sympathy, and it will be more acceptable to me m proportion as I find it thorough-going in the exposure of the false, destructive, and shall I say? impious principle on which the vice of gambling is radically founded. Remaining, dear sin Yours faithfully, W. E. GLADSTONE. "South Wales Daily News," July 2nd, 1895. Commissioner Kerr has a blunt way of putting things sometimes which is very refreshing. He had before him a case in which a plaintiff wanted to enforce payment of a debt of £ 14 The defendent was a turf commission agent; and the debt bad been incurred for stationery. During the course of the trial the Commissioner said, If you ask me my opinion of the morality of a turf agent's business I will give it you. I have the very worst opinion of them I think they live by swindling 1 would not trust a turf commis- sion man even with a bad half-penny; It would be a blessing if there were some means of suppressing turf people altogether.' inew Age," June 13th, 1895. A few weeks ago we referred to Victor Wild, a horse which won the Jubilee handicap. He turned up again (in the police court, of course) last week. A man was charged with embezzling the money of his employers- lie had been backing horses, and should have drawn £45 over Victor Wild, but the book- maker had absconded." New Age," June 13th, 1895. I thiuk, Mr Edi'or, these extracts need no com- Irent of mine, but your circulation may help to turn some feet from the path of social and moral as well as possiblj physical suicide. Yours faithfully. EDWARD SEAGRAVE. Penarth, July 4th, 1895. SEATS AND SHELTERS. To the Editor of the Penarth Chronicle. Dear Sir,—I note your comment on the above sub- ject in last week's issue, inviting my remarks on it. I Somewhere near the time of the advent of our Council I asked for, and obtained the promise of some well known local gentlemen (both in and outside the Council) to form a Committee for taking up the matter, and we should probably have formed such a Committee, but the Council took initiatory steps to adopt certain Acts which would enable them to share half the costs of these improvements, but unfortunately the Council were born without teeth, and their dentists liva in London, and as the birth rate of this race of people was very heavy recently, and nearly all needed the professional assistance of these same dentists, they have to wait much longer for their turn than the girl whogoes to shop for a pound of candles, hence the matter has not t- 3n digested. In perhaps plainer language, I may say that the Council have written the Local Gov- ernment Board for instructions as to procedure, and replies received not being satisfactory, they await further replies- I certainly venture the opinion that the Local Government Board don't "work" eight hours a day, or they would attend even to their large number of corrrespondents mora quickly than they do. It is said everything comes to him w10 waits, so I suppose we must wait, but let us hope it won't be long Seats are wanted, the Council, I believe, are willing to do all they can towards supplying them when they get the power. They are wanted in many of the streets as well as the promenade, for are not many of the roads promenades, too ? But in addition to seats we want shelters, and these, of course, are wanted on the Beach. First, there is a nice' little corner by Balcony Villa, I should think it quite an improvement to move the lumber from there, leave the two large trees standing, take away the front rails, utilise the walls to place an ornamental, but not costly roof round, and some seats. Next, there is ground on either side of the ladies' cloak room. These belong to Lord Windsor, but I daresay his usual generosity and desire for the town's welfare would prompt him ,to give the necessary patches. Then again, it would be quite possible, at no great cost, to form shelters by removing the rails and cutting away the brushwood, &c., by the urinal, near the Gardens bridge, though not so desirable a site as' the others. Shelters are wanted badly. It is piteous to see, on a stormy day, excursionists and otherp,who seek their recreation ia so desirable a place as the Penarth, beach caught in the rain, with no available shelter. There may be some Penarth folk wbo.e magnet never finds the true British steel of chivalry, but has a strange power of discovering only gold and silver. They say what good are excursionists to Penarth? To such I would say Penarth is the seaside resort of the district, and its privileges for resort as visitor B is thdrs- If we think ourselves superior to them, let us show our superiority by chivalry and kindness, rather than by austere indifference- But to come nearer to our own hearts and homes, how many a careful mother dare not allow her children to seek the ozone of the beach during' that most refreshing of all weather when sunshine and shower play hide and seek, and occasionally catcb a glimse'of each other, because there is no shelter for them to seek while the shower has its innings; and some of us bigger children who go either in single file or in pairs, may possibly eather some of the crumbs that fall from the little children's table of pri vilege, Let us hops^these ideal pie is a res will soon be an accomplished fact. Yours faithfully, EDWARD SEAGRAVE Penarth, July 4th, 1895.