Rhondda Leader Maesteg Garw and Ogmore Telegraph

'oÇ:" The Friend That Failed. -0- The friend to whom this man always turned in moments of doubt was a book. Now that last resource has failed him. Reading print makes his eyes and his head ache. That may be I your case, too. If reading print has i become a trouble, it isn't because I i you've lost your taste for reading- "1 it's because you suffer from weak vision. Call and let us test your sight free of I < charge. If Eyeglasses will remedy the 'i matter, and they generally do, we can j put the matter right for you, at a moderate cost. j -o- f David George,M.R.P.S., CHEMIST & OPTICIAN, 1 Central Drug Stores PENTRE. £ 6384 -=- D. M. WILLIAMS, Accountant and Public Auditor, "ITYX GELLI HOUSE, AND LLOYDS BANK CHAMBERS, TONYPANDY. tradesmen's Accounts written up, Balanced, h or Audited. "eeflg of Arrangement, Mortgages and Transfers of „5> properties negotiated. bankruptcy and Probate of Will Accounts Prepared ksu ranee. House and Estate Agent, Rent Collected. ew Public Hall, Aberdare. FREE THOUGHT! Ir C COHEN, London (Vice-President N.S.S.) will deliver LECTURES On Sunday, March 14th, 1909. 9-jit „ „ Subjects— •io p.m.-Science, Faith and God: A Criticism of '<8 tk Sir Oliver Lodge. o p.m.—The Meaning and Benefits of Unbelief. Discussion earnestly invited. SILVER COLLECTION. 4726 ^strict Council Election, 1909. CANDIDATES SHOULD NOT NEGLECT TO .ANNOUNCE THEIR MEETINGS IN THE COLUMNS OF THE RHONDDA LEADER ELECTORS WILL READ THE JJOOAL NEWSPAPER WHEN THEY WILL NOT TAKE ANY NOTICE OF LITERATURE THROWN IN AT 1IE DOOR. PAST EXPERIENCE lIAS TAUGHT MUNICIPAL ELEC- TION WORKERS THAT THE ^RESS INFLUENCES MORE VOTERS THAN ANY OTHER MEDIUM. FR-EE You are troubled having to peer closely at your ev ^paper then you are suffering from hii skrain. Our knowledge of the ltttan eye will help you to the quick- 0 i, est way of relief. J1 and have your sight tested in oui rivate Room, FREE OF CHARGE. j J NOVTN SKY 1 Watchmaker, J seller & Optician, °5' Ounraven Street, TONYPANDY ^ra'ns stop close to Shop (Opposite Moriah Chs,pel). Chandwr Hotel, YSTRALD-RHONDOA. P.O. TeIepone -iTr. '"S in all Sis Blanches at Moderate Charges. "Ml. AND WEDDING COACHES, &C. () °firietoi G. DAVIES. 4602

The Monthlies, The" C Iymr I I for this month holds its interest, with its wallet of history, poetry, tale and song. The biographies are numerous, containing the' following:: —Ben Bowen, Tafolog, Teuan Twrog, and Paul Barbiei* Of particular interest is the first article on Ben Bowen outlining his early life and attempts at wooing the Muse. There are also many interesting literary articles, the chief of them being

rIlE y c "IRf E lif'ffAS/lh7 TO TII'.e mSTE ()F -'t., CHEn/iTS H¿' :TTO/?ES. POW DERSc!,E? Promptly Arrests Quinsy and Colds

Nodweddion Llenwyddol— £ Drych y Prif Oesoedd.' Cymru'r Plant" is as charming as ever, and has entertaining, material both for voung and old. It contains a photo- graph of the young: Welsh children pf Seattle, Wash., U.S.A. To music-lovensi the Cerddor pro- videis amply in its articles on Y Grythen," I( Ieuan Gwyllt," and Ein Cerddorion." It also has a part-song, Y Teithiwr Blin," by John Price, Beulah. For the use of Sunday School scholars there is the welcome Llusern." The Nodiadau CyfFredinol" discusses the place and office of the Sunday School, and the article deserves the close atten- tion of all workers of this splendid insti- tution. There are also many articles of Sunday School lessons. Yr Ymwelydd Misol" continues its series, of interesting articles on Ein Sefydliadau Addysgor"—this time the subject is the College of South Wales, containing a picture of the new college, together with a photo of its principal. The pieces of poetry are from Dyfed, R. H. Jones, and Einion.

Dan Gysgod Ben Bowen." Ii Dyma weryd Mae hiraeth Yn oedi'n synn dan y saeth; A rhoes Euros i orwedd Yn dawel, fud. Wele'i fedd, A ciholofn wych, lefn a. hardd Noda oerfan y dewr fardd. Ie, dewr, a diwyro Ebn ei farn a fu o; Ysgydwa'i oes gyda'i waith, A'i feddyliau fydd eilwaith. 0 hyd yn frwd yn y fron, A'i fyw loewaf alawon A saif yr oes i fawrhau Ei Ion delyn a'i diliaui; Deil y genedl i gwyno Yn chwerw iawn uwch ei ro; A thra fo'r iaith a'r fro hen Ni thawa, iaith ei aw en, Na, deil hon i hudol hau Hwyl arhotsol i'r oesau." Milwyn, Pentre, yn Cymru" am Fawrth. Books to be reviewed;, and accounts of Welsh societies and movements, should be addressed The Welsh Correspon- dent, c/o Rhondda Leader/ Tonypandy."

f Co make good Corn j 1 pour 7}oil if well— I | to minutes by the clock- Do not use too much Corn Flour- S Use pure milk without ater and Brown & Poison's "patent Corn Flour This makes all the difference in a Corn Flour blancmange or baked pudding. Follow closely the standard recipe on every packet, and boil well.

— Labour Topics. [From Our Labour Correspondent.] It was with some amount of pain that I read the account of the libel action of our countryman, Mr. Lloyd George, M.P. A more dastardly and malicious attempt to blast the character of a rising statesman it has not been my lot to read. However much we mav differ in general politics, the sympathy of Labour men goes out towards the Chancellor. It is because the leaders of the Labour Party have been subjected to similar malicious and lying statements, and because it is known even at the present moment that those who are identified with the Labour and Socialist movement are being sub- jected to gross misrepresentation, tha,t I make this comment. Capitalism and Landlordism fear nothing more than the awakening of Democracy. If it cannot be checked by fair means, then it must be by foul. The recent election at Taunton was an instance where the Labour candidate, Frank Smith, was a victim of the Yellow Press. I am some- times inclined to believe that public life is a dirty business.. and have often won- dered why our best and noble-minded men enter its arena. It is only when we can substitute service instead of honour and self-interest as the motive, that we can ever hope to raise our public life to that high standard which is so much desired in these days. It appears that the forthcoming Dis- trict Council elections will have not such an array of Labour candidates this year as last. Only three at present are in the field, namely, at Porth, Tonypandy, and Ton, the last-mentioned being the retiring Labour Councillor. The result of the conferences between the branches of the Ton and Ystrad-Rhondda I.L.P. is that no candidate will be brought out this time, although a strong feeling existed in favour of contesting the seat. It was thought that the time was rather short to rally the forces and make a really effective fight. Therefore, in all pro- bability, no contests will take pla,ce in Wards 3 and 4. The Conservative Party have decided to oppose Mabon at the next election. It is for Labour now to buckle up its armour' for the fray. Mr. R,. Bell, M.P., has signified his intention of opposing thEt, Taff Vale-Bute- Rhymney Amalgamation Bill. 'h It is significant that 18 per cent. of the children of the upper classes die before they reach five years of asre, whilst 55 per cent, of the children of the working classes die before reaching that age. The Labour1 Party in the House were fortunate in the ballot last week, J. O'Grady and T. F. Richards coming first and second. O'Grady will submit a reso- lution dealing with Land Values on Wed- nesday, March 24th. An interesting debate is expected.

How light I theandStry I Sy^ll the cakes, 8 f 1 When cook J m with 1 N ptlfiifS BORWICK* POWDER t bakes I Jj

Letters to the Editor. j I Lcttcr$ Qn any subject of public interest are, cordially invited. The Insertion df a letter does not necessarily mean that the Editor agrees with the views ex- pressed therein. Correspondents should write on one side of the paper only, and no letter will be published unless the ivriter sends his name and address, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

—— Sacred Concerts. To the Editor of the "Rhondda Leader." Sir,—I noticed a sacred concert adver- tised at the Tivoli, Pentre, a few weeks ago. I, with my family, went to the Tivoli on the Sunday night, and after waiting outside about five minutes^ I was told the sacred concerts had been stopped until further notice. Now, what I should like to know is, Who stopped these concerts and by whose authority, seeing other sacred concerts advertised in the Valley? I must say there is something very peculiar which I cannot understand. Why was the Tivoli, Pentre, stopped and other places in the Valley allowed to continue? No doubt some of your readers will be able to enlighten me on the subject.—I am, yours, ONE WHO LIKES TO SEE FAIRPLAY. --+-- To the Editor of the "Rhondda Leader." Sir,—In view of the fortncoming Rural District Council Election, I would like to ask the following questions to one of the candidates, viz. Dr. Tribe, Treorchy, as a member of the Rural District Council Health Committee for last year. 1. Is it true that the Scavenging Con- tractors for your Ward were tipping the scavenging refuse into the Rhondda river within 200 yards of your residence, al- though the said contractors were paid for Rhondda depots, and that it meant a saving of about zC200 to the said contrac- tors by tipping it to the riveri to the detriment of the health of the population and a loss to the ratepayers. 2. Is it true that two of the scavenging contractors for your Ward were stopped payments for the month of December ? Were these two sections not scavenged, or what was the reason? 3. Is it true that there were tendeis cheaper for this year, for two sections of your Ward, and yet the cheaper tiid Vut have it to the detriment of ratepayers. Awaiting your reply, A RATEPAYER.

The Doctor's Ouestion. To the Editor of the "Rhondda Leader." Sir,—Will you kindly allow me a little space in your valuable paper to point out to An Old Workman that his state- ments in last week's issue re the above question are rather' misleading to the public at large. He states that the huge sum of about £ 6,000 is paid every year to the Medical Fund. How he gets to this huge amount I fail to see; and further, if he is an old workman at the Glamorgan Collieries, he is minus the knowledge of the average number em- ployed at these collieries, also the average earnings of his fellow-men. I will strike a, wide average employed to be 4,500. Out of the earnings of this number I assume that we pay zC5,850 to the Medical Fund. Well, to obtain that amount, every man and boy employed at the colliery must earn £ 2 per week for a year. If Old Workman will just look back and think for himself of so many complaints brought to the Workmen's Committee, he will at once agree with me that £ 2 per week is very wide off the mark indeed. It would be well if Old Workman" and a few more of the same opinion were to take the expenditure side into consideration, which, I think, may be easily obtained. Now, as to the next point, re the general meetings of workmen: If he is in the minority side—which I have every reason to believe-why not advocate the ballot at the general meeting, of which there was no mention made; and by so doing, the" manhood" which he refers to would be put in action at the proper place? As to the medical staff governed, and all drugs, &c., should be purchased by a committee of workmen, I,, take it, although not referred to in his epistle, we have ample proof of this method at Ebbw Vale for the past years.—I am, ANOTHER OLD WORKMAN.

J. MOUNTMEY (late J Cordiner), 42, Royal U. Arcade, CARDIFF, Bird and Animal Preserver, To the Most Hon. The Marquis of Bute and the Cardiff Museum. Skins and Furs Dressed Rugs lined and made up. Glass shades or Clocks and Ornamen s of all sizel.

Workmen's Compensation Act. Award on Assumption. At Ystrad County Court on Tuesday, 9th inst., Robert Knight, Ystrad, for whom Mr. St. John Francis Williams (instructed by Mr. Richard Hill-Male) appeared, said that whilst engaged as an engineman by Richard Jones, contractor, Abertridwr, at Pwlljgwaun, Pontypridd, a spark from the fire of the engine got into his eye. For the respondent, for whom Mr. A. Parsons (instructed by Mr. Evan Da vies) appeared, it was denied that an accident had occurred. Dr. Howard Davies, the medical officer, however, stated that when he examined applicant's eye upon his admission to the Pontypridd Infirmary, the symptoms were consistent with the applicant's evidence. His Honour, in making an award of 14s. 6d. per week for sixi weeks and 6s. per week afterwards, remarked he did so because it had been held that it was com- petent for him to assume that the acci- dent did happen if it was of such a char- acter—as in this cas-e-as, to be likely to arise in the course of the applicant's employment,.

Not an Ordinary SALE BUTJjTO INDUCE BUYERS. -+- Genuine REDUCTIONS On New Spring and Summer Goods. 30 LOUNGE SUITS, 25 27/6 OVERCOATS, 21- 53- LADICEL COSTUMES, 50- MW,"All G .nnent-s Cut mid made in our own Wrrkshrp, Matthews & Go,. Gents.'Tailors, Breeches Makers & Ladies' rs, 94, Queen Street, CARDIFF (Opposite Park Hotel). BREECHES 21 BREECHES. I Originators and only makers in South Wales.

WISE AND OTHERWISE, He is a splendid talker, isn't he ? One of the finest I have escaped from! Jones: "Is that good cheese?" Shopkeeper: Good? Why, it's unapproachable "I suppose you find that a baby brightens up the house?" "Yes; we burn twice the gas we used to." He: Does your father know I love you?" She: No. Papa isn't very well, and we've kept it from him." Slow Nice girl, Mary Brown, eh? Yes; but she hasn't much sense. She had a chance to marry me and refused." Keeper: "Hi, boy! You can't catch fish here without a permit." Boy: Well, I'm getting on well enough with a worm! Beastly mean of you to refuse to lend me £10. One colleague should always help an- other." "Yes; but you always want to be the other." Waiter, get me a newspaper so I can hide my yawns; this concert is so stupid." "Yes, oniss; I'll bring the largest I can find." Invalid: "Ah, doctor, I shall never get relief .ill I'm in my grave." Doctor (cheerily): All right, don't worry. I am doing what I can for you." Magistrate: If you were there for no dis- honest purpose, why were you in your stock- inged feet?" Burglar: "I heard there was sickness in the family, your Worship." The Right Eye: "I hear that the Upper Lip and the Lower Lip parted to-day." The Left Eye: "Yes; it was owing to some words that passed between them." What did Barker do when he discovered that his wife and chauffeur had planned to elope in his car?" "He oiled it thoroughly and put it in first-class shape." You say you take motor-car rides for the sake of exercise? "Certainly." But where does the exercise come in?" "Getting out to see what is the matter! Mugg: "Yes; they thought I was poisoned, and the doctor came with his stomach-pump." Wump: "Did he get anything out of you?" Mugg: Yes; ten shillings" Mr. Baggie: "Confound that tailor! These trousers are a mile too long." Mrs. Baggie: "How much shall I turn them up?" Mr. Bag- gie: "About half an inch." Ella: "I'm to be married to-morrow, and I'm terribly nervous." Stella Yes, I suppose there Is always the chance of the man getting away up to the last minute." This is a pretty big piece of cake for a boy of your size," said papa at tea to Jimmy. It looks big," said Jimmy, but really it isn't. It's got lots of porouses in it." Drink, and nothing but drink, is the cause of all your misfortunes, Michael!" "Thanks, your reverence! You're the only one who doesn't say it's all my fault! Gerald: You accepted me last night, and now you say you refuse me." May: "Well, I'll tell you what-you propose again and we'll make it best two out of three." Local Politician: "Of course, trade's bad. What we want is more real live men to wake things up a bit." Monumental Mason: "What I want is more real dead 'uns." Jinks: "Mr. Manton says he never spoke a harsh word to his wife." "Yes," remarked a lady, but was that due to kindness or caution? That's what I should like to know." She: "When a woman wants a husband, you don't suppose she goes and looks in a club for one, do you?" He: "Well, if she's a married woman the chances are that she does." The Artist: "So you can't use my sketches, then? Would you mind telling me what you think of them?" The Editor: "I canit now; there are some ladies in the next room." Oh," she said; as he led her to a seat, "I could die waltzing." "Well," he replied, "to tell you the truth I was afraid, owing to the way you breathed, that you were going to." I wonder," said the Sweet Young Thing, why a man is always so frightened when he proposes? That," said the Chronic Bachelor, is his guardian angel trying to hold him back." Gyer: Yes, he is what you might term a financial pessimist." Myof: What's a financial pessimist?" Gyer: "A man who is afraid to look pleasant for fear his friends will want to borrow from him." What's he going to be when he grows up? He wants to be an undertaker, and I'm in- clined to favour him, so I've told the professor to pay special intention to the dead languages," said the proud mother. Farmer's Wife (to motorist whose machine has struck a fence and thrown him forty feet into the yard): Did you have an accident? Motor- ist (picking himself up): "Bless you no; that's the way I always stop." Lola: "Last night young Borem declared he would willingly go to the end of the earth for me." Grace: "And what did you say?" Lola: "I finally got him to make a start for home, and let it go at that! Wiggles: "I hear Blenks has been very ill; is he out of danger yet? Waggles: Well, he's convalescent, but he won't be out of danger un- til that pretty nurse who has been taking care of him has gone away." Pearl: "They thought at first they would be married in Holland." Ruby: "And what changed their minds?" Pearl: Why, they heard that old shoes in Holland weighed from two to, six pounds each." "Why did you get drunk?" asked the magi- strate. Oh, only for a lark!" replied the prisoner airily. "Indeed!" replied the magi- strate. We have cages for larks. You can have the use of one for fourteen days! Villager: "It's very disheartening, lady—the more I do my work the more it gets trodden upon! Mrs. Squire How is that? Villager: Well, I'm a cobbler, you see, and people always put their foot down on my work I saw a big dog on my way to school this morning," said little Lola, and it made me awfully nervous." What do you mean by ner- vous?" asked her mother. "Why," explained Lola, it's just being in a hurry all over." And why were you discharged from your former place?" "For being too industrious- and that's the truth." That's very strange. What did you do?" "I went down into the cellar one day and dusted the old wine bottles! I had a fight yesterday with the boy next door," a lad confessed to his father. "Yes, I know; his father is coming to see me about it at my office." n Well, father, I hope you will get the best of it, the same as I did yesterday Finnigan and Moriarty got into an argu- ment the other night," remarked O'Flaherty. Indeed said Murphy, and what did they arrive at?" "Oh, well, shure Finnigan arrived at the hospital and Moriarty at the police- station." Ruby, who was dining with her elders, waa given her choice of dessert. Which will you have, Ruby, ice-cream or", jam ? her indulgent father asked. After a moment's hesitation she said: "Give me a. little of each and a lot of both." What a grasping fellow you are, Hawkins I You've bothered me about this bill fifty times in ten days." "You wrong me, Jarley. I'm not grasping. I've bothered you about the bill, I admit, but I haven't been able to grasp any- thing yet." But," said the lawyer, your case seems hopeless. I don't see what I can do for you. You admit that you beat your wife." "Yes," replied the defendant. But my wife's testimony will discount that. She'd never admit that she was beaten." "Yes," said the man who had been travelling in the Far West, "I saw three trains held up in one night." "You don't Hl'i' exclaimed the innocent bystander. "Was anyone hurt?" No," said the traveller. "They were held up by women in a ballroom." "Have you ever taken any interest in the pre- Raphaelites? asked Mrs. Q:deasik>. ell, no," replied her hostess. "I can't say that I cl, ) i e-r have. Josiah was reading in the paper the other day that one fell in Texas not long ago that weighed over a ton." Customs Officer (to Ic.dv traveller l^rom the Continent): "I thought you 1 D iai-, there was nothing but wearing i in your trunk. What about these three 1 ot of cognac? Oh„ those," said th ri.v night- caps!" "Have you a match?" asked the chronic bore who had dropped into the busy man's office for a chat. My cigar has gone out." It seems to have the advantage of you," remarked the busy man. "How's that?" queried the chronic bore. "It knows what it ought to do," replied the busy man.

I The Ogmore Valley tforseShow Society will hold their SECOND ANNUAL HORSE SHOW On Whit Monday, May 31st, 1909, I 40 Classes for Hacks, Cobs, Ponies, Cart and Colliery Horses, Trotting Handicaps, Jumping, Timbering, Shoeing, and Ambu- lance Competitions. Increased Prize Money. 8 Challenge Cups. Schedules ready April 1st, 1909. TENDERS are invited for a BAND, also for the SUPPLY of REFRESHMENTS (non- intoxicating). Same must be with the Secre- tary, Mr. E. A. i HALE, Horse Show Office, Nantymoel, not later than March 25tli, 1909. 4691 NEW GRAND HALL, ABERAVON. THE THIRD ANNUAL CHAIR EISTEDDFOD in collection with the Port Talbot Wesley Church will be held at the above Hall On Whit-Saturday, May 29th, 1909. MALE VOICE, "THE REVEILLE" than 60 voices) and a Costly Shield to be won 3 titnes out of 5 before becoming the absolute property of the winners. MIXED CHOIR, "AS THE HART PANTS" (Mendels- sohn) (not less than 50 voices) £12, and a Massive Carved Oak Chair to the Conductor. JUVENILE CHOIR, Hail Merry Playtime, Hail," £ 5 (not over 16 years of age and not less than 30 voices) and Gold Medal to the Conductor. SOLOS, £ 1 Is. each. Reeitations & other Competitions. Adjudicators— Mr. J. T. REES, Mus. Bac., Aberystwyth. Mr. W. J. EVANS, Aberdare. I For further particulars see Programmes (which wiil shortly be ready,) price 2d. each. Secretaries- Fred. J. Peters, Vale Home, Taibach, Port Talbot. J. H. Tapp, 3, Bridge Terrace, Port Talbot. 1732 A 732 LLANHARAN. THE SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL EISTEDDFOD Whit-Tuesday, June 1st, 1909. CHIEF ITEMS: Male Voice, minimum 50, The Destruction of Gaza." (L. D. Rille), £ 15; and Gold Medal to winner of First Prize. Second Prize 45. Mixed Choirs, minimum 40; c- Yr Haf" (G. Gwent) £ 10 and Gold Medal. Juvenile Choir (own selection), Z5. Action Song (own selection), k2. Solos, el Is, each. Handsome Prizes for Recitations. Programmes 1. each, post free, from the Secretary, J. THOMAS, Argoed Edwin, Llanharan. 471S Eisteddfod Week at Abergavenny THE IDEAL EISTEDDFOD Easter Monday, April 12th, Nine Carefully Graded Choral Competitions. ORCHESTRAL <& BAND CONTESTS Vocal, Instrumental and Triple Harp Solo Competitions. Music Composition and Numerous Literature and Art Tests. CHAIRING OF THE BARD Band of Welsh Triple Harpists. £ 300 in Prizes MOST EXPERT ADJ U DICATOR8, FAIR CONDITIONS' Splendid FETE Attractions. Grand Displays of Fireworks (welsh Devices). CYMREIGYDDION Y FENNI. INAUGURAL CONGRESS, EASTER WEDNESDAY. THURSDAY AND FRIDAY, Including Pilgrimages to Carnhuanawc's Tomb and Llanover Hall. Lectures and Discussions on subjects of National importance by many Celebrated Bards. WELSH CONCERTS, BIND OF TRIPLE HARPISTS, BANQUETS, etc. For further particulars apply to the Secretary—Mr R. H. JACKSON Abergavenny. 4720 "DRIPO" For Cake and Pastry Making. FRYING AND COOKING PURPOSES. SIXPENCE PER POUND.^ In One Pound:Packets. ST ASK YOUR GROCER. Wholesale of the Welsh Bacon Curing Co., LLANDAFF. 4718. Your Eyes are Bread-Winners I NO matter what your occupation -L' may be, everything depends on your sight. Without good, keen sight, you cannot hope to hold your own in these days of keen Competition. It is an age of the survival of the fittest; the weakest. (those with weak sight) go under. Are your eyes right? Can you work for hours without fatigue or discomfort? Can you see as well as you ought ? If not, have them put right. Call and be fitted with a pair of specially adapted glasses which give strength and vigour to even the weakest eyes. -0- Note Only Aùdres- EMRYS RICHARDS Chemist & Optician, The Dunraven Pharmacy, TONY PANDY (lower end). The Chemist nearest the Trealaw Bridge. 3111