The North Wales Weekly News

[ALL RIGHTS RESERVED]. The Crystal Goblet BY DRUID GRAYL, Author of Satan's Snare," "The Body in li e Box," No Clue," &c. "Lot 143," said the auctioneer: "the most important item of the collection. A rock- crystal goblet of the sixteenth century, en- graved with poppies and the figure of the goddess Proserpine; having also on its foot an emblem of a phoenix rising from its ashes —probably the cognisance of a noble family of mediaeval Italy. "I quote from the catalogue," lie went on. "But now permit me to call your attention to a peculiarity in the stem of the goblet. Riley, take the article round, carefully, and tilt it gently between the light. Notice, gentlemen, that the stem is hollow, and con- tains a few drops of some liquid." There was no doubt as to the fact the fluctuation could he observed distinctly moreover, certain prismatic hues came and went as the liquid flowed to and fro. "The goblet has been submitted to a scientific expert," continued the auctioneer, "and he informs me such a state of things is quite possible—though rare—in the matter of the crystal, which sometimes absorbs and re- tains a small quantity of water or other fluid during formation. He states, too, that an article such as the present specimen, if long buried in the earth, might receive liquid by infiltration through the seam of the stem. In either case, the object is probably unique, and therefore of the greatest possible interest to connoisseurs. Such a specimen has never passed through my hands before, though in sale annals there is a record of such an ancient goblet having been offered years ago. It was, I understand, broken in the course of inspection, when such a delightful odour filled the auction-room that the broken article fetched more than if intact." A burst of laughter followed this state- ment. As it subsided, the voice of a little, dark Hebrew was heard saying to a companion — "Can't he tell the tale, though? Oh. my. not half "Dot's drue, Levi; I read him in a book," replied the other-a stout, impassive-looking foreigner—just as audibly. "Thank you, sir," said the auctioneer, turning in his direction, with a bow and flourish of the hammer. "The corroboration of a perfect stranger is as gratifying as un- expected. Make the best or worst of the liquid in the stem, gentlemen, as you please. Now, will someone kindly make me a bid for the engraved rock-crystal goblet of the six- teenth century, presumably Italian?" "Ten pounds "Twenty said the little Hebrew. "Dirty!" added the stout foreigner. There was a long pause. It was evident that others of the company were awaiting de- velopments. suspecting collusion. "A mere thirty wounds for a roek-crvstal goblet of the sixteenth century remarked the auctioneer. "Well. I must pass this item, and go on to the next. The last speci- men fetched thousands, as you all know; and though, admittedly, it was a more important piece than this, I beg to observe that the poorest samples are not quite so plentiful as Bristol diamonds, or the star-stones of War- wickshire. Replace the goblet, Hiley." "I gif vivty," interpolated the stout man. "One hundred guineas," said a quiet, but distinct and musical voice. Everyone turned and looked at the speaker —a slender, singularly handsome young man in faultless morning costume, but with some- thing un-English in his appearance neverthe- less. One or two persons present knew him. evi- dently, for reassuring glances were ex- changed, and the little Hebrew said to his companion—this time in a whisper—"Mark- hams adopted son. It's all right go on. Raflitz." "Nod I!" "I will, then. Fiftv" "Two hundred guineas," said the young man, calmly. This coolness acted on those present as a clear firost does on the appetite, and one bidder after another hungered for the goblet with a stimulated craving. It ran up to three hundred and fifty guineas, when the bidding checked again. "Don't lose it, Mr. Antonio," pleaded the auctioneer. "I should like you to have it, because it will be thoroughly appreciated. Say three-sixty. I'll take five-guinea bids now." "I'm bidding entirely on my own responsi- bility," replied the young fellow, courte- OUSIV "though I think the goblet would in- terest Mr. Markham. I'll risk the price you suggest, but no more. Anyone is welcome to it at a higher figure." "Three hundred and sixty guineas for the rock-crystal goblet. Any advance? once I Twice! Third, and last time-three hundred and sixty guineas." There was no higher bid, so the article was knocked down to Mr. Antonio, who wrote a cheque for the amount and took his acquisi- tion away in its velvet-lined case—oblivious of or indifferent to a score or more of envi- ous, disappointed, or admiring eyes directed upon him as he wended his way out of the auction-room. He did not make his way direct from Covent Garden to Mr. Markham's house in St. John's Wood, but proceeded to John- street, where he had two rooms on the ground floor, one of which was tastefully fur- nished as a sort of study sitting-room, the other being always in use, more or lees, for the numerous purchases he made for his adopted father from time to time for he had the Italian's true, Liborn love of art, and the unerring instinct for good specimens, which comes of it. Markham himself had been an invalid for some years, and could not ride his hobby- horse in the actual pursuit of curios; but he read with avidity every dealer's and auction- eers's catalogue that was sent to him, and then entrusted Antonio with his commissions. At his house, "The Belvedere," known of every art-loving person in London and to all provincial sightseers as one of the free shows on a Thursday in the metropolis—the student could see most things genuine, costly, and rare, from an English pewter chalice of the fourteenth century to an Ashanti gold-mask. His own pictures were not the least noteworthy objects of a unique exhibition, though he never attempted to sell one, or exhibit in a public gallery. Swell cracksmen had paraphrased Blucher s re- mark on London, in reference to "The Belve- dere "-III the words "What a house to crack But a knowledge of his great boar- hounds and private information that secret- wires, which, once touched, connected the place with its corresponding number at the nearest police-station, made them refrain from the job with sincere envy but small emulation. Tne crystal goblet, intended as the most re- cent contribution to the house's treasures, was very carefully scrutinised by Antonio, therefore, before it was submitted to the master; with a powerful telescopic lens he went over every line of it methodically, care- fully, and patiently, time after time; and then perused many works of reference before returning to the specimen again. In fact it was nearly eight o'clock before lie left his rooms for home, with the precious goblet. But he was plainly self-satisfied. His step was light and firm, his bearing confident, and there was that smile on his face which comes only once in a life—when the fulfil- m-ent of the heart's desire is near at hand. On reaching home he went straightway to Mr. Markham's private room, thinking to find his adopted father alone at this early hour; but, as he was about to put his hand to the door-knob he checked himself ana listened awhile, with an inscrutable expres- sion on his face-for he could hear a woman's olear tones reading aloud from Browning's poems. It was the voice of Clare Nasmyth. Mr. Markham's niece, a motherless young woman who had been an inmate of the "house for two years now, to Antonio's great un- rest, for he loved her passionately but secretly for herself, whilst distrusting an in- fluence _with her uncle which suggested future complications as to the heirship of that gentleman" wealth and possessions. Moreover, she wa" something of an enigma to I frank, but irresponsive, and at times a I llt j ^°Plc.aL which intensified the distrust I and tilled him with vague alarm, till passion, J nourished on iteelf, banished the apprehen- vX ^Klumsd! had been told> ™ some- anib.giious terms, on one occasion, that lie same biood ran in hi,; own as in his adopted V'-l V8U1S; bl,'t he had nev*r ventured to \lr M6 ,eiXa°l >relatl0nsluP. partly ^because Mr. Main.nam was not the sort of man to be questioned, and partly because there was the uiking fear that the kinship was not a mat- ter which it was advisable to put to analy- (To be continued.)

The Chancellor. HOW MR. LLOYD GEORGE HAS POPULARISED HIS OFFICE. FIXE TRIBUTE TO WELSH GENIUS. 'lhte I1Ion-.JW- F- Russell, in the latest of his splendid weekly columns in the MRnchestci Guard Ian," writes on the sub- ject of Chancellors, and reveals an inter- esting change for which Mr. Lloyd George is responsible. There are many Chancellors, and until recent times the term The Chan- cellor' was understood to apply only to the Lord High Chancellor. But" The Chancellor" is the Chancellor of the Ex- chequer. This is the change referred to, a change entirely due to the personality and power of Mr. Lloyd George. Mr. Russell say's: Even Gladstone at the height of his financial fame; even Disraeli when he was leading the House of Commons and refash- 'h,e Constitution, was never called Ilie Chancellor. 1 J'-ach in his turn was Chancellor of the Exchequer; and, though Gladstone s financial genius raised that office to a celebrity which it had never known before, neither he nor any of his successois -as ever known as The Chan- cellor. When Sir Henry Campbell-Banner- man formed his Government m 1905, he gathered round him, among other stalwarts Sir Robert Reid and Mr. Asquith. The former he made Lord Chancellor and the latter Chancellor of the Exchequer, and anyone who spoke of the Chancellor meant tne sturdy Radical who had lately been Bob Reid and now became Lord Loreburn. When Sir Henry resigned and ihe Government was reconstituted under Mr. Asquith, Mr. Lloyd George became Chan- cellor of the Exchequer, as all of us know to our cost and some of us to our delight. From that date the style began to change, and, by an insidious process which it is hard to trace, The Chancellor in journalistic parlance came to mean the Chancellor of the Exchequer. At first it was a 1-ttle bewilder- ing to old-fashioned people like myself. Our conception of The Chancellor was something ineffably stiff and stately, which could not move a yard without a mace and a seal and a trainbearer, and would sooner perish than appear upon a political platform. So, when we began :o read in the headlines of our papers The Chancellor in the Hebrides The Chancellor in the Channel Islands "The Chancellor at Be'.h-;sda" "The Chan- cellor at Salem "Scathing Oration by the Chancellor The Chancellor indulges in Billingsgate,1' we rubbed our eves, and thought that the Great Seal had fallen into strange keeping, and that the old order of Chancellorship had indeed yielded place to new. But then, as Lord Nozoo's daughter indignantly remarked, When T have read all this fuss about the C hancellor, and have shuddered to think about what my Father would have said about it, I discover that it is only Mr Lloyd George. Of course, I'm not the least surprised at anything he says, but why in the world should he be called The Chancellor?" Why indeed! I think because he is by very far the .most conspicuous Chancellor now before the public gaze, and one of the most remarkable people who have ever borne the titie in any of its manifold significances. For my own part I h.i,,e known Chancellors of all deao.ninations—Loid High Chan- cellors, and Chancellors of the Exchequer, Chancellors of the Duchy, of the Universi- tie: dr,d oJ every diocese in England but I have known none so interesting as the present custodian of the national finances (I invent that title by a feat of journalistic art, in order to avoid an irritating repetition). Mr. Lloyd George is, as we all know. a Celt, and it is the glory of the Celtic races that they can transcend the invidious bars of birth and social station, and REAR GENTLEMEN IN THE SHEPHERDS' HUT, at the plough-:ail, and in the coal mine. Everyone who remembers Tom Ellis"- for no more formal designation befits his bright memory—must admit that the Welsh farmer's son was, in all the highest senses of the word, a true and perfect gentleman. Mr. Lloyd George has, by the happy gift of nature, that innate refinement which no school can bestow, which wealth tends to coarsen, and which learning sometimes makes priggish. His refinement is akin to a kind of spirituality-I know no other word to express it-which sees visions and cher- ishes ideals and breathes a soul into the too solid flesh of English politics. It is a British convention to assume that every- one has physical courage, and indeed it is true that few people have the moral courage to be physically cowardly. In Mr. Lloyd George the two forms of courage are com- bined. He has displayed them both, or rather they have displayed themselves, at each conjuncture of his political life, and never more onsricucusly than when he de- rounced the infamies of the South African War amid the murderous frenzy of the drunken Jingo mob. Who'll wear the beaten colours, and cheer the beaten :nen? Who'll wear the beaten colours, till our time comes again? Where sullen crowds are densest and fickle as the sea Who'll wear the beaten colours, and wear them home with me? To that challenge our official Liberalism made indeed a lamentable response but Mr. Lloyd George pinned the "beaten colours" over his heart, and carries them there still. His eloquence befits his nature, and is part of it; unstudied, unrehearsed, or, if re- hearsed at all, liable to sudden gusts of in- spiration which totally transfigure it. He fascinates, persuades, attracts; turns, as lightly as a spirit, from grave to gay, and with a bow drawn at a venture can speed an arrow which goes straight home—and rankles. As lightly as a spirit I said and as I write the words I bethink me of a Shakespearean cleation which no other Chancellor, of any description, has ever re- sembled Mr. Lloyd George is the delicate Ariel," the tricksy spirit," of the political tempest. He appears, and vanishes, and re- appears in unexpected places and at uncalcu- lated times. He is ready, as the moment requires, to fly to swim, to dive into the fire, to ride on the cuil'd clouds." His mission is TO RIGHT THE WRONG, but he is not ashamed to play tricks upon his victims. Though his spells "flame amazement," still he does his spiriting gently and he says, with literal truth, to the usurping Lords, I have made you mad." You fools I and my fellows Are ministers of Fate: the elements, Of whom your swords are temper'd, may as well Wound the loud winds, or with bemock'd-at stabs Kill the still-closing waters, as diminish One dowle that's in my plume. My fellow- Ministers Are like invulnerable. If you could hurt, Your swords are now too massy for your 'strengths, And will not be uplifted.

A York Clergyman Advises Veno's Lightning Cough Cure FOR ALL BRONCHIAL TROUBLES 1 Safe for the Youngest Child. The Rev. T. Ainsworth Brode, B.A., I..L..D., St. John's Vicarage, York, writes: I can conscientiously recommend Veno's Lightning Cough. Cuxe for all affections of the bronchial organs." Veno's Lightning Cough Cure is now the ) standard remedy for coughs, colds, bron- t chitis, asthma, children's coughs, and ) chronic chest and lung troubles. Ask for Veua's Lightning Cougli Cure, price 92kd., is ijd., dn<i is gd., of all chemists.

Liberal Enthusiasm at Conway. TARIFF REFORM VISITS TO GERMANY EXPOSED. SCATHING ATTACK ON THE LORDS. On Thursday night, an enthusiastic Liber- al meeting was held in the Town Hall in support of the candidature of the Chancellor of the Exchequer Mr. J. P. Griffiths, the President of the local Liberal Association, presided, a 3d he was supported on the platform by a large number of the leading Liberals of the town. Despite the very unfavourable weather, there wa, a crowded attendance, and great enthusiasm prevailed. The Chairman, in the course of an inter- esting address, siid he sincerely trusted W ales would be as one in this important question of the Veto of the House of Lords, and he hoped that ihe Carnarvon Boroughs would be still more emphatic on this point.' The speaker went on to refer to the excellent provisions made in the Budget of the Chan- cellor, and he ventured to say that there was not a Tory candidate throughout the countiy who would say on a public platform that he was going to remove the Budget taxes on land. The great question in this election was, who was to legislate, the people or the House of Lords, who had promised a re- formation of themselves, but who really would only be patched up. County Councillor Ralph Fisher then moved the following resoli-ition: That this meeting heartily endorses the policy of the Government legarding the House of Lords Veto, believing it to be a menace to progress and relcrm. It desires to place on record its profound appreciation of the in- valuable services of the Right Hon. D. Lloyd George to the cause of democracy, and it affectionately declares its unabated confidencc in him, and pledges itself to se- cure his triumphant return again to Parlia- ment." That, .,tid the speaker, was a reso- lution of confidence in the backbone of the Government. They had hoped that Mr. Lloyd George would be allowed a wrlk over on this election, and the official Conservative party in the Boroughs were agreeable, but not so with headquarters, and so thev had to import a candidate against their will. He did not know whether he was subject to any duty, but he felt that it was one of those cases where the foreigner would pay. (Laughter.) As they knew, there were two kir.ds of imports, one.that came to stay, and the other had to be re-exported. He be- lieved that Mr. Austin Jones came under the latter category. (Laughter.) He listened to the Tory candidate the previous night, and he thought he was a perfectly amiable and harmless young man. He was rather a nice man, but as a representative of the Carnarvon Boroughs thev had a better. (Applause.) He should like to have asked the Tory candidate one question, but no opportunity was given anybody. He would like to ask if the Lords and Mr. Austin Jones were so enamoured of the Referendum, would they give it in a democratic way. Take the disestablishment question. Were they prepared to settle that matter, which was purely local by a Referendum to the Welsh people. (Applause.) The speaker then went on to give illus- strations of the House of Lords by making the Town Council the House of Commons, and a body of men stationed in the Castle as the House of Lords. He put his arguments cleverly before the audience, and his remarks were greatly appreciated. Continuing, he appealed to the voters not to be slack in this election. Could there be any possible doubt on the polling day as to whom they would vote for? (Cries of No, no".) The Con- servatives were asking them to cast aside the greatest, strongest and most picturesque figure in the political life of this country or any other country, and the greatest Welsh- man Wales has produced for many genera- tions the friend of the old people, the CHAjITION OF THE POOR, and a man who was protecting them from all the injustice, tyranny and oppression which the W elsh people had suffered for generations. Was it Lloyd George or Austin Jones. (Loud cheers for Lloyd George). Dr. M. J. Morgan, in a Welsh speech, seconded, and said that he felt strongly that the House of Lords should be done away with, instead of having to appeal to the country each time. Their opportunity had come, and the Liberal party were going to take advantage of it. The next speaker was Mr. D. C. Griffith, Brynsciencyn, who formed one of the Tariff Reform deputation to Germany a short time ago. He said he had a cheap trip to Ger- many—everything for nothing. At length the speaker exposed the doing of the deputa- tion, stating that they were only taken to the better parts of the large German towns, and when they came back to London, they were taken through the poorest parts. Was that a fair comparison? There was poverty in every country on the face of the globe. The majority of the deputation was composed of workingmen, who had never been out of their districts before, and when they came to London and other large towns, they were amazed, rnd would say anything. In Germany* the wages of the workingmen were lower, and the rents higher, and their cost of living was higher. Who paid for these trips? Well, it was the House of Lords. Three quarters of the working men of Germany to-day were in favour of Free Trade. The speaker went on to refer to South Africa, in which country he had lived for some years. He saw the growth of the prosperity of the Tiansvaal, and there was nothing but peace and good feeling among the nations who had been at enmity. Through wise legislation ana a wise Government, they were becoming friends and brothers, and were working to- gether in order to enhance the glory of the old country. (Loud applause.) The Rev. E. Lloyd Jones, Manchester, was given a tremendous ovation on rising to speak. He said that he had a greater inter- est in the Carnarvon Boroughs than all were aware. Twenty years ago he was invited to become the Liberal candidate for the Boroughs, but there was another name on the list, and that was the Right Hon. D. Lloyd George. He thought sometimes that if by accident or by any other malign influ- ence he had been selected, what a loss it would have been, for the greatest asset of the Carnarvonshire, speaking in the widest sense, was the Member for the boroughs. The quarries, castles and the cathedral of The quarries, castles and the cathedral of Carnarvonshire could not do one- hundreth part of the good for the British race, than had Mr. Lloyd George. (Loud applause.) He did not think there would be a divorce at this election. He had heard that some gentleman like himself rejoicing in the name of Jones was also a candidate. He did not know him, but he greatly ad- mired his pluck. He could not think he was as wise as he was courageous. He would say that this and the last election were the greatest they had had, for they were twins born in the same yeai. (Laugh. ter.) What was the difference between this election and the former one? All other elec- tion- had to do with acts of Parliament, but this had to do with the machine that pro- duced the Acts of Parliament. (Applause.) The great difficulty was to pin the Tories to a great principle, as they always had the habit of run ling a Ted herring across the scent, but this time they were not to be taken off the scent by a red herring or any other subterfuge. He had a great deal of the sportsman about him, and if every preacher had an occasional day's rabbit shooting, it would save him a great deal of liver complaint and melancholia. (Loud applause.) Germany was the bogey last year, but now it was Home Rule. When the Tories said that the Liberal party was bought by American dollars they said what they did not believe themselves. Why, if John Redmond with his dollars were at the bottom of the sea, Home Rule would still be an essential question. He believed that every Irish member of Parliament ought to stand for as much as an English member. and he believed that every Irish Roman Catholic had as much right to express his opinion in Ireland as the Nonconformists had in Wales. Any man that would place a Roman Catholic at a disadvantage was neither a Liberal or a sensible Nonconform- ist. Dealing with Socialism the speaker said that real Socialists hated the Liberals ;i-iore than the Tories. There was not the slightest hope of any party, either Liberal or Tory passing any Act of Parliament that was not more or less tinged with Socialism, The essential thing in Socialism was gener- ally agreed, and that was a MORE EQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH. They all believed in it. He (the speaker) did not believe that it was Providence that made one man a millionaire and the other a pauper. The only Act of Parliament ever passed in Great Britain that was absolute Socialism was passed by the Tories when the Free Education Act came into operation. Again, Tariff Reform was an essential part of the Tory programme. They had tried it

AST 0 14 Ult TEPTM GOODS TO THE VALUE OF 15 deposit weekly payment, 116 910 30/ 216 £ 15 45/ 3/6 920 60/ 41- 925 15/ ,,4/8 AS 5 MANGLES I WICKER CHAIR 1 Any amount pro rata last Item. S BPAS B 4T ZiCIV-,5 REVERSIBLE. CU5MIOf^JB DISCOUNT TERMS. H^«PPED. WEIQMT'g^CVVJS I 7 per cent, for settlement within weeks I 5 per weeks I 2i cent. for settlement within 6 months from delivery V' AFTERWARDS. 'V And 5 per cent. intmlst on overdue + IL accounts f" M!"t'! '"MU MtrwuMMMn \<6 V mTtmuTt 10 per cent. 01> deposIt aDd 2 per GlInt oø reaaaIDder J It settled t months 01 It per bol. It "tu" In 8 mOAths.. P8J' sent 011 wllole It eettled In moutlls ZI per cent OR ",IIole aeownt. It in 12 1D0ntbs NOD allowed except LAC.K LOUIS CABIliET. ihWIVE 7Prtil64 WITH 4 ITGYLE HALL SIAnt) BEVELLED SHAPED MIRRORB N ANO CHINA CUPBOARD, IN PUMFDOAK ^ESTIMATES FREE^ ASTON & SON L T R F-XTIAM CHI E ST E R 0-5 \fV EST-RYi,. WHITCHURCH,SikLOP, VVOLVERHAMPTON, SHREWSBURY, DE,NBIGH, NEV%fTOWN,mOrliT. -CARNARVON WELLI LLANIDLOES'

Carnarvon Boroughs. THE NOMINATIONS. The nomination of candidates for the Car- narvon Boroughs took place in the county town on Saturday. On behalf of Mr. D. Lloyd George the following papers were handed in: Carnarvon: Proposers, R. G. Davies and Dr. Robert Parrv; seconders, Aldermen Ed. Hughes and D. T. Lake. Bangor: Proposers, J. Pentir Williams and H. G. Owen; seconders, T. J. Williams and J. Morris Jones. Conway: Proposers, J. P. Griffith and J. Lewis; seconders, J. Roberts and Owen Selwyn Jones. Pwllheli: Proposers, Maurice Jones, E. J. Griffith, and Robert Murray; seconders, Caradoc Davies, J. Hughes, and Edward Japheth. Criccieth: Proposer, William Williams; seconder, Hugh Griffith. Nevin: Proposer, D. R. Wilson; seconder, Owen Williams. The papers submitted for Mr. Austin Jones (the Conservative candidate) were as follows — Carnarvon: Proposer, Alderman Richard Thomas seconder, Alderman J. P. Gregory. Bangor Proposers, H. C. Vincent (Mayor) and Dr. Grey Edwards; seconders, W. A Foster and Charles Pozzi. ConwayProposers, W. M. Sever and James Porter; seconders, Llewelyn Lloyd and Dr. R. A. Pritchard. Pwllheli: Proposers, R. B. Turner and Dr. Wilbraham Griffith; seconders, E. J. Griffith and R. Roberts. Criccieth: Proposer, Sir H. J. Ellis Nanney; seconder, W. Watkin. Nevin: Proposer, D. Evans seconder, D. Jones. MAYOR OF CARNARVON'S APPEAL. In view of the disturbances which took place in the town of Carnarvon on the poll- ing day for the Boroughs at the last election the Mayor of the town, who is the returning officer, caused the following appeal to be addressed to all places of worship in the im. mediate district on Sunday:—"You are aware that a political contest is in progress in the Carnarvon Boroughs, the result of which will be declared next Saturday. On a similar occasion in January last there was some disturbance in this town, accompanied by damage to property, and whatever might have been the cause of those unfortunate occrrences it is generally agreed that the conduct of those responsible for the disorder was unwise. My object in directing this letter to you is to ask you in your congrega- tion on Sunday night to earnestly request all who may come to the town on the polling day to behave with propriety so as not to cause offence to anybody. This is surely not to much to ask for the sake of the honour and the good name of our country and nation." MR. LLOYD GEORGE'S MEETINGS. Among the speakers who will support the candidature of Mr. Lloyd George in one or other of the Carnarvon constituent boroughs during this week axe Lord Morley, Dr. Macnamara, Mr. Masterman, Mr. Ellis J. Griffith, Mr. Sylvester Home, and Mr. Her- bert Lewis. Mrs. Lloyd C'eorge, accompanied by the Rev. John Williams, Brynsiencyn, visited each of the constituent boroughs on Satur- day. Mr. Austin Jones also went round the con- stituency, paying a short visit to the Bangor football ground, where a match between Pwllheli and Bangor Reserves was in pro- gress. There was no demonstration. The Liberals are determined to give Mr. Lloyd George an increased majority. C, WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE. A number of Mr. Lloyd George's constitu- ents, who had formed a Men's Society for Women's Suffrage, wrote to the Chancellor and his opponent for their views on the Conciliation Bill in order to guide them in their voting, and at a meeting of the Society at Bangor on Saturday the following telegram was read from Mr. Lloyd George" Have nothing to add to lengthy exposition of my views given to deputation of women of my constituency at Criccieth in September Mr. Austin Jones, the Chancellor's oppon- ent, wrote:—"The divergence of opinion that prevails on any suffragists unfortunately renders the drafting of the Conciliation Bill a very difficult task, and it is undeniable that the present bill is not perfect, and I know its promoters welcome amendments to it. After these amendments I have no doubt i* will be so far perfect as to make me give it my cordial support. The Society decided to take no action.

Amusing Election at the 'Varsity. SOCIALISTS ONE-VOTE MAJORITY. POLICE AND rHE t; SUFFRA- GETTES." During recent years it has been the custom of the College Literary Society to end its Parliamentary Session with a mock election. Great interest was aroused this year on account of the three-cornered contest. The election took place last Friday night, when the two secretaiies, Mr. Rhys Morris and Miss Elwy Hughes, presided, in the absence of the chairman at the Aberystwyth capping ceremony. Additional zest was added to the proceedings owing to the presence of the Suffragettes "—that is to say, four male students wearing female attire, and espec- ially conspicuous during the meeting, not only by their red-noses, but also by the sel. ect music of the tin-whistle and concertina to the accompaniment of which they chanted the refrain of votes for women. Their melody was particularly prominent when a speech was being made-,and the poor Con- servative candidate was literally gagged with Votes for Women every time he essayed to speak. The law of the land was repre- sented by an individual in a constable's uniform and helmet, who was also dis- tinguished by a paiticularly red nose. On one occasion the £ < force turned out the Suffragettes, but unfortunately one of the > £ ladies" skirts became unloosened during the eviction and disclosed to view a highly attractive pair of trousers, which the "force" was evidently struggling to prevent some. thing--probablv a pillow—from slipping down between his coat and his chest. The Liberal candidate, Mr. Iliggins, was pro- posed and seconded, after which he expound- ed his political vi?.ws. Mr. Evans, the Socialist candidate, having been also pro- posed and secondf-d, made a brief speech. While Mr. Leonard Owen, after being pro. posed and seconded, wis making his elec. tion address, the Suffragette returned, and .all was confusion again. Attempts were made to evict them, "and those behind cried forward, and those before cried back," but the police were evidently—to judge by sundry sly .vinks—in league with the ladies," and they won the day. Perching themselves on the elevated benches at the end of the room they interrupted to their hearts content until the end of the meeting. The ballot was as follows — Mr. Evans ^Socialist) 87 Mr. Higgins (Liberal) 86 Mr. Leon. Owen (Conservative) 47

Billiards Extraordinary. When a mere boy has succeeded in making in two months' play considerably over 100 breaks each of 200 and upwards, naturally the performances of Geo. Gray, the Austral- ian billiard marvel, have made a wonderful impression on all lovers of the game, and his matches are foilowed day by day with the keenest interest. It is a singular fact that although Gray's largest break before arriv- ing in England was 836, that he should in the first eight weeks' play break his previous world's record five times and also have ex- ceeded a 500 break on 18 different occasions. No doubt a contributory part is the excel- lence of the tables on which he is playing (made by E. J. RILEY, LTD., ACCRING- TON and LONDON) in fact, Gray points out that they are wonderfu>ly accurate, and that the angles thrown by RILEY'S CUSHIONS are mathematically perfect. His present record stands at 1,143 and 1,058 off the red ball. At his present rate of pro- gress it will not be surprising to shortly learn that he has further increased that re- cord to something like 2,000. To see Gray reel off the red hall makes one realise that all his patient and earnest practising has not been in vain; he says that he spent six hours daily with the utmost regularity for 10 years in playing billiards and practicing shots. He justly deserves now to reap the benefit of fame. There is no such thing as a natuial billiard player-it is a matter of practice combined with skill, and the problem of how to get this practice at home is solved by installing a miniature table. These are made to fit any ordinary sized room, and are so scientifically built that 'r4eS Ltlle the game requires the same amount of skill and accuracy as on the full sized tables. Then, again, there is the question of cost. Messrs. E. J. Riley, Ltd., Accrington, sup- ply miniatute tables in various sizes and prices, payable so much per week, which makes it possible for the man of ordinary means to become a really efficient player by getting his necessary practice in his own home.

The Princes of Aberffraw. The Anglesea tillage of Abeiffraw, once a coas'derable piaoe," is rendered famous ai being the residence of the Piinces of North Wales from th, time of Rhodrick Mawr, in the ninth century, to the death of Llewelyn, in 12S2. 'lheir palace was at this place, and some remains of the building are still to be seen. In this palace was kept a copy of the clebrated code of luws enacted by Howel Ddu (one of whose descendants is Lord Tredegar, of Balaclava famp), in the year 940; for the better government of Wales, of which two transcripts were made for the use of the public and the distribution of justice. In this neighbourhood by the way was found the curious mass of copper which is now in the Mostyn Library. It is in the shape of a cake of bees's wax, weights 42 lbs., and is impressed in raised characters with the words Socio Romae." This cur- iosity was presented to Lady Mary Mostyn, daughter of Sir John Wynne, of Gwydyr, by Archbishop Williams, a native of Con- way, who was Archbishop of York. The Princes of Aberffraw was the subject of an exceedingly interesting lecture which was given on Friday evening at the Menai Bridge club by Mr. S. J. Evans, M.A. (Lond.), headmaster of Llangefni County School, who has established such a reputa- tion as an authority on Welsh Grammar. Mr Evans did not follow the fortunes of the Princes through their many strifes and political vicissitudes, but gave a vivid word pictures of the life of the times, with its manners and customs. Dealing more parti- cularly with Anglesey in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, he began with the Church as the dominating factor in the Middle Ages. Then he dealt with the Princes iU ball and hunting field and great progress^ through, the country, and con- cluded with a pe p into a typical Welsh home of the olden time with its proverbial hospitality. For upwards of an hour and a half the lecturer held the iapt attention of his audience, whose delight wi*h what they heard was expressed in the warm praise which Mr. Evans was accorded. We hope that the lecturer will visit other towns in North Wales and give them the benefit of his researches into one of the most pictures- que and romantic periods of Welsh history.

Duke of Westminster and Flint- shire Estate. TENANT'S PETITION. After the announcement of the Duke of Westminster's desire to dispose of his Halkin Castle estate, in Flintshire, there was issued from the estate office to the tenantry a letter stating that the Duke had decided to dispose of the estate and that it was his wish that the tenants should have the offer of pur- chasing their holdings in the first instance. The estate extends to about three thousand acres, with a rent roll of some ^3,000. On Friday night a well-attended meeting of the tenantry was held^ under the nresi dtency of the Rev. J. F. Rees, Recto? of Sal+in' x proposition of Captain Matthew Francis, seconded bv Mr T ell, Hafod (one of th- Blth' estate), a resolution °D 1116 expressing regret £ th unanimously passed sell the estate anH \e ,Du^ S dccision to the first offer of pur?K Mm fo' antry expressed ih c made to the ten- tenants of the Pstot ^re/€rfnce to remain as means he couM €' J • an^ possible deputation was reconsiuer his decision. A Duke. appointed to wait upon th«

in this country, and they knew what it was. After giving examples of Tariff Reform in his own native county of Montgomery, the speaker at the top of his voice said Tariff Reform is damned by its parents." (Loud applause.) He now came to the question of the House of Lords with infinite delight. He had been boiling to get at them for the last 30 years. Without more information on the subject, he could not say that he was a Single Chamber man, but his mmd was quite open. He was perfectly certain he did not believe in a Second Chamber as it was He compared the hereditary principle to a racehorse. He (the speaker) had sense enough to know the difference between a blood horse, a cart horse, and a Welsh pony, and he knew that the one did not beget the other. But when anybody told him that the principle of hereditary government could be defended on the principle of hereditary, as they found in the racehorse, he should like to know something about the first horse. (Laughter.) How many races did he win? (Renewed laughter.) The House of Lords had never been based on services to the State. Taking the thing upon the whole, it was not true that the first horse was any- thing but a wooden legged one. (Loud laughter.) When Queen Elizabeth died there were 59 peers of the realm, and mere family connection stood for nothing. When James came he made the number no. He deliberately sold peerages. He (the speaker) could not trust himself. It would be in- decent to tell the truth, and those were the men who said that by birth they were the' people to legislate. Out of 600 peers, no sane man would say that there were more than twenty clever people. It was usually stated that boys inherited the qualit'es of the mother, and girls the qualities of the father. If so, what about the sons of Peers who married ballet girls, and what about the daughters? He wondered whether the young Duke would take after his father or the ballet girl. Those were the facts-facts which were not pleasant to state. If they called any lord John Jones in this country he would be ruined, but if they called John Jones a lord they would fall down and wor- ship him. ^Laughter.) Referring to land- lords, the speaker said that he was able to do a miracle, he would create three million acres of land, plant it down in the sea ad- joining North Wales, and swamp all the blessed landlords in a moment. The Lords said they put a brake on the wheel. The brake was an admirable arrangement when going down hill but it was cruel if it was put on in going up. He was near seventy years of age, and he had never known the Lords put the brake on when they were going down, but always when they tried for something nobler, higher and just. There never was a theory so false that certain families were born superior to other families. All the genius of the world came from the village, exactly the place where they least expected it. The brains of the country were with the middle and lower classes. All the editors of newspapers in England, doctors, lawyers, inventors, &c., are of the middle classes. They could .áI what they liked, but the day had come when the many were not going to work to make the few into millionaiies. (Hear, hear.) The great heart of humanity was rising, and the best way to incaease the volume of the wave was to send Lloyd George back to Westminster. (Loud cheers.) The resolution was put to the meeting, and carried with acclamation, there being not a single dissentient. On the proposition of the Chairman, seconded by the Rev. William Edwards, a heaity vote of thanks was accorded the speakers.