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--Correspondence..

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Correspondence. Proposed' Hall at Tylorstown, To the E'ditor of the Ithondda Leader. Sir ,-On this subject a remarkable letter appeared in last week's issue over the norn-de-nlume Deacon." A produc- tion more puerile could not emanate from anyone blessed with the gift of fair read- ing and understanding. It ignores the point of Sympathiser's letter and drags in matters quite irrelevant to the discussion. It opens with a false state- ment. Sympathiser is charged with attempting to justify the existence of a syndicate formed to erect a Yariety Theatre in Tylorstown. But in that letter not a word appears which can bear the least justification for such a charge. Not a word is mentioned about theatres or varieties. The letter clearly and simply emphasises the need of a hall wherein oratorios, operettas, &c., may be per- formed. How, then, can Deacon justify his action in making this unfair charge against an opponent. He would do well to ponder over the matter for a few days, ere he rushes into print. Why does "Deacon" introduce the terms Variety Theatre" and "Workmen's Hall"?' The previous letter gives him no ground for doing so. The plans which "have been prepared bear the title of "Public Hall," and not "Workmen's Hall," nor •' Variety Theatre." The writer is evidently very inexperienced, for his outburst seems the natural result of someone pulling his leg (to use an Americanism). A nasty, waspish spirit runs through the letter and appears in its hideousness at its close. The last para- graph of Deacon's letter contains this question: What guarantees have we that the hall would be available for meet- ings connected with religious institu- tions? His guarantee is this, in a few words: He will deal with men as upright and honourable as lie, deacon though he be. The insult implied in the question lies in the insinuation that those con- nected with the hall would play fast and loose with contracts which they under- take. I venture to assert that, as far as Tvlorstown is concerned, honour and fair- play is not too plentiful in the churches. Christianity should have taught "Deacon" to be silent on the motives of his fellow- beings. These may be as high in the moral scale as his qualities. Then we come to a question which u Deacon" regards as a poser. Watch this, gentle reader! Would the hall be built if it were certain to prove a dead loss? What a query! No one outside an asylum for weak minds would frame such a question. Besides, Sympathiser admitted that the promoters looked for gain in the matter. They expect to be recompensed for the outlay and risk of their capital, just as deacons who build houses and raise a jolly fat rent on them. In the words of Deacon's letter, the object in each case is one of dividends, and those as high as possible. Even ministers of the Gospel like a little plum like this now and then. How many deacons who, owining houses, and being tradesmen, compel their tenants to buy at their e-stablisliiiieiitsp I leave "Deacon" to decide on the morality of those actions. Up to the present, I have not heard a single preacher raise his voice on this matter. Throughout his letter "Deacon" im- putes to his opponent's letter truths that certainly do not appear therein, If he Ibe possessed with a grain of honour, he will confess his error and admit that Sympathiser" has not coupled the ten- dencies of the workmen with the attrac- tions of a Variety Theatre. That asso- ciation of ideas exists only in Deacon's letter. He, and he alone, thereby offers an affront to the workmen. Let him, 'therefore, at once publicly tender hits apologies to the men. Writing on this phase of the question, he refers to an institution in the place already. Does lie justify all that takes place there in the year? If, as I shrewdly guess he has, Deacon has influence there, it is cer- tain that he will find work to set things better. The reading room is, I am told, monopolised by a few who continually dis- turb readers by their boisterous discus- sions and jokes; and make bold attempts to smother others with the fumes of shag tobacco. These things do not attract men to the Institute. I venture to advise "Deacon" and others of his kidney to stop the habit of shouting periodically to their fellow-men, Don't do this or Don't do that," and having done so, retire self-pleased into the diaconal shell. Be always on the alert to utilise any innocent form of amusement which may arise, and do not permit the powers of darkness to adopt them to their own vile eiids.-Yotir, &c., A. N. OTHER. To the Editor of the Ithondda Leader. Sir,—My attention has been drawn at "omewhat a belated hour to an article in your paper i-P the above Hall, signed conveniently by the unknown name of Sympathiser. While claiming to emphasise the need of a hall, the writer has pleased himself rather to turn his attention to me, and to certain remarks I have made on the project. T infer that his object is to convey the impression that he has detected some inconsistency in my utterances. He quotes me as having said on some occasion, There oualit to be a hall in Tylorstown." That particular statement- he heard aright, but concerning my remarks on the proposed new hall he has been misinformed. In my references to the matter, I said it was proposed to build a variety hall and a skating rink at Tylorstown a statement based on conclusive infor- mation which I am not bound to reveal. Sympathiser will be able to per- ceive that a private variety hall is not quite synonymous with a Public Hall such as was voted upon some time ago, and which I have repeatedly referred to as desirable in a place like Tylorstown. When was this new hall voted upon, and by whom? But my remarks—which have so dis- turbed Sympathiser "were confined to the skating rink; and I will refer him at random to anyone who on the occasion listened to me so as to verify my state- ment. I see no reference to the rink in his letter, nor to a hall in the particular sense which I quoted. Why this? Is the hall needed to cover the rink? and are the profits of the rink the promised com- pensation for sympathising with the hall? So far. both my quoted references to a hall in Tylorstown stand, and rather than be convicted of inconsistency, Sympa- thiser," unfortunately, is convicted of being unfair to me by rushing into print without ascertaining the facts involved. I wonder is it compatible with Sym- pathiser's vocation and position to ex- press his theories of good citizenship in the negative fashion now proposed! The moral welfare of this town has decidedly a higher claim on commercial and educa- tional success than will be represented by this new establishment; and notwith- standing the pious wish at the end of his letter, I claim the right, and shall always exercise it, of criticising any and all designs that endanger the moral tone of the neighbourhood. It may console Sympathiser to know that I shall be at closer quarters when next I shall face the rink. Sympathiser claims this wonderful establishment as a counter-attraction to the public-houses. Why make any such claim? Is he convinced that an apology is needed for the movement? I am in- clined to think that his conscience is not lianov in his sympathies, and there are others. But the counter-attraction film is rather thin, especially when he admits that the_ locale of the hall constitutes it as a veritable public-house annex. It is a matter for curiosity whether the counter-attraction idea has v the sanction of the promoters individually. If so, it is highly amusing; and I am reminded of a certain old-fashioned verse. With all due respect to the wonderful business acumen that inspires this move- ment, it comes somewhat late to found a fortune on rinking dividend in Tylors- town. Let some of the lesser shareholders con- sider it. The Valley halls are already issuing a revision of times and prices, which to some keen minds suggests the firse note of an adagio movement, and this Tylorstown revival may be found eventually to be about half a day after the fair. v I thank Sympathiser for his gracious assurance that a suggestion from me regarding the site might be considered by the promoters. Well, I am certain the workmen would not object if one of the open-air pavilions which they have used for such a long time were roofed; these places- are decidedly removed from the public-houses, but they might be nearer another public-house than the one now considered, which, of course, would be somewhat unsuitable. But such a hall would certainly save the labour and the exoense and the worry of prospecting for a foundation in an old rubbish heat). I am sure "Sympathiser" will be fair enough to sign any other letter by his proper name, otherwise I shall make 110 further reply. Thanking you, sir, in anti- cipation.—I am, &c., ROWLAND HUGHES. Tylorstown. To the Editor of the Ithondda Leader. Sir,—I was greatly interested in a letter which appeared in your last week's issue under the above heading, and which was subscribed "Deacon"; but I did not observe from the context that it was meant to be a reply to my previous letter until I saw some allusions to Sympa- thiser." Deacon has evidently not taken the elementary and preliminary precaution of acquainting himself with the contents of my letter before replying to it, but has immediately launched forth in a tirade against variety theatres and the desire for personal gain. Your correspondent has raised several points of interest, and has propounded several questions; I shall not deal with these seriatim, but shall endeavour to traverse the ground under the headings: Variety Theatre" and "Personal Gain." VARIETY THEATRE. "Deacon" (1) assumes that the pro- posed hall will be used entirely for fur- nishing variety entertainments, and (2) says that I state that a Variety Theatre will supply a long-felt want of the miners. (1) I must bow to Deacon's superior knowledge on the subject, and would ask him to give proofs that the making of a Variety Theatre is contemplated. (2) A reference to my letter will show that I advocated a hall for holding work- men's meetings. Your correspondent is evidently in close touch with the opinion of the miners, and I would infer from his letter that lie worked considerably during the recent ballot, as he has defined exactly .in his letter what he considers the majority of the workmen really -desired—more of an institution than a hall. My experience has been exactly the opposite of that of Deacon." I mixed freely and worked hard amongst the workmen in order to receive as many expressions of opinion as possible, and found that the majority desired more of a hall than an institu- tion and I do not think that I moved amongst the least intelligent of the work- men, nor did I hear anyone express the opinion that the providing of a hall was equivalent to putting a low estimate on what one considered to be the profitable use of his leisure time. I believe I am as much interested in the welfare of Tylorstown as Deacon," and even assuming that the proposed hall were run on the lines of a Variety Theatre, in my opinion, it would not be a retrograde step; there is a time for healthy amusement and a time for intel- lectual improvement, and the average individual will find one as necessary as the other. I cannot see that the enter- ing of a place of amusement in Tylots- town would be a greater offence than entering a similar place in, sav, Cardiff or London, as so many of our Tylorstown chapel-goers do, unless the latter think that the Lord would not discern them so readily in the midst of a" city crowd as He would in a narrow Welsh valley. PERSONAL GAIN. Several unnecessary conundrums bear- ing upon thig point have been offered for our consideration by Deacon," but he makes the mistake of postulating my denial of the fact that the hall would be run for personal gain. Although I did not make a direct statement -to the effect, it could easily be deduced from my state- ment that most halls are run for personal gain. At the same time, it is difficult to point to any organisation, either religious or secular, which does not result in per- sonal gain to some individual; but such organisations are not to be deprecated on that account. It would be quite as reasonable, I think, to condemn the whole work done by, let us say, the Salvation Army because some personal gain has accrued to those in command. In reply to Deacon's" queries I maintain that: (1) The primary cause of the formation of a syndicate was the desire to supply the needs of the locality, and that the desire for personal gain was a secondary consideration. (2) Certainly the promoters would not run the concern if the undertaking were certain to be a dead loss neither would any other undertaking, whether connected with a religious or a secular organisa- tion, be promoted if it were doomed to financial failure. The question of paying one's way is as vital to a, chapel as it is to a theatre. Would any of our cantatas, our con- certs, or our organ recitals, which have done much to elevate the tastes of the people, be performed if they were certain to be a financial failure? I say No: gain is the first consideration just the same as it is with Workmen's Halls and Institutes in the locality, where plays, varieties, and even wrestling matches are held under the direction of the committee. Surely, no one in a proper frame of mind would approve of an action done by a committee and condemn the same action when done by a syndicate. What's: in a name? (3) "Deacon" asks if the hall would be available for holding entertainments connected with religiows institutions, and (like the Liberal Party) asks for guaran- tees that it would be available even if a variety company offered more than the chapel. I must reply in the equivocal language.. of the Prime Minister in the Albert Hall. From what I know of the promoters, many of whom are strong sup- porters of local chapels, I would be of opinion that, not being dominated by personal gain, and being interested in local welfare, they would very probably grant the use of the hall to the church or chapel, even although a higher sum were offered by a variety company. In conclusion, I might refer to the attitude of the religious bodies in the locality regarding the erection of a hall in which to hold cantatas, concerts, &c. Six years ago, a friend of mine suggested that the various denominations in Tylors- town might contribute from tIOO to £ 200 towards the building of a hall suitable for their requirements, but his idea was scouted and he himself was laughed at. So to briefly summarise the situation, the chapels have been approached unsuccess- fully on the matter, the ballot of the workmen has not been sufficiently con- clusive, so that if any progress is to be made, it appears to me that the action of the syndicate is "the only way." I hope that the erection of the hall will come to a successful conclusion, and that it will be of a sufficiently high standard to supply the needs of the best people in Tylorstown, and that it will he worthy of the support of "Deacon."—Yours truly, SYMPATHISER. May 9th, 1910.

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