The Carmarthen Journal and South Wales Weekly Advertiser

BLOWING ONE'S OWN TRUMPET. There is a fine old Spanish Proverb which con- tains, as all proverbs do, a whole world of wisdom in a few words. Haz buena farina y no toques bocina "-Make good flour without blowing a trumpet-be content to know that the work you do is good and to the purpose, without calling all the world to witness your astounding feat. No man knows the day and hour when the lioness brings forth the whelp which is to become the uncrowned King of beasts, but the homely and domestic Dorking sends forth the news far and wide to all the farmsteads within hearing dis- tance, that she has laid the egg which is to be eaten to-morrow morning for little Missy's break- fast. The forest trees grow silently. We do not hear the roots as they travel underground, lapping the rich juices of the earth as they go—nor the rising of the sap, filling with rich succulence the woody veins which the long winter's sleep has left dry and empty. When the new bud forms we do not hear the parent stem boast it fertile forces -when the catkins wave their yellow tassels, or the scented blotsoms send windborne messages to the butterflies and bees, we have no shrill cackle as when the Dorking lays her egg. Nature makes her flour without blowing a trumpet to announce her industry. She is content that things shall be, without proclaiming them in tones, legitimate enough for the warnings of destruction-the deep menaces of wrath-but not needed for the herald- ing of beauty. She gives its sweetness to the flower, its colour to the fruit, its grateful shade and noble stature to the tree, and there she leaves them. For the rest, their own use and fragrance and delight are their best heralds and of blare and noisy publicity she takes no account. So once it used to be in society, before the extreme of restlessness and desire for notoriety had set in, as now. Great things have been done whereof the authors, never blatant nor self seek- ing are now not known even by name. But the thing remains, and the nameless architect of that cathedral—this palace-where all men flock to worship and admire, is greater in his anonymity than are certain well-known doers of small deeds, those whose names are preserved, and whose work is forgotten. When the history of this time comes to be written one characteristic will be—the universal practice of publicity—the incessant noise produced by each man and woman and child blowing his or her trumpet. Nothing can be done now-a-days which does not find its way into the press. So far from the left hand not knowing what the right doeth, the whole body, from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot, is called to witness the bestowal of alms, the creation of work, the friendly handshake here, the threatening forefinger there. Privacy in the old sense no longer exists, and the world must ahare in what was formerly sacred to the family alone. No half-educated girl has a few idle hours on her hands and a commendable desire to employ them, but the results are given to the public. She has written a book wherein there is not an original observation, not a life-like character, no fruit of experience because there has been no experience to bear fruit, and whereof the diction has as little style as accuracy, as little artistic beauty as grammatical exactness. In manuscript, and for the delectation of her brothers and sisters and the fond half-fearful congratulations of her parents, terribly afraid that they have hatched a swan among their ducklings-as a home glory and a domestic monu- ment the thing is charming-like the clever diaries written by oult great grandmothers and kept as precious heirlooms by their descendants, but without any thought of printer or publisher. But this kind of restricted fame would have no charms for the modern maid. What she does the world must have. Her ungrammatical prose-her halting poetry, lame in its feet and broken backed in its method-her water colours where her cows have three legs and her thistles are as large as her alder bushes—her music where the science of the art is conspicuous by its absence, and the art is of a piece with a Doric shaft and Corinthian capital a-top—all this she must publish, thinking she is giving the world the fruits of genius- genius a little uncultivated perhaps, a little in the roughs but all the more valuable because of the wild-fruit flavour it has retained, and the honour- able mark of Self made impressed on it. And then the trumpet is blown and the proud family fling the notes abroad and friends are in a manner put to the question and made to answer to their embarrassment after having had to read, to see, to listen to their torture and the whole home life is centred on that more than shaky production which the world receives with good-natured oblivion, but which to the family stands as a monument of renown, marking them out as among the illustrious Few. What is true of artistic productions is true also of philanthropic doings, and of society and its pleasures. That national benefits should have national recognition no one will deny. Nor will any question the right of report in the matter of superb functions and supreme entertainments. But that every petty little benefit to a remote country school should be spoken of as a thing for which the benefactor deserves public praise-that a gift of a hundred shillings should ensure as many printed words of encomium—this we venture to think is a mistake due to the excited desire for publicity characteristic of the present day. Also we demur to the microscopic reports of private entertainments, which again is a novelty in these trumpet-blowing days. The description of the dresses of certain ladies is carried to a wearisome excess, and Mrs A. in black and crimson-Lady B. in cream and old- gold—Miss C. in white and blue-Miss D. in green and gold" -are we not more than sated with paragraphs like these ? Is not the catalogue of millinery lengthened out into folly and drained dry of all vitality ? Who but herself cares that Mn A. was in black and crimson and not in grey and pink 1 What woman of any calibre of mind you please, would give the traditional brass farthing to know that Lady B. wore cream and old-gold t She might have gone in crushed strawberry, or dead rose leaves, or Nile water, or mignonette, or heliotrope, or any other shade arm colour that it pleases the dyers to dye, the drapers to buy, the milliners to make up, and the public to adopt and the wide world of womanhood would have been just as easy in its I mind, as now when it knows that the mixture was of cream and old-gold. Which moreover tells the lower half of the brilliant sphere I absolutely nothing. If shapes and patterns could be given gratis, perhaps that might fire some ambitious breast with emulative desire. But the mere mention of a ball or a garden party, given by such and such a leader of fashion, where such and such companion leaders of fashion disported themselves, and wore this com- bination of colours or that-this mere mention does no good whatever-unless we call it a good to minister to the diseased vanity and love of publicity characteristic of the time, and the as diseased love of personalities and gossip. This cataloguing of personalities, whether in dresa or deeds, is more often pushed to extremes thankept within reasonable bounds. It invadesthe most sacred sanctities of home, ^ind throws to the winds all the finer fringes of personal modesties as so much chaff not worth preserving. Wherever the reporter can effect an entrance, he worms himself in; and the trumpet is handed to him, charged like the phonograph with such laudatory strains as it is desired the wide universe shall know. For we have delegated this trumpet blowing, according to the plan oi the division of labour which has become a modern art. We have our aide-de-camps and lieutenants—our executants and perfectors-the carriers out of our own designs and the trimmers of our cruder sketches. We make the ahinning silver pellets of self praise which they then shoot through the columns of the press. We have the kudos resulting from the thing we have done and caused to be published—they the praise from the manipulation of the material. Meantime, the world is fed on husks, which, however, it does not disdain. Thus all people concerned are satisfied, and if those husks prove but barren living-no one forces the devourers thereof to dip their faces into the trough and eat. Less noisy than these louder and wider trumpet blowers by proxy, are those who content themselves with the little circle immediately about them, and who find sufficient scope for their ambition in the narrower sphere of personal friendship. These blow their own trumpets with as much persistence if less effect than that noiser kind. You never meet certain people without their telling you something that redounds to their honour and makes for their praise. They have done this, or said that which deserves a Sapphic ode, if all things had their due deserts but they know the sweet allegory of the violet, and they make you understand that public praise is the last thing they desire. Some tell you boldly of their good deeds. They stand four square to the world-full in the light of the sun, and they think that others should have the benefit of their prowess. They blow their trumpets with a masterful who's afraid 1 kind of note and the noise they make wakens the echoes till they ring again. Not the horn of Oberon himself was fuller of significance than is the resonant trumpet of these self-crowned kings of virtuous deeds and the echoes never die for they are always kept alive by active repetition. And some there be who tell you more snyiy, wun hints, inferences, insinuations—more by allusion and suggestion than plainly and boldly like these others. They speak as if from behind a veil. Their manner suggests a blush their words are as if shamefaced and abashed. They deprecate your praise and make light of their good deeds but they make you fully understand how they have rescued drowning sinners and protected feeble fighters, and kept the strong from oppressing the weak and helped the weak to help themselves. They are not proud of what they have done, but they tell you in a certain kind of self-defence, or in a yet more impersonal spirit of regard for truth, no matter on whose side lies the lustre. They make you understand that if their trumpet had to bellow forth harsh notes of discordant self-reproach—of penitential sobbings for evil done and sorrow caused-they would tell it all the same. It is the truth of things for which they are solicitous; that the truth makes for their renown is an accident, not integral to the question. If you do not feel and understand all this, then are you a dullard not worth much con- sidering, and the trumpet is suddenly shifted for ears more receptive and less obtuse. Some blow their own trumpets through their friends, their children, their family. What their friends think of them and do for them, set forth under the heading of extraneous sweetness and generosity, stands sponsor for their worth, when you come to think of it, and reckon up cause and effect. Good people do not waste their love and tenderness on the unworthy. When men and women, whose approbation is as a certificate of merit, praise and endorse you, as these friends of yours praise and endorse you, that certificate of merit may be taken as signed and sealed and published to the world. The more you laud them the more you laud yourself in that they love and believe in you. In contradistinction to the spirit which builds a reputation for Self on the ruins of the repute of others, this manner of trumpet-blowing rises higher in the scale of moral melody the purer and more splendid the metal of the instrument. Those grand silver trumpets, which once used to fill St. Peter's with such a flood of majestic harmony, are as tin compared to the glory of these used by the crafty manipulators of superior stalking horses and that majestic music is but the squeak of Punch's panpipes when heard side by side with the music poured forth through the merits of friends. So with the children who have developed into geniuses or leaders so with the family which has given great names to the world. So in short with every circumstance that touches human nature and society at any point -for all that is, or ever has been, can be pressed into the service of the trumpet blower when he wishes to sound his own praises, and set forth in stately chords his surpassing merits. And this vice is eminently the vice of the present day-the day of unrest and feverish disinclination to live in the quiet shadow of home rather than in the blazing glare of publicity. This trumpet blowing, now in one form, and now in another, is emphat- ically one of the signs of the times. It will pass, as all other things have passed in their order and we shall go back some day to a quieter and stiller and more intrinsically modest order of- things-like some dear ones we know of-there where the west wind blows from off the Atlantic, and the lilies bloom still and pure and stately and fragrant in the quiet garden. These and such as these are content to be and to do without boast and without the vulgar applause of many. The love of the few and the respect of all who know them-the mild radiance of their lives, shedding goodness and beauty in their own spheres—this is the sum of their desire for notoriety. They have no trumpets to blow- neither has the lark hidden in the sky, yet showering down its melody-neither have those lilies, shining like silver in the sun, yet scattering unbeholden the exquisite fragrance of their being. In a time of universal trumpet blowing to come upon silent, quiet reality- to come upon beauty unrecorded in the daily papers —love that brings no golden gain— merit that has no public market-what happiness what refreshment! It reconciles us to all the rest to think that such lovely lives are still to be found —that although so much pinchbeck exists we have yet nuggets of pure gold; and, with universal trumpet blowing elsewhere, here at least is the sweet melody of hidden, soft, and sacred music.-The Queen.

DRESSES WORN AT THE ROYAL WEDDING. The style of dress worn at the wedding of the Princess Louise of Wales and the Duke of Fife by the Royal family and the guests who were present was in a measure unique for such an occasion. It was not full Court dress, nor was it ordinary morning dress, but a combination of both. The bodices were high, cut en demi- toilette; but with these there were diamond coronets and magnificent parures of gems. The bride did not wear a low dress, as most Royal brides do in England. It was, however, a beauti- ful gown, and most becoming to a girlish bride. In the lace folds in front of the bodice there was a tiny spray of orange blossom, and beside it a sprig of white heather, sent by the bridegroom the morning of the marriage, in accordance with the Scottish theory that such a gift brings happi- ness and luck. The Princess wore a single row of magnificent pearls, and only one diamond star in her hair, holding her veil in folds behind her coronal of orange blossoms. The veil was of lace, matching that on the dress, the design being a quarter of a yard deep all round of roses and forget-me-nots; in the centre sprays of forget-me-nots were wrought in at intervals. Until the marriage service was completed the veil was worn down, but at the conclusion it was thrown back for the bride to receive Her Majesty's kiss, and those of her other Royal relatives. When the bride appeared in the chapel she carried a bouquet, which had to be fetched from Marlborough House by one of the equerries, as it had inadvertently been left behind. The eight Royal bridesmaids were dresaed alike in pale pink Siciliene, draped with pink crepe de Chine. Each bridesmaid wore a single row of pearls round her throat, and a gold bracelet with the initials of the bride and bridegroom in bril- liants, with their respective coronets. These were the gift of the Duke of Fife. Each wore in her hair on the left side a spray of pink moss rosebuds. The Queen relaxed the stringency of her mourning more than she has ever done since her widowhood. Her gown was black, brocaded with tiny motifs in silver, a long drapery or veil of magnificent white lace fell from beneath her diamond tiara, and some white tulle was used to trim the bodice. Her Majesty wore the necklace and earrings presented by the women of England as part of their Jubilee offering. The Princess of Wales wore pearl-grey satin brocaded in silver, in a pattern of oxeyed daisies and Marguerite foliage, made with a long plain train; the front draped with grey crepe lisse, embroidered in silver the folds down either side of the open front were fastened with diamond buttons the satin revers on either side bordered with silver palon. Her Roval Hiorhrmss wnro A — o # y— diamond tiara in three divisions, in the centre of each of which was one immense sapphire. A collar of diamonds and three rows of loosely hanging single stones, with pendants completed her jewels. She carried a bunch of dark red roses. The shoes were of satin, matching the dress, with high Louis Quinze bows. Princess Christian wore satin of a delicate shade known as "gris tonrterelle," the skirt and train plainly draped. The tablier was of satin, with flowers wrought with grey pearls and a faint tracery of silver. Chains of pearls trimmed the front of the bodice, and Her Royal Highness wore many magnificent diamond ornaments. The sides of the bodice were draped en chale with a high pointed band of gold the sleeves, draped fanci- fully on the shoulders, were caught in with two other bands of pulling of mousseline chiffon a butterfly bow of gold bouillon gauze was placed in the hair. Princess Louise (Marchioness of Lome) wore white brocade, the design outlined and mixed with silver and gold in her hair diamond ornaments and a white osprey aigrette, in which sparkled many brilliants. Princess Henry of Battenberg wore a dress of a becoming shade of heliotrope, the front of a paler hue, with diamond ornaments. The Princess Mary (Duchess of Teck) was in brocaded velvet, the design being in a deep tint of mauve, the satin ground many shades paler; the front of the skirt consisted of alternate strips of puffed satin and of cut-steel and bronze fringe; the square bodice was trimmed with China crepe of the pale mauve shade, with passementerie of cut-steel and bronze in her hair were two bands of diamonds and several stars. She also wore a collar of brilliants, from which hung several pendants. The Princess Frederica of Hanover's costume was of white silk and bronze-green velvet; it was made with a high collar, beneath which two straps of velvet were brought to a point and fastened with a quaint device in brilliants; the elbow sleeves were also strapped with velvet, as was the front of the-dress, each strap having a diamond orna- ment. The Duchess of Buccleuch, Mistress of the Robes, had a magnificent black faille gown the skirt and bodice were trimmed with jet, which set off the splendid Buccleuch diamonds to re- markable advantage. The Marchioness of Lothian wore a flowered gown of gold and white brocade, ornamented with emeralds and diamonds. The Countess of Rosebery had a gown of electric-blue satin, with large stars of the same shade of faille woven into it; the front breadth was composed of Valenciennes lace over a lighter tone of blue, caught up here and there with bows of electric velvet; the bodice was made high in the back, cut in a V shape in front, trimmed with folds Of satin and Valenciennes. The Duchess of West- minster had a magnificent diamond coronet; her gown was of white striped brocade; skirt and bodice trimmed with embroidered lisse. The Duchess of Manchester wore a pale coloured lemon gown, and her diamond tia was remark- ably handsome. Lady Randolph Churchill had the same ahadetiDrMli brocade and Cr6pe de Chine, and many flow diamonds in her hair. Mafia Marchioness of Aylesbury wassmong the earliest arrivals, wearing a magnificent purple dress slashed with pink a diamond butterfly in her hair. Countess Spencer wore a white satin dress, trimmed with gold. fringe, and a profusion of diamonds, necklace and stars notably hand- some. The Hon. Mrs Alexander Fitzmaurice had a grey plush gown mixed with strawberry satin, trimmed with coffee-coloured lace. Mrs Gladstone was in black with white lace shawl. Miss Trotter had a blue striped satin gown, trimed with blue crepe, made with high back and open in front, with elbow sleeves. Lady Magheramorne had a Bengaline puce gown, opening at the side to show an Indian brocade, the front of a light peach tone. Lady Agnes Townshend wore white soft crêpe, with bright silver trimmings. Lady Emily Kingscote, a Pompadour brocade with pink roses on a putty ground, the front shrimp-colour poult de soie. Lady Granville had a grey armure royale, draped with embroidered cashmere. The show of dia- monds was amazing; they glimmered and glittered, greatly enhancing the beauty of their wearers. At the reception at Marlborough House, when the bride and bridegroom returned thence from Buckingham Palace, the guests who were invited wore morning dress with bonnets, and it was easy to distinguish by their style of dress those who had been actually present at the ceremony and breakfast. The Dowager Duchess of Marl- borough wore a grey brocaded dress and bonnet. Lady Sarah Churchill, a light voile redingote and skirt, embroidered with gold, and a charm- ing hat of tulle, very transparent, with tilleul tinted flowers. Countess Deym displayed some magnificent diamonds. Lady Raincliffe appeared in yellow brocade-the front and sleeves draped with black mousseline de chiffon the Zouave jacket and high Empire sash were made of black velvet, the latter edged with silver trimming. Lady Guinness wore a green velvet Zouave jacket, with a pink silk dress, embroidered in white. Lady Crossley had a Russian gown of grey cloth, the bodice made with a full front and high waistband of yellow crepe de Chine, the sleeves crossed with bands of white braid. Mrs George Cavendish-Bentinck had a dress of white mousseline de chiffon over white silk, trimmed with embroidered lisse; the Empire band was formed with watered silk ribbon on the bodice, ending in a long bow; her bonnet was white velvet, having a wreath of purple-shaded yellow pansies between the black jet comb and the bonnet were high loops of hair a la Josephine. The Marchionesss of Salisbury appeared also in olive-green velvet, with a tablier of old point lace; the elbow sleeves were bordered with lace, and the bodice trimmed with folds of blue and of pink satin; a bouquet of pink roses was carried in the hand. Mme. de Falbe had a gown of white corded silk with revers of peach ribbons at the side of the skirt, the front of the skirt veiled with lace her jewels were magnificent, her neck was completely hidden by a necklace, collar, and pendants of diamonds, and diamonds mingled with the peach blossom aigrette in her hair. Lady Gosford had some magnificent diamonds also. Miss Knollys had selected the tint of the robin's egg for her gown, which was draped with gauze to match she carried some red carnations, and some others appeared on the front of the bodice she had diamond stars in her hair. Miss Temple's dress was composed of two shades of mOlSY, green, the bodice most unique, filled in with lisse of the palest laburnum tint; Lady Wantage', carnation pink, with pink velvety and many diamonds in her hair; Lady Brook had a lovely toilette of green crepe de Chine and brocade, the Marchioness of Stafford having a gown of equally beautiful brocade. Mme. de Falbe changed her dress ere she appeared at Marlborough House, where she wore a rich almond-toned silk, and a bunch of red geraniums Lady Cranborne had a charming gown of white silk and Lady Howe's two daughters, white embroidered muslins. None of the gentlemen present wore ordinary morning dress, and the brilliant costumes of some of the Queen's Indian attendants added to the splendour of the gathering. The bridegroom wore the blue and white uniform of the 1st Banff Artillery the Prince of Wales was in the uniform of a Field Marshal, his eldest son in the uniform of the 10th Hussars, and Prince George in naval uniform Mr Gladstone wore the uniform of an Elder Brother of Trinity House, with epaulettes the Duke of Westminster had a scarlet uniform, with the Order of the Garter the Duke of Argyll was in a kilt; Sir F. Leighton in Court dress Lord Randolph Churchill and the Marquis of Salisbury wearing the Ribbon and Order of the Garter, and Windsor uniform the Duke of Buccleuch in Lord-Lieutenant's uniform.

MANHOOD RESTORED. Remedy Free. A vic- tim of youthful imprudence causing Premature Decay, Nervous Debility, Lost Manhood, &e. having tried in vain every known remedy has discovered a simple self-core, which he will send FREE to his fellow-sufferers. Address: W. FOX, 1, York- street, Southwark, London, S.E. The Cypriote Archbishop has been unable to return to his island home, as he had arranged to do last March. He has been delayed, it is said, by the action of the Colonial Office, and is still daily engaged in conference with the other delegates from Cyprus on the method of proving to Lord Knutsford that there should be an alter- ation of the incidence of taxation, and that the cultivation of tobacco should be permitted. His Beatitude is also trying to arrange for the collection and sale of salt At thA T.ttma^a salt mines, the neglect of which by the Government for nine years has caused a serious annual loss to the island treasury, entailing increased taxes upon the farming peasantry, and leading thereby to much discontentment and some crime. On one point the delegates have assured Lord Knuts- ford that they desire no change, as they are entirely satisfied with the present administration of justice by seven English judges; but they beg for economy and reduction in the Civil estab- lishment, and the reduction of the fixed annual amount to be paid to the Ottoman Government.

CARMARTHEN TOWN COUNCIL. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE. A meeting of the Public Works Committee was held on Friday, Alderman John Morris in the chair. There were also present Councillors W. Morris, W. Jones, Henry Cadle, David Griffiths, W. L. Hughes, D. P. Rees, Talbot Norton, Thomas Davies, and D. R. Morgan. PLANS. It was ordered that the plans of houses in Pentrepoth (owner, Mr T. Davies), be passed. BARREL POSTS. It was resolved that two barrel posts be obtained, and placed near Cochybarlis and Rotten Pill. THE WATERING OF THE TOWN. Mr W. L. Hughes said that many complaints had been made to him about the manner in which the streets were watered. The streets on Satur- day last especially were filled with dust. There was plenty of water in the river, and if the surveyor did spend a little extra money on this, the ratepayers would not begrudge it. Mr W. Morris endorsed what Mr Hughes had said, and suggested that delay occurred in pump- ing up the water from the river, and that it would, therefore, be better to have a man specially employed for that purpose. A few further suggestions were made, and the surveyor promised to look to them. TURNSTILES. It was resolved on the motion of Mr W. Morris, seconded by Mr W. L. Hughes, that the two turnstiles at the Francis Well Tollgate be bought by the town, and also the lamp post at Bridge gate. A Row IN THE MARKET. Mr David Griffiths called attention to the case of Mrs Marmon, who on Saturday last was ejected from the market by the surveyor, a member of the marketcemmittee (Mr W. Morris), and two policemen. The woman had been in the habit of getting permission from the surveyor to place her stall near the Red-street entrance to the market, but on that particular day was told to take it away by the gentlemen named. That she re- fused at first to do, but the police were called ing and she was removed by force. The Surveyor aaid that what Mr Griffiths had was perfectly true, but that the woman had not had permission to go to that place last Saturday. Other members endeavoured to speak on the subject, but were ruled out of order. TENDERS. It was resolved that the following tenders be recommended to the Council for their acceptance :—Repairing public lamps, Mr David Rogers; gas fittings and plumbing, Mr David Rogers; coal, Mr Thomas Davies, Spring Gardens; lime, Mr Thomas Davies, Spring Gardens oil and disinfectants, Mr D. C. Davies, 7, St. Peter's-street; scavenging, Mr William Davies, the present contractor, £ 310; iron founders work, Old Foundry Company iron- mongery, Mr William Phillips, Dark Gate; carpentry, Mr Thomas Thomas, 68, Lammas- street printing, Mr John Evans, Bridge-street ropes, Mr James Davies, 61, Lammas-street; winding clocks, Mr J. Williams, JB12. Mr D. R. Morgan said that next year if he was still a member of the Council, he would move that they get their coal direct from the collieries instead of through local dealers. QUARTERLY MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. A quarterly meeting of the Town Council was held on Tuesday, when there were present- Aldermen John Morris (in the chair), Henry Norton, George Thomas, and J. Rowlands Councillors W. Jones, W. Morris, E. P. Davies, D. Griffiths, Henry Cadle, T. Norton, D. P. Rees, W. V. George, James Davies, R. W. Richards, and Thomas Davies. THE PIECE OF LAND AT EAST PARADE. The Town Clerk said that while Mr Rogers was mayor he had been trying to exchange a piece of ground with the Railway Company for a piece of ground on East Parade. The exchange had hung fire for a long time through the Com- pany not having done anything in the matter, but the other day the Railway Company sent a deed to him providing for that exchange, and he (the Clerk) had forwarded it for the sanction of the Local Government Board. It was to be hoped that they would soon have the matter settled. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES. The reports of the market committee and finance committee were presented to the Coun- cil. The latter reported that amongst the bills not passed was one from the Gas Company for the rent of the manure heaps. This had been left over because there had been an encroachment on the part of the Gas Company on to that land; and it was thought that an abatement in the rent should be made, or some compensation should be given. The Surveyor said he had figured up the mat- ter, and had found that out of the two acres, 22 square yards had been encroached upon by the new gasometer. That, he said, would be worth to 10}d., according to the rent paid by the Corporation. The matter was referred to the following com- mittee :—The Mayor and Messrs. D. Griffiths, J. Davies, and W. V. George. The other bills mentioned were passed. The report of the meeting of the public works committee, held last Friday* was accepted.. OTHER REPORTS. The report of the Medical Officer of Health for the quarter ending June 30th showed that the total' number of births was 76 and of deaths 54, of which 44 were parishioners. These deaths gave an annual death-rate of 17 79 per 1,000. The Surveyor!& vepert gave details of work done daring thepast quarter, amongst which was the clearing of the banks in the river below the railway bridge and opposite the Quay. THE LATE ACCIDENT ON THE RAILWAY.—THE CORONER'S CONDUCT CALLED IN QUESTION. The next matter on the agenda paper was to consider as to the removal for inquest of dead bodies from the county to the borough." Mr W. Morris said that he had given notice of that motion which had reference to the removal of the body of the man recently killed on the railway near Carmarthen, in the parish of Llan- gunnor, and whose body was removed to the mortuary at Carmarthen. He had done so at the request of many cf the inhabitants of the town, who considered that it would be very unfair if they were called upon to pay the expenses of the inquest, and that it would be a very unjust demand upon them. They also felt that Dr. John Hughes-he would not say the Coroner, but Dr. John Hughes--was not justified in order- ing the removal of the body from where it lay in Ltangunnor parish to the Carmarthen mortuary, and so putting Carmarthen to the expense of an inquest. They were, no doubt, all aware that the County Coroner was paid a salary, and if the inquest had been held in the county the expense attending it would have been very trifling indeed. Besides that, the Carmarthen unction Station was nearly as cloae to the place of the accident as the mortuary was, and the body might have been laid in one of the sheds at the J unction perfectly well. He hoped that the day was not far distant when the Borough Coroner was paid in the same way as the County Coroner was, and then he believed they would have no bodies brought into the borough from neighbouring parishes. He had brought that matter forward on public grounds, and not from any ill-reeling towards the Coroner, but merely to prevent a repetition of this imposing upon the town of Carmarthen so unfair and unjust a charge as this one. Mr James Davies asked the Town Clerk whether Mr Hughes was within the limits of his rights in moving that body into the borough. and so saddling the ratepayers with that extra expense. The Town Clerk adid he did not know that there was any question of right involved. There was no law against bringing a dead body across the boundary of a county or of a parish. Mr James Davies-Is it the rule to do so ? The Town Clerk said he did not know that there was any rule in the matter. He, as Coroner, had held inquests in Carmarthenshire on people who had died in Pembrokeshire or Cardiganshire. Mr D. Griffiths said he would like to hear what the Coroner had to say. Mr J. Hughee-I ask, if you refer to me, what you could do to the Coroner-- Mr James Davies here interrupted Mr Hughes, who thereupon sat down, and after Mr Davies had finished he (Mr Hughes) appealed to the chair to protect him from further interruption. The Chairman having called for order, Alderman Rowlands said that before Mr Hughes spoke he wished to say a word. Mr Hughes sat down, whereupon Mr James Davies said he hoped Alderman Rowlands was not going to speak as one friend to defend another friend. Alderman Rowlands said he came there as a Town Councillor to do his duty, and he asked the chairman to protect him from Mr Davies' interruption. The question before them that day was whether Mr Hughes did right, or that which was just on his part, in moving the body from the neighbouring parish into the borough of Carmar- then. Was it the custom ? Was it right ? Was it illegal ? Was it improper ? It was a very com- mon practice in the county it was not improper in that it was often done, and there was no law preventing it. During his term of office as Coroner such a thing had often happened, for instance, at Pontardulais, just on the borders of two districts, where, if an accident happened, the bodies might be taken some into one and some into the other district for the inquest to be held on them. The Chairman-Mr Hughes. Mr J. Hughes said he did not quite see what the chairman called him for. He objected to the Town Council saying one word in the matter of his duties as Coroner. As Coroner he made no reply to what had been said by them. He was liable to his superiors, and the Council were not his masters All. Coroner, and they had nothing to do with him. If he had held an inquest improperly they must oppose its passing at the quarter sessions, and if they thought he had acted improperly they must write to the Lord Chancellor. As, however, Mr Morris had asked him as a private individual to reply he would answer them. As surgeon of the Great Western Railway he was called down to the scene of the accident between twelve and one o'clock on a Sunday morning. He con- sidered what he should do with the body which must lie for 48 hours wherever it was placed, as no inquest could poisibly be held until the Mon- day evening. The man had previously been living in the town for a fortnight, but he laid no atress on that as he did not know of that at that time. He considered what to do. Was he to knock at every door in Pensarn, and go from house to house asking them, Will you take in this body in three parts for at least two days 1" or was he to go to a public house and do the same. None of those people would have been compelled to do so. It never entered his head to leave the body for 48 hours at the railway station, exposed to attacks by rats and all that sort of thing. The only course, therefore, that he could think of was to send the body to the Carmarthen Mortuary. Mr James Davies would not believe him, but he thought the other gentlemen there would when he said that he never thought who was to hold the inquest, or anything about it. If any of them fancied that he did they were welcome to do so. Under similar circumstances he would do the same thing again. Mr James Davies asked why the body was not taken to the county police station in Carmarthen. Mr J. Hughes said there was no provision there for it. He might also tell the Council that the directions he had always given the police were that when a person died at say Pensarn whose house in the the borough, he should be brought tu .e borough, and similarly if a person say from Pensarn died in the borough, his body should be taken home to Pensarn. Alderman Norton said he dared say that the gentlemen who brought the question on did so with the best intentions. Inasmuch as the Council had no authority in the matter, he thought the subject had better be dropped. Mr James Davies-I hope that bill will not be brought to us to be paid. Mr J. Hughes-That it will be. Mr James Davies-Very well, I for one will not- Alderman Norton moved that Mr Hughes' explanation be accepted. Mr S. E. Richards seconded, and on being put to the vote it was carried by nine votes to four. WATER FOR BUILDING PURPOSES. Mr W. Morris brought forward the question of any arrears owing for town" ater used for building purposes, and the matter was referred to the Finance Committee. PLANS. Plans of the new Masonic Lodge Room in Spilman-street were passed. RAILWAY RATES. Alderman Norton also read a communication received by him from the Town Clerk of Tenby, with reference to the payment of expenses in- curred by County Councils in opposing the new railway rates.

PENNAL. MARRIAGE REJOICINGS. The marriage of Captain Boydell Croxon, of Llwyndewi, Llan- gadock, and late of Abermarlais Park, Carmar- thenshire, with Mrs Elizabeth Rowland, widow of the late Rev D. L. Rowland, B.D., Vicar of Gwynfe, took place at St. Peter's Parish Church, Pennal, at 11 o'clock on Thursday, the 25th ult. The ceremony, which was a private one, and attended only by the near relations of the bride and bridegroom, was celebrated by her brother- in-law, the Rev Charles Price, Rector, assisted by the Rev Titus Lewis, Rural Dean, Tywyn. Capt. Croxton was attended by his son, Henry Ferrers Ferrers, Esq, of Coptfold Hall, Essex, as his best man, and Mrs Rowland was given away by her nephew, R. L. Price, Esq. After breakfasting at the Rectory Capt. and Mrs Croxton left for Scarborough where they will pass the honeymoon. In the afternoon a tea was given by Capt. Croxton to all the women and school children of Pennal, (and the neighbourhood) under the superin- tendence of Mrs and Miss Price, the Rectory, assisted by Mrs Davies, Mrs Lewis, Pennal, and others.—For the Welsh poetry vide our Welsh sheet, in next week's issue.

EPPS'S COCOA. GRATEFUL AND COMFORTING. —u By a thorough knowledge of the natural hws which govern the operations of digestion and nutrition, and by a careful application of the fine properties of well-selected Cocoa, Mr Epps has pro- vided our breakfast tables with a delicately flavoured beverage which may save us many heavy doctors' bills. It is by the judicious use of such articles of diet that a constitution may be gradnally built up until strong enough to resist every tend- ency to disease. Hundreds of subtle maladies are floating around us ready to attack wherever there is a weak point. We may escape many a fatal shaft by keeping ourselvea well fortified with pore blood and a properly nourished frame." Civil Service Gazette. —Made simply with boilng water or milk. Sold only in packets, by Grocers, labelled-If JAMES Epps & Co. Homoeopathic Chemists, London.Also makers of Epps's Afternoon Chocolate Essonce.

PRIZE DAYS. ST. DAVID'S COLLEGE SCHOOL, LAMPETER. The Midsummer term of the above School closed on Monday week last, and the reports of the examiners and distribution of prizes took place on Tuesday morning at the School Hall. The Venerable Archdeacon Edmondes, Principal of St. David s College, took the chair, and was supported by the Vice-Principal, the Rev. W. H. Davey, Professors A. W. Scott, M.A., and T. F. Tout, M.A., the head-master of the School, Hev. T. H. Evans, B.A., the assistant masters, T. D. Davies, B.A., Augustus Field, B.A., Alfred Thomas, B.A., and H. Rhys Williams, B.A. There were also present a number of clergymen from the neighbourhood, together with several ladies and gentlemen, relatives and frienda of the pupils. After a few remarks from the Chairman, the Head Master was called upon to read the reports of the examiners, as well as that of his own. He said that a report, such as that which it was then his duty to make, was interesting, as a rule, to the few only. Like some very important debates in another house, they were too often brought forward only at the close of a long and laborious session, and when all were anxious to get away to enjoy a well-earned rest. He could wish it were otherwise, for he certainly believed that a master's report ought to, and generally did, contain germs which should develope with reflection into valuable lessons in school manage- ment. Under existing circumstances, he should endeavour to be as brief as possible. Before proceeding to read the reports on the work of the examination, he should like to refer briefly to the work done by present and past pupils of the College School within the past year. Since their last prize day the following had acquitted them- selves with distinction in their several examina- tions, viz. :— E W Jenkins: c40 Open Mathematical Scholar- ship at Magdalen College, Cambridge. D 0 Marsden Meyrick Scholarship for Modem History at Jesus College, Oxford-XSO. W Lewis: Scholar of Queen's College. Cam.. bridge, Mathematical Prizeman of his college. Thomas DaTiea: B.A. of St John's College. Cam. bridge. John Jones: Third Class Honours, Mathematical Mods., Oxford. E E Jenkins Passed at head of entrance candidates to Presbyterian College, Carmar- then. James Jonea A25 for Classics S.D.C., Lam- peter. D 0 Marsden: 424 for History, S.D.C., Lam- peter. W A Morris: J617 Exhibition, Theology. Joshua Davies and Evan Thomas Eldon (Welsh). T Morris: First Class Special Science Respon- sions, and bracketed for Bates Prize. 0 T Alban and F E Lloyd: each a First Class Ordinary Responsions. He might be allowed to point out that the College School sent in three candidates for the Responsions Examination of last June as non- matriculated students, and that each of the three obtained a first-class, while another-E. T. Evans, who gained a first-class in special science at the same examination-had only left the School last Christmas. They (the masters) naturally claimed a fair share of the credit of the success of these boys, but he should like to remark that that success was due in no small measure to the kindness of the Professors of the College, who threw open the doors of their lecture rooms to the senior boys of the School, an advantage which is one of the chief features of the School, and an advantage to which he should like to draw the attention of the patrons of Intermediate Education in Wales. But to pass from past to present. This year they had been singularly fortunate in securing the assis- tance of a large number of excellent examiners, to whom they owed more than much. On this, as on former occasions, the authorities of the College had come to their assistance, and the Principal, Vice-Principal, and Professor Wade bad kindly undertaken the arduous task of examining the classical work of the senior boys and the Divinity of the whole school. They had besides received the very welcome and invaluable assistance of two old members of St. David's College, who, at the University of Oxford, had won laurels for themselves, and done very great credit to their Alma Mater. He referred to Mr Robert Williams, B.A., Exhibitioner of Merton College, and Mr W. J. Cole, B.A., Exhibitioner of Keble College, Oxford. The Head Master then read the report of the Principal of St. David's College, who had examined two papers set on Virgil and two on Xenophon. Professor Wade's report on papers set by him in Latin and Greek Grammar, for the V. and VL Forms, and Eunpedes, Ovid, Unseen Translations, and Latin Prose, was afterwards read, followed by the reports of the Vice-Principal on the St. Mark and St. John papers. Mathematics by Mr Cole, also the reports on Geography, English Grammar and English Literature, and Mr Robert Williams' report of English History and Roman History. All the reports spoke well of the school and the thorough teaching which the pupils received. After this the list of prizes was called, and Mrs Tout presented each winner with a handsome gift on entering the platform, viz. Divinity.-D C Williams. English History. — Form VI.j T S Roberts; extra, D O Thomas. Forms IV. and V.: E A Davey. Form III.: J E Timothy. Forms I. and II.: D Evans. Mat hematics.—Di vision I.: D 0 Thomas. Division II.: Tegid A Davies. Division III.: J E Timothy. Division IV.: D J James. 7 English, Litemture.-Division 1.1 D 0 Thomas. Division II. J E Timothy } extra, D J James. French.-Division. I.: D 0 Thomas. Division II.: J R James, Division IIL < J E Timothy. Distinction at Responsions at 8.D.C.—T Morris. D T AIL an, and J E Lloyd. Classics.—Form VI.: D 0 Thomas. Form V. t B A Davey. Form IV.: D Davies extra, D A Lloyd. Form III,: J E Timothy. Forms I. yn4 II. t i Jones. > Divinity.—Special: T P Davies, Roch. After a vote of thanks to Mrs Tout for present- ing the books, and to the venerable Chairman for presiding, the meeting terminated. :!si 'i i CARMARTHEN HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS. The annual distribution of prizes to the scholars at the High School for Girls, Carmar- then, was held on Friday, at the Shire Hall, Carmarthen, the Lord Bishop of St. David's presiding. There was a very large attendance. The proceedings commenced with a very excel- lent programme of pianoforte solos and choruses by the young ladies of the school, of which the following are the items :-Song in Canon, Trip, trip, trip" (Marziah), the School; pianoforte trio, "Tancredi" (Rossini), Gwen Griffiths, Gwen Howell, Gwen David; pianoforte solo, Sonata Pathetique (Beethoven), Maria Lucas pianoforte solo, L'invitation a la Valso It (Weber), Gwen Rumsey; violin solo (encored: song, Gipsy Life,' the School; pianoforte solo, '• Andante and Rondo Capricios" Men- delssohn), Edith Smith song, The Summer's Call (John Acton), the School pianoforte solo, Roudo in E flat" ( Weber), Mabel Cavill. The Chairman, after the programme had been gone.through, after thanking the performers on behalf of the meeting for their kindness in giving them such a treat, called upon the secretary to read the Principal's report. THE PRINCIPAL'S REPORX, The Secretary (Ven. Archdeacon James) read the report of the Lady Principal (Miss Arthv. M.C.P.), who stated that that was her fifth annuS report at the distribution of prizes, and any statements she had to make were of an encourag- ing nature. The pupils of the school during the past year had gained 64 certificates, three medals, and one prize. Although those results were eminently satisfactory, they must not be regarded as the end of endeavour, but rather as a means to the higher development of real culture, self. knowledge, and thoughtfulness. Examinations into the general school work had been conducted in the upper portion of the school by the Profes- sors of Lampeter College in the lower portion by the Rev. C. H. Davies; Scripture by the Rev C. H. Davies botany by the Rev W. Davies. Their reports would speak for themselves.