Towyn-on-Sea and Merioneth County Times

LAMENTABLE DEATH. OF CAPTAIN PRYSE PRYSE. Captain Pryse Pryse, of Lodge Park, died on Tuesday from the effects of a fox bite. All who knew Captain Pryse' were charmed by his kind- ness of manner and his kindly intercourse and the news of his death was received with the deepest regret by the people of Aberystwyth. Out hunting with the pack of fox hounds of which he was the master, Captain Pryse tried to draw a fox and got bitten on Friday waek. The wound was almost invisible and no serious consequences were felt until Thurday of last week. On Thurday morning he left for Penywern where he intended staying for the meet of the Gogerddan Hounds on Friday morning. On his way to Penywern, he called to see Dr James, Y Fagwr, who, having examined Mr Pryse's hand, insisted upon his at once returning home to Lodge Park, which he did, and on the following morning symptoms of blood poisoning were apparent. From that day there were no signs of abatement. On the contrary, the symptoms gradually increased and ultimately de- veloped into septicaama, or blood poisoning of the worst character, which invariably proves fatal. Dr Harries, of Aberystwyth, was called in on Sunday and a professional nurse was engaged. Nothing, however, could be done to save life and death occurred on Tuesday morning to the regret of everyone in the district. One who knew the de- ceased intimately said he was a man who took a deep pleasure in living in the country and among the country people. They on their parts literally loved him. He knew 'everybody in the wide district covered by the estate. He was a most generous-hearted man and, at the same time, a man of great strength of will and good head. Captain Pryse was born in Decem- ber, 1859, and was therefore thirty-nine years of age at the time of his death. He took great inter- est in sport and agriculture, and became one of the best judges of horses in the county. He was lieutenant in the Durham Light Infantry and Captain in the Third Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment. Some years ago he became master of the Gogerddan foxhounds, and led the way to many an inspiring run across the hilly country in which he lived. He was a justioe of the peace for the County sitting for the Talybont division. He was the president and main supporter of the Talybont Agricultural Society, and a contributor to the Library and Reading Room of that village, and a supporter of all local societies in his district. He succeeded the late Colonel George Williams, of Ffyn- on Caradog in the management of the Gogerddan estate; and his knowledge of agriculture, his interest in the welfare of the tenants, and his intimate know- ledge of the people and their manners, and customs, and habits of life made their position of mutual ad- vantage. In 1881, he married Louisa, daughter of Col. Howell of Penrhoel, Carmarthenshire, who sur- vives him andfoi whom universal sympathy is felt. There beiug no issue of the marrage, the heir to the Gogerddan estate is now Captain Edward Parry- Pryse of the 41st Welsh P- crmert, who, in 1891, married Nina Catherine Angharad Webley-Parry, of Noyadd Trefawr. The Gogerddan family is, as is well known to all Welshmen, one of the most illustrious in the Principality. It is lineally des- cended from Gwaethvoed Vawr, lord of Cardigan, and some members thereof represented either the county or the borough of Cardigan ever since the time of Queen Elizabeth up to the year 1855, being connected by marriage with many of the leading families of the county. In 1579, John Pryse, Esq., of Gogerddan, occupied the shrievalty and was also one of the Council of the Marches. In 1654 bis eldest son, Sir Richard Price, Knight, filled the same post, and represented the county of Cardigan in the 7th, 8th, and 10th parliaments of Elizabeth, and in the third Parliament of James I. Members of the family occupied the same position in 1609, 1625, 1636, and 1639, the latter being Richard Price, Esq., grandson of Sir Richard Price, Knight, who represented the county from 1640 to 1655 and was Created a baronet in 1641; he was re-elected in 1655 for the second time. In 1681 and 1749, the family were again to the front as sheriffs, and in 1799 Mr Pryse Loveden Pryse, Gogerddan, followed suite. He was the son of Edward Loveden Loveden, Buscot, County Berks, by Margaret, daughter of Lewis Pryse, Gogerddan. He succeeded to the Buscot property on tke death of his father in 1784, and to the estate in Wales on the demise of his mother in 1798 when he also assumed the surname and arms of Pryse. He represented the Cardigan Boroughs from 1847 to 1855, and was succeeded by his eldest son Pryse Pryse, the father of the pre- sent baronet, who was the high sheriff in 1861. He re-assumed the name of Pryse by royal licence in 1863 and was created a baronet in 1866. THE FUNERAL. Yesterday afternoon, amid the unaffected sorrow of hundreds of country and townspeople who from far and near assembled at the little churchyard of St John's, Penryncoch, the remains of Mr Pryse Pryse, of Lodge Park, were laid to rest. The day broke dismal and depressing with a shifting rain- fall fitted for the darkest of November days. This, however, did not prevent a very large number from attending, and at the hour announced for holding the funeral the mourners assembled in a large crowd in front of Gogerddan Mansion. The funeral obsequies were of the simplest character in accord- ance with the wishes of the family. The coffin, which had been placed in the room in the front of the mansion, was hidden amid a wealth of blooms sent by relatives and friends. The coffin, which was of polished oak and heavily bound in brass was brought to the doorway by the workmen and was borne away by the principal tenants of the estate. The bearers were Messrs R James, Brynllys; W Jenkins, Henhafod; J B Morgan, Glanrhaid Rev W Morgan, PwUglas; D Hughes, Torglwyd; — Edwards, Nantsiriol; — Williams, Gnllgnmawr J R James, Peitheil, — Thomas, Brysgara Edwards, Nanfcysilio Jones, Peinpompren. Following the coffin came the carriage, containing Sir Pryse Pryse and Mrs Pryse Pryse (widow), Lady Pryse, Captain Edward Pryse, Mr George Pryse, Mr Lewis Loveden Pryse, Mr Richard Pryse, Mr Herbert Pryse, Mr Pugh Pryse, Bwlchbychau, Mrs Holford, Mr and Mrs Loxdale, Captain and Mrs E Powell, Major Pryse Lewis, Tyllyuaeron, Col Howell, Captain Howell. Following the chief mourners came a long list of private carriages containing friends, amongst them being the carriages from Crosswood, 9 11 Glanrh eidol, Abermaide, Lonesgrove, Nantceirod, j Fronfraith, Penwern, etc. The general public fol- lowed and amongst those present we noticed Mr Vaughan Davies, M.P.; Major Bonsall, Peithyll; Major Bonsall, Galltyllan Capt Hughes Bonsall, Lieut Wakefield, Mr Edmund Buckley, Barmouth the Yen Archdeacon Protheroe Rev E Evans, vicar of Llanfihangel; Rev E Jones of Llanbadarn; Rev Nathaniel Thomas, Vicar of Llanbadarn; Rev D Williams, Vicar of Lampeter Belfry Col Fryer, Mr H C Fryer, Aberystwyth; Mr Rd Gillart, Machynlleth Dr A 0 Davies, Machynlleth Messrs C I Ivory, Penrhyncoch Daniel Jones, school- master, Talybont; Rd James, Talybont; John Jones, Glanmerin J E James, auctioneer, Maes Bangor; J Parry, Glanpaith J R James, Peithyll J M Williams," Brynbull; G Fossett Roberts, Aberystwyth W P Gwen, Aberystwyth; Rhoderick Richardes, Penglaise; J B Morgan, Glanrhyd B Ellis Morgan, Aberystwyth R Saycell, Rufus Williams, Lion Hotel; W H Hollier, Aberystwyth; Peter Jones, Aberystwyth; J H Edwards, draper, T Griffiths, J.P.,Aberystwyth; David Howell, J.P., Aberystwyth; Isaac Lloyd, Aberystwyth Captain Francis, Penrhycoch Capt. Williams, rralybont; H W Morgan, Capel Bangor; J Rees, Tynypark James Yeary, head gardener, Plas Gogerddan J Richards, Tynypennal, Church- warden; Captain MitcLel, Goginan; Captain Nicholas Bray, Evan Reese,-Mount Pleasant, Mach- ynlleth; Henry Bonsall, Cwm; Colonel Fielden, Borth; Dr Morgan, Nantcerio. The women servants and huntsman from Lodge Park and Plas Gogerddan walked together alongside the coffin carrying beautiful wreaths. With the exception of a single small cross of flowers and two small blooms the coffin was bare of floral decoration. Over sixty conveyances were counted in the pro- cession, and the highway from Plas Gogerddan to the little churchyard was packed with people. The service at the Church was purely Welsh and was conducted by the Rev G Blackwell, curate in charge. In Church the clergymen present took their seats in the stalls, and the simplicity of the ceremony was further marked by the absence of surplices, the curate officiating alone appearing in surplice. The service for the burial of the dead was taken also in Welsh, and again at the grave side was the same order maintained. The grave was built of brick and had been well con- structed by Mr Hamer, the estate mason. Under the superintendence of Mr Yeary and the under gardeners the grave sides had been beautifully decorated with lovely blooms of Roman hyacinthes and tube roses. It was evident to the most casual observer that the last moments at the grave side were very trying to the relatives and friends of the deceased, and many of the tenants were very much moved by the sadness of the occasion. Shorn of any oratorical display—which is characteristic of Welsh funerals-the final ceremony was brief to a degree and the singing of 0 Fryniau Caersalem," the favourite hymn of the Welsh people, brought to a close a memorable ceremony. So soon as the mourners filed away from the grave side the public crowded round for a farewell look at the coffin con- taining the remains of one who was a friend of all, well beloved, and looked up to as a leader worthy of imitiation. The following wreaths were received —Sir Pryse Pryse and Lady Pryse, Mrs Pryse (widow), Major Pryse, Mr Lewis Pryse, Mr Rd Pryse, Mr G Pryse, Mr Herbert Pryse, Mrs Powell, Nanteos; Mrs R J R Loxdale, Castle Hill; Mr P Rice, Llwynbrain; Mr and Mrs Holford, Castle Hill, Dorsetshire; Mrs and Miss Florence Williams, Ffynon Caradog; Capt and Miss Bonsall, Glan- rheidol; Mr Seymour Davies, Glanrafon; Mr and Mrs J C Waddingham, Hafod Mrs James, Bryn- llys; Mrs B'asil Jones, Gvynfryn; Baby Loxdale, Lady Parker; Mr Richarde, Penglaise; Captain Cosens, Bronpadarn; Col and Mrs Howell, Pen- rheol, Carmarthenshire; Mary, Rosilie, Winifred, and Matty, sisters of Mrs Pryse; Mr and Mrs Buckley, Penyfai; Mr Jack Howell, Penrheol; Mr and Mrs Francis, Wallog; Mrs and Misses Morgan, Talybont; Major and Mrs Bonsall, Peithyll; Mr J G W Bonsall, Dr James, Y Togwyn; and Miss Bonsall, Fronfraith; Miss Jenkyn Jones, Dolau; Mrs and Misses Bonsall, Cwm Mr and Mrs Bonsall, Morben; Mr and Mrs Fred Roberts, Penywern; Lieutenant Wakefield, Mrs and Miss Paddock, Ynyshir; Mr Ernest Howel), Penrheol; Lady Evans, Loveagr )ve; Miss Alice Evans, Master Griffith Evans, and Miss Gladys Evans, Lovesgrove Major and Mrs Pryce Lewes, Tiglyn Egrow; Mr and Mrs Morgan, Nantceirio Mr George Williams, Ffynon Caradog; the household servants at Gogerddan, Lodge Park, and Noyadd Fawr. The funeral arrangements were entrusted to Mr David Howell, draper, Great Darkgate street, Aberystwyth, and they were placed in charge of Mr Jones, the fore- man, and carried out satisfactorily. Mr Howell Evans, Chief tConstable, was present and took charge of the palice arrangements.

HINTS TO ADVERTISERS. THEY NEVER DIE. That ad. is dead, said the foreman. Throw it in." But it was not dead. It could not die until the last copy of the paper containing it had been destroyed. Even then the advertisement might be kept alive by word of mouth. The advertiser who lets all his contracts expire is wrong if he imagines that his advertisement has long since ceased to pull," says an American exchange. They may, indeed, have failed to bring in business enough to pay the gas biil, but they are far from dead. Fourteen or fifteen years ago, a bright young man opened a bookstore in Harlem. He put a small advertisement in a magazine. To this day, he sometimes hears from the advertisement, al- though he ran it only a few times and has been out of the book trade ever since 1892. A story is told of a medicine man who advertises to cure diseases. One day a woman came to him for treatment, and got £ 10 worth of it. The doctor asked her how she had heard of him, and she said her husband, when taking up an old carpet in Buffalo, had found beneath it an old newspaper in which he saw the doctor's ad. There's no telling how long an advertisement will live.

— ♦ — The report that President Krnger peremptorily ordered the last attack on Ladysmith, and suggest- I ed putting the Free State men in the most danger- ous places, is confirmed on good authority.

NOTES AND GOSSIP LOCAL AND GENERAL. [BY PROGRESS."] CAT'S MEAT SQUARE." The following is not only interesting, but edi- fying:— [" At an inquest held on a child that died of con- sumption, it was stated in evidence that eight people lived in the room, ten feet square, the rent of which was 4s 6d a week. The room was situated in a notoriously overcrowded district known as Cat's Meat Square.' "Daily Paper.J Air! Air Air! What is a body to breathe ? The pestilent vapours that poison and seethe In Cat's Meat Square ?— Hark to the cry of despair I Look at the misery there Children are lying In sickness, and crying— Children are dying For air. Eight in a horrible den, Reeking of sickness and death r Crowded together like sheep in a pen, Stifling for want of breath. Women and children and men Huddled like rats in a hole, And lulled, as they lie, By the agonised cry Of a perishing soul, Air Air Air Life-giving breath of the sky Out on the tyrant that dares to deny The poor his share Out on the monster that rack-rents this sty, This plague-stricken lair! Justice! 0 Justice How long Ere thou rescue the weak from the strong ? How long shall the poor give their lives To an ogre that thrives 011 a crime and a wrong ? Ah ? If there be laws, as they say, And if there be hearts that oan care, Put an end to the horrors that darken our day I Air Give us air! Away with these fever dens! Sweep them away With the pitiless Harpies that batten and prey On Cat's Meat Square. —Punch. CIVILISATION Omdurman, it is said, now possesses three cafés, run on modern principles, and even a music ware- house and a concert hall. Only a bishop and a a brewery are needed to complete the civilisation of the desert city. THE LONDON BAKERS. The London journeyman bakers have a batch of grievances, and are becoming crusty in consequence. They complain that they have to loaf about while the bread is fermenting and they ask for an eight hours' day. But the master bakers don't offer them a crumb of hope or comfort. If the journeymen try to take a rise out of the masters there may be a rise in bread, too.

+ A LIBERAL M.P. ON PUBLIC DUTY. Mr William Allen, M.P. for Newcastle-under- Lyme, speaking at Welsbpool last week on the occasion of the distribution of prizes to the "tC" Company 5th Y.B. S.W.B. said: Colonel Pryce-Jones and gentlemen. I feel that I have been placed in an altogether improper position this evening in being called upon to respond to the Montgomeryshire Imperial Yeomanry, because I see on each side of me gentlemen who are my superiors in rank in that force, and Ijthink the duty ought to have devolved upon them and not upon me, but, as your Colonel has called upon me to speak, I must at your gathering fulfil his bidding, and I shall do so with very great pleasure because I know you will forgive me for any short-comings you may observe in my remarks. When I came into this room a short time ago I had no idea it was a gathering of this kind that was going on, because your Colonel only asked me, in a friendly sort of way, to look in, threatening if I did not TO SEND A PICKET to arrest me (laughter). I feel, in the first place, that I ought to congratulate your Colonel and you upon the position that the South Wales Borderers have attained. I understand that your officers are the most highly-qualified of those belonging to any Volunteer battalion throughout the country (hear, hear), and I further understand that they are sound patriotic Britons, two of them having volun- teered for the Imperial Yeomanry (applause). One of them has told me to-night that he is willing to throw up his commission and everything and join as an ordinary trooper. I think that shows he is a patriot, and puts his duty to his Queen and country before anything else. Nine others have volunteered for the front, and if they are all chosen I am sure they will also be a credit to you, to their regiment and to OLD ENGLAND (hear, hear). I believe I have also to congratulate you upon the possession of a most excellent band which has been brought into a very high state of efficiency, and is now almost second to none in the country. Indeed, when I hear of all the good things that can be said about you I feel that they are so many that any congratulations from an out- sider are but little, because you have so many merits that I am sure you can appreciate them yourselves (laughter and applause). Your Colonel has been good enough to refer to his friendship with me in the House of Commons. I think that it is one of the great advantages of our English social life that when we are not actually engaged in political controversy we can all meet as friends, and drop our differences and forget that we are men of opposite parties in political life (hear, hear). Your Colonel is a member for this town and the allied boroughs and although I DIFFER FROM HIM in political opinion, still I believe that on his side and for a man holding his opinions, which un- fortunately, perhaps for myself, I think to be wrong, you can have no one who would serve his Queen and his country and this part of the district in a more efficient manner (loud applause). I need not describe to you, and I could never tell you, the regard in which he is held in the House of Parliament—(hear, hear)- and the way in which men on both sides of the House bow to his judgment and hold his opinion in high esteem (applause). Now, you have asked me to-night to respond to the toast of the Imperial Yeomanry. I think the raising of this force will mark an era in the history of this country. For years now we have been at peace or practically at peace, for the wars in which we have been engaged have been against un- civilised peoples. We are now fighting a civilised people, we are fighting people armed with weapons as good as our own, we are fighting with people that are brave-people that are WILLING TO DIE for a mistaken idea of what is right for their country; and in this hour of England's need when the very empire is at stake, when the whole future of our nation depends upon us crushing the Boers in South Africa and establishing some form of rule through the length and breadth of that land over which the English flag flies supreme, I believe that it is the duty of every Englishman, that it is the duty of every Briton, of every patriot, of everyone who loves, as you and I do, our Queen who has so long ruled with glory over this country, to volunteer, if he is able, for the service of his fatherland, to go to the front and fight against his country's foes (loud and prolonged cheers). The Imperial Yeomanry have been raised for this purpose, and men in every position and in every rank in life had thrown aside PERSONAL AND FAMILY TIES and have volunteered to go to fight against the enemies of the nation, and 1 believe such a scene as the enlistment of the Yeomanry which has taken place in all our great towns coald not have been rivalled, could not have been approached, in any other country in Europe. The present must make some mark upon the future. The two great Anglo Saxon races, the English and the American—(ap- plause)—I firmly believe are to be the great dominant races of the world (hear, hear). I cannot look at the map of the world without seeing that the destiny of the Anglo Saxon race is written there by the pen of Omnipotence. It is written on the mighty map of India with its ancient civilisa- tion and vast population, and our destiny there is to civilise and to educate the Hindoo people up to a standard when they will be able fitly to govern themselves. It is written on the map of Cape Colony, it is written on the map of Australia, it is written on the map of Canada, it is written on the map of New Zealand, and in each case THE DESTINY OF ENGLAND is to raise up free, self-governing peoples who will carry on our great traditions of freedom to suc- ceeding generations (hear, hear, and applause). But this great end can only be achieved by sacri- fices at the present moment and I would ask every Englishman if he is prepared for any paltry reasons to risk all the great work that has been built up by his forefathers, I would ask if be is willing to risk the work of Cromwell, of Wellington, and of Pitt, and I believe that when these questions are put to a true Briton he will throw aside personal interest, family ties and monetary considerations, and vol- unteer, as he ought, to do his best for his country (cheers). Gentlemen, I THANK YOU, on behalf of myself and of those who have joined the Montgomeryshire Imperial Yeomanry, for the kind way in which you have drunk our healths, and before sitting down I think I ought to say one word in praise of the untiring work and the self- sacrificing devotion and great energy that has been shown by Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn (applause) in raising the regiment. When we go to the front, and I hope it will not be very long (cheers), we shall be actuated to do all that is in our power against the enemy by the knowledge that Sir Watkin is at home looking to the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry to do their duty. I believe that we shall not be found wanting (loud and continued cheering).

♦ A MERIONETHSHIRE DIVORCE CASE. On Thursday, in the Divorce Division of the High Court of Justice, the President (Sir Francis Jeune) had before him the undefended case of Williams v. Williams and Roberts. This was a husband's petition for a dissolution of his marriage on the ground of the adultery of his wife with the co-respondent. Mr J C Priestley, who appeared for the husband, said the petitioner, Evan Williams, was a farmer, living at a place called Cefnereuan- isaf, Brithdir, near Dolgelley. He was married to Mary Lewis on Dec. 13, 1889, at the New Indepen- dent Chapel, Dolgelley, and there had been no issue of the marriage. The petitioner, who was a small farmer, had in 1898 in his employment a man called Ellis Roberts, the co-respondent in the case. The evidence of a female servant at the farm of the petitioner would be to the effect that on several occasions when Mr Williams had been absent from home the respondent and co-respondent had been seen together in the bedroom of the former, and it was quite clear that Mrs Williams had forgotten herself to the extent of having relations with a servant, who, according to the custom at these small places in Wales, live as one of the family. The petitioner, however, was not aware of what was going on until May last year, when his servant girl, Maggie Edwards, gave some information to him with regard to what she had observed going on between her mistress and the co-respondent. The petitioner at the time was away at a neighbour- ing farmer's. The respondent apparently knew that her husband would be informed, and she had left the house before his return, and had never been seen since. But a letter written by her in Welsh and addressed to the co-respondent, had been picked up, and in it she used terms of great affec- tion for Roberts. After the institution of proceed- ings the matter was defended, and particulars were asked for, but noue had been furnished, and the case came on now as undefended. The petitioner and Maggie Williams, domestic servant having given evidence, His Lordship granted the petitioner a decree nisi. with an order for costs against the respondent and Roberts.