The Pontypridd Chronicle and Workman's News

> o^vvf Aw ;X > >^V>VVKO^^<V -OV N° ^0 '■ y^~> s&fy A v, <* -0 y/^$> PONTYPRIDD ANNUAL CHAIR EISTEDDFOD. Goreu art, a darf ùerfysg" ) I wr fo ducth, yw arf dysg THE THIRD ANNUAL CHAIR EISTEDDFOD Will be held in the MARKET HALL, ON WHIT TUESDAY, 1881, Under the distinguished patronage of The Right Hon. Lcrd Abwdare Right Hon. Lord Tredegar; C. R. M. Talbot, ES'1., M.P. H. H. Vivian, Esq., M.P. Sir E. J. Reed, K.C.B., M.P. H. Richard, Esq,, M.P. u. Williams, Esq., J.P. G. W. Thomas, Esq., The Heath; W. Thomas, E*q., Llanbletliian, and the local gentry. CHAIRMAN: G. WILLIAMS, ESQ., MISKIN MANOR. ADJUDICATORS ASAPH GLAN DYFI, & REV. JAMES WILLIAMS. Chief Subjects :— I.-Best Libretto on The Harvest" not above 200 lines in length. Prize, live guineas, and oak Chair, value, two guineas. 2.-Best Chorus on Luke xix, 38. Prize, three guineas. 3.—To the Choir, numbering not less than 50 voices, that will best render Habacuc's Prayer." (Part 1 to end of 3rd Chorus). Prize, £ 25; i.e., 923 to the Choir, and £ 2 to its conductor. 4.—To the Choir, numbering not less than 30 voices that will best render Addt'wyn Fiwsig," (successful glee at last Eisteddfod) Nos. 88 and 89 of the Gerddorfit. Prize, £ 7. 5.—To ths Juvenile Choir, that will best sing Dr Parry's Sleighing Glee." Prize, JM. A GRAND CONCERT Will be held in the evening, when Mdme. Martha I Harris, R.A.M., Miss S. A. Williams, R.A.M., Asaph Glan Dyfi, and others will take part. The Committee hope to secure a Special Train to be run after the Concert. Programmes may be had from the Secretary. Price Id. by post lid- On behalf of the Committee, D. Leyshon, Chairman, ( Joseph Davies, Graig Boys' School, Pontypridd, Secretary. N.B.-The Committee will gladly entertain offers of Subjects with Prizes for competition. TO ADVERTISERS. THE PONTYPRIDD CHRONICLE AND WORKMAN'S NEWS, A LIBERAL JOURNAL FOR THE TAFF AND RHONDDA VALLEYS, IS an excellent medium for Advertisements. It has been established to meet a want long elt for a popular newspaper. Published in the centre of a large mining and industrial district of 40,000 to 50,000 inhabitants, and within 12 miles only of Cardiff, Merthyr, Aberdare and Treherbert, ita value as an advertiser cannot fail to be recog- nised, and as its charges are as low as those of any other respectable paper in South Wales the Pro- prietor hopes to secure extensive patronage and support. SCALE OF CHARGES FOR. SMALL PRE-PAID ADVERTISEMENTS. For the folluwing classes of Advertisements only :— Situations Wanted, 1 Money Wanted, Situations Offered, Partnerships Wanted, Apartments to Let, Businesses tor Sale, Apartments Offered, | Lost aid Found. MISCELLANEOUS WANTS. Houses, Shops, Offices" Houses to Let, Specific Articles for Sale by Private Contract or Exchanges. If not paid for in advance the ordinary credit rate will be charged. Words. One Three Six Insertion. Insertions. Insertions s. d. s. d. s. d. 18 0 6 10 1 6 27 0 9 1 6 2 3 36 1 0 2 0 3 0 45 1 3 2 6 3 9 54 1 6 3 0 .0' 4 6 63 1 9 3 6 5 3 72 2 0 4 0 6 o 81 2 3 4 6 6 9 Each line 9 words extra. N.B.—This scale does not apply to advertisements from Public Bodies. Cheques and P. O. Orders should be made payable, and all communications sent to B. DAVIES, Pontypridd Chronicle Office, 23 & 24, Mill Street, Pontypridd. EUROPEAN WINE COMPANY, LONDON. ASENT FOB PONTYPRIDD, W. H. KEY, CHEMIST, &c., WINE AND SPIRIT MERCHANT, 89 & 9 0, TAFF STREET Per Bottle Per Dozen. Pale Sherry Is 3d Is 6d Is 8d,15s 18s 20s Royal Victoria. 2s 3d 27s Fine Pale or Gold.2s bd 2s 9d 3s 0d.30s 33s 36s Tarragona Is 3d Is 6d ls9d,15s 18s 21s Fine Old Port 2s Od 2s 3d 2s 6d 24s 27a 30s Choice Old Crusted 3s Od 3s 6d 4s0d.iKs 12s 48s Dinner Claret Is Od Is 3d Is6ti.l2a 15s 18s Superior do. old bottled .2s Od 2s 6d 3s 0d ..24s 30s 36s Champagne .2s3d2sl0d 3s6d.27s 34s 42s Chansarels 1st quality 4s Od 48s Sparkling Saumur 2s Od 2s 5d 2s9d.24s 26s 33s SPIRITS. Colonial Brandy.2s 3d 2s 6d 3s Cognac Brandy 3s Od 3s 6 d 4s Fine London Gin 2s Od 2s 5d 28 7 d Irish Whisky 2s 3d 2s 8d 3s Scotch Whisky 2s 3d 2s 8d 3s Jamaica Rum 2s 3d 2s 8d 3s Schiedam Hollands 2s 5d 2s 8d Books of Prices, containing over 200 descriptions of Wines and spirits, forwarded free on application to the Company or their Agents. Jules Dufont's Old Cognac Brandies. Brenan's V.S.O. Irish Whisky, 3s 6d per bottle. Melrose Highland Whisky, 3s 6d per bottle. |Mlic Notices. PONTYPRIDD A N N UAL CHAIR E I S T K D D F O D WHIT TUESDAY, 1881. TENDERS are invited for making necessary arrangements in the Market Hall to seat 1-1(4) persons. For particulars apply personally to the Sec- retary, JOSEPH DA VIES. 16th March. 1881. Gritig Schools. MR. JENKIN MORGAN'S PRIZE DRAWING, PONTYPRIDD. WIHVIVG NUMBERS. lst Prize 503 2ND „ 950 3RD 294 4TH „ 364 5th Prize 282 6TH 785 7TH „ 196 8TH „ 634 The holders of the above numbers may have their respective Prizes, by applying to Mr Jeukin Morgan, 26, Union-street, Pontypridd. GOOD FRIDAY, A PUBLIC TEA PARTY AT CALVARY ENGLISH BAPTIST CHAPEL, PONTYPRIDD. TICKETS 9d. EACH. We hope to meet 500 or tiOO of our friends on the occasion DEDICATED BY PERMISSION TO THE RIGHT HON. LORD TREDEGAR, u Bow down thine Ear," (Motett) For SOLO, QUARTETT, and CHORUS, Composed by THOS. VINCENT DAVtES, PRICE 8d. Tu be had from the Author, 52, High-street, Pontypridd, Or from NOVELLO, & Co., LONDON. SITUATIONS WANTED. W ANTED a Situation for a Lad in every » » book. seller's Shop in the Taff and Rhondda Valleys to sell the Chronicle. YyTT"ANTED a Situation for a Boy in every F ? Stationers' Shop to sell the '"Pontypridd Chronicle." SITUATIONS VACANT. WANTED Boys to Sell the Pontypridd Chronicle" everywhere on Fridays and Saturdays. WANTED.—Men with spare time to Sell w this Paper every Friday and Saturday. WANTED TO SELL AND BUY. AGENTS required to Sell the Pontypridd Chronicle. Tbe usual commission. i HOUSANDS of People required to Buy JL and Head the Pontypridd Chronicle. Price ONF, PENNY Weekly. USE ONLY FOTHERGILL'S Tobacco and Cigars, 4, STUART HALL. CARDIFF. TO ADVERTISERS! T)r I I N POSTED THOROUGHLY AND I)11JJUU SYSTEMATICALLY. AFPLY Williams, Bill Poster, &c.. RHONDDA ROAD, PONTYPRIDD. WHO HAS ENGAGED INDEPENDENTLY MOST CONSPICUOUS POSTING STATIONS THROUGHOUT THE RHONDDA VALLEY. GWILYM A DDODA YR HYSBYSLENI YN BRIODOL A THREFNUS. SEASON 1881. SEEDS. SEEDS. W. SI. IKIIErsr BEGS to inform the inhabitants of Pontypridd and Neighbourhood that he has received a supply of this season's S-eds, viz.: — BEANS, PEAS, ONIONS, LEEKS, CARROTS, PARSNIPS, LETTUCES, RADDISH, PARSLEY, &c. A detailed Catalogue to be bad on application, 89 & 90, TAFF STREET, PONTYPRIDD A Copy of the PONTYPRIDD CHRONICLE, will be forwarded, Post Free, on the day of pub- lication on receipt of Stamps or Post Office Order: For One Quarter Is. He!. „ Six Months. 3s. 4d. „ Twelve Months. 6s. 8d. Subscribers in the town may have their paper delivered at their residence on pre-payment of Is. 4d. for Three Months. 2s. 8d. for Six Months. 5s. 4d.T for Twelve Months. All communications to bo addressed to B. DAVIES Chronicle Office, 23 & 24. Mill Street, Ponty- pridd.

BIRTHS, MARRIAGES & DEATHS. DEATH. THOMAS MATUKWS, Cyinmer, on March loth, and was hurried at Castieford, Yorkshire, lie leaves five children without father or mother.

MR. GLADSTONE'S LANU BILL. AFTER having pretty effectually applied the whip to the backs of some of the naughty children of Ireland, Mr Gladstone on Thursday night exhibited for the first time the remedy lie has concocted for healing their sore backs. The Irish Land Bill introduced by him on the 7th inst. is one of the most sweeping and radical measures of reform ever brought forward or supported by the present great leader of this country and as it is a measure of reform, fair to the landlord and just to the tenant, Liberals in all parts of the country should be prepared to uphold the Government in the action it has taken, for upon this very question may have to be fought a battle which will shake the British Constitution to its foundation. Already there are signs that dukes and noble lords who own the broadest of broad acres are girding on their armour to fight against the measure in both Houses of Parliament, and the Duke of Argyll has thought fit upon some such grounds to retire from the Government. In a matter like this, in which those who own the land have enjoyed privileges and monopolies for long centuries, it is hardly to be expected that they will give any of them up willingly, and the House of Lords may reject the measure as they rejected the Compensation for Disturbance Bill; but in a country like ours the voice of the people must prevail--hence we warn all Liberals to be ready to raise their voices in support of justice and freedom. The new Irish Land Bill provides for the appoint- ment of a court of three commissioners to deal with land affairs in the sister isle, and from the decision of that court there is to be no appeal. A man having taken a farm is to be allowed to keep pos- session for fifteen years without having his rent advanced. If by the end of that time the land is of so much more value, the landlord may give him notice for an advance, and for fifteen years more he shall remain undisturbed. Here is certainly an incentive to industry very different from the present state of things in Ireland, where a majority of the tenants are mere tenants at will. On the other hand, with the new Bill, if a tenant does not pay his rent he may be evicted, but if he has improved his land he must be compensated for that improvement. If a tenant wishes to sell he may sell to a neighbour who shall oc- cupy the land to the end of the fifteen years for which it was taken; but the landlord must have the first offer of taking the farm from the out-going tenant. However, if the landlord does not give the compensation asked for by the tenant the matter goes before the Land Commissioners who decide the amount to be paid; and if the landlord does not choose to pay that, the land is transferred, as we have said, to any other tenant who may agiee with the outgoing tenant about it. But one great feature in the Bill is its provision for creating peasant proprietors. It renders it possible for the government to purchase es- tates, and if the tenants who hold three- fourths of the land on any estate agree, they may buy their farms in lots of not less than fifteen acres each by paying one-fourth of the value down, three-fourths of the money re- maining on credit to be paid on th°i Building Society system. Every facility is to be given to individuals and companies who may wisk to set about reclaiming the waste land of Ire- land, and, lastly, if Ireland is overstocked with Irishmen, government is to assist them to emigrate and colonise Such, briefly, is the Irish Land Bill, and if passed it will, we be- lieve, tend to make Ireland what her own poet said of her— d (jreat, glorious and free, First flower of the earth, First gem of the sea." And when that measure has been passed we may hopefully look forward to the time when an English and Welsh Land Bill will be intro- duced into the House of Commons. Land- lords here are, upon the whole, not so tyrranical in their conduct as those of Ireland have evidently been in times past, but even in the "Wild Wales" which is so patiently awaiting the promised reforms of the great Gladstone Government there are now and again instances of unjust conduct on the part of landlords. We don't exactly cail for peasant proprietary, but we want to get a few steps nearer to that than we are at present, and the abolition of Primogeniture and Entail with some other attendant evils is a con- summation devoutly to be wished."

PALM SUNDAY. Last Sunday several hundreds of people visited the Glyntaff Burying-ground and the Treforest Cemetery, some to deck the graves of the departed with laurels, and others drawn there by curiosity. Most of tho tombs were very tastefully decorated. This very ancient but very superstitious practice has been kept up in various parts of the country. We saw in one instance the grave of a Baptiat Minister decorated with a floral wreath. We presume, however, that if the soul that once animated that mortal body could commune with the weeping friends it would say that that mistaken act ofjkiiulness did not become the simplicity of the Gospel LIE had spent his life to proclaim. We may, however, see in this custom the strong hold which the idea of immortality has on tho human mind. Annihilation is not in human nature. Roth learned and unlearned dread the very idea. Though we have no sympathy with this superstitious floral festival, yet we respect the idea conveyed, that man will not bid the last farewell to the de- parted. We recognise our departed friends as still living, only removed from us a short distance. As the Psalmist recogilised the living souls of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the fact that a living God called himself their God, though their bodies were mingled with the dust, so we say that nature still claims the closest relation to the immortal spirit. If the stranger enquires of the rustic girl of eight years old how many brothers and sisters she had, her simple reply will be Seven arewc;" Two of us in the churchyard lie, My sister and my brother, And in the churchyard cottage I Dwell near them with my mother." You say that two at Conway dwell And two are gonp to sea, Yet ye are seven-I pray you tell Sweet maid, how this may be." 'Twas throwing words away for still The little maid would have her will, And said, Nay we are seven." Immortality is rooted in the heart of human nature. We are indebted to Christianity for the union of immortality with the resurrection of the body. The Egyptians did all in their power to counteract the law of bodily destruction. But they never con- ceived the idea that the law of destruction was part of the law of life, and that this mortal shall put on immoi tatity." We were much surprised by a remark of Morien in the Western Mail that the ancient nations, Egyptians and British, never heard of Divine revelation. To what period can this refer ? Cer- tainly not to the period of the pyramids of Egypt, for there you will find records of the Jewish slaves in bondage, written in language deciphered by the learned. It was divine revelation that clothed the grave with immortality. It was not a tennet of Druidism —The Ancient Britons believed in the transmigration of souls, but not, as far as we know, in the resurrection of the body. Their future existence, was that of conveying the soul to a new body, either lower or higher than its former existenee according to its moral character. It was revelation, and revelation alone, that brought life and immortality to light. OBSERVER.

WESLEYAN MlSSIONARY MEETING AT PONTYPRIDD. INCIDENTS IN A MISSIONARY'S LIFE. The Rev. W. Wilson, returned Methodist missionary from Fiji, attended as deputation from the parent society, a missionary meeting held at Wesley chapel, on Thursday evening, 7th ult. Mr. Wilson is a most interesting speaker, full of energy and enthusiasm, and possessing in a large measure all the essential gifts of an orator. With the aid of a copious vocabulary, a brilliant imagination, and a personal knowledge of the people and scenes of Fiji, it was easy for him to interest his audience in his late field of labour, and enable them to realize the character of the people, productions, and scenery. His graphic descriptions brought vividly before his audience the rude but picturesque savago as he floated in his canoe or plunged into the sea, or toiled in the plantations, or lounged in the sun, or adorned himself with many coloured pigments. Two incidents may be related, among many others, narrated by the missionary, showing the dangers accompanying missionary labours in those Islands. Happening in one of his missionary tours to visit an Island seldom or ever before visited by white men, he saw a group of men on shore who were fishermen, lie made for the shore, and landed. Having saluted them, he saw that they were just finishing a meal. Although they were a tribe of fishermen they had then been eating something besides fish. Evidently they had been eating flesh. A little observation con- vinced him it was human flesh. As he looked at the remains of the disgusting repast one of the cannibals, who seemed to read his thoughts handed him the bones of a human leg, which he was gnawing, and asked him if he would like to have a bite. Mr Wilson judged it was the leg of a lad about 13 years old. Another time he visited a tribe which dwelt in the interior of one of the Islands. Calling upon the chief-an aged man—and a man of many noble qualities for a savage, he got his consent to visit his people. He went, accompanied by a native assistant missionary. The people were at work but which they laid aside immediately they saw the strangers. Forming a kind of circle they surrounded the missionaries. Then making the circle less and less they came nearer, until at last they violently -Nlr 8 pressed upon them. Mr Wil on Alt uneasy, he had no desire for such close intimacy. But his dislike increased when they began to feel him by pinching severely, and remarking with satisfaction, that he was in very good condition. Mr Wilson extricated himself from his unpleasant and dang-rous position by preaching vigorously to them the gospel of love. To-day the Society has one hundred thousand converts in the Islands, and eight hundred preachers and church officers. We are sorry there has been a serious falling off of the funds both of the General Society, and the Ponty- pridd branch Society.

AN AMERICAN ABDUCTION CASE. EXCITING CONFLICT WITH THE SCHEMERS. The city of New York is in an excited state about a frustrated plot to abduct a child as a means of extorting money. The family of Mr. Louis Stras- burger. a wealthy jeweller, received during several weeks letters threatening to abduct his daughter Rosa, aged eleven, it £ 12,000 were not paid. An attempt was made to abduct her, but failed, and the case was placed in the hands of the detective force. The conspirators proposed that the governess should appear in a certain street, walk. ing over a specified route, with the money in an envelope, dropping it when a pistol was fired. This was tried several times, but no pistol was fired. Finally, on Thursday, a letter came ord ring this to be done again immediately. The governess started, with an envelope contain- ing a blank paper, and walking as instructed along £ ixty-first-street, towards Fifth Avenue. A detec- tive, by a circuitous route, entered Madison-avenue, near Sixty-first-street, as a governess came along. A pistol shot was fired, the governess dropped the envelope, and a man picked it up. The detective rushed after him and a scuffle ensued, during which the detective's pistol went off, as he avers, accidentally. The ball entered the man's eye, instantly killing him. The accomplice who fired the pistol was afterwards captured. Other arrests have now been made. The inculpated parties are all Germans, who came from Europe in October on the steamer with Mr Strasburger's family, when the plot was formed. Full disclosures have been made, and the apartment where the child was to have been hidden has been discovered, as also has been the fact that passages to Europe for the chief parties had been engaged. This case resem- bles the Charlie Ross abduction case so much that it attracts general attention.

FEARFUL DEATH OF A CHILD AT CARDIFF On Saturday Mr. E. B. Reece coroner, held an inquest on the body of William J. Greenslade, a child two and a half years old, whose parents reside at No 42, Sophia-street. It appeared that on the 1st instant the mother of the child lifted a large pot of boiling water from the fire, and left it on 0 the floor while she went out. During her absence the lid was taken off, and the child fell in. When, the mother returned she found that another child had lifted the little boy out of the pot. The injuries were of a fearful character, and resulted in death. The jury found "That deceased died in consequence of scalds accidentally received."

THE NON-CONFORMISTS AND THE THEATRE. MAGISTERIAL APPLICATION. Considerable feeling has been caused in the upper part of the Rhondda Valley in Nonconfor- mist circles, by an itimation received a week or two ago, that a travelling theatre- the manager of which is brother to the owner of the theatrical company which has been performing at Pontypridd for the past six months—was about to take up its quarters at Pentre. With a view to putting down local theatricals, a public meeting of Nonconformists, convened by circular, was held on Sunday afternoon at Hebron Independent (Congregational) Chapel, Pentre. Mr Ed. Davies was unanimously elected to preside, and there were present representatives of almost, if not all, the Dissenting churches—nearly a score -from Treorky to Ton. In opening the proceedings, the CHAIUMAN ex- plained that its object was to organise effectual means of once more defeating theatrical incursions in the Rhondda. These performances, seductive and enticing, were of a radically bad tendency, and were calculated to neutralise and harm the spread of evangelical religion. They had put theatricals under ban before, and they would do so again. Spiritual religion must not be trodden under foot by the children of the dbvil. Mr DANIKL DAVIES, Ocean Collieries cashier, (Calvinistic Methodist), heartily and with em- phasis endorsed what had fallen from the chairman.. and proposed-" That this gathering of Non-con- formists desires to impress upon the minds of ad Nonconformist churches and congregations in the district the evil of attending the theatrical per- formances, which are intended to be held in the district." It was also intimated that, should any dissenting church members go to the performance it behoved the churches to sever connection with them. Mr THGs. EDWARDS, Llewelyn's-place, Pentre, (Calvinistic Methodist), seconded the proposition. On being put to the meeting, it was unanimously passed. The deputations conveyed the substance of the preceding resolution to the Dissenting congrega- tions, and the ministers made approving reference to it. The Rev. Mr. Evans, Congregational minister and others fally concurred with the second clause in the resolution, and should church members go to the theatre—should it be licensed by the magis- terial bench-they will be excommunicated from the church. On Monday, at the Pentre police-court, Mr. W. Williams, solicitor, Pontypridd. appeared before Mr Gwilym Williams, stipendiary magistrate, on behalf of Mr. Samuel Noakes, proprietor of a travelling theatre, to ask his worship to hold a special session at an early date for the purpose of heariug an ap- plication to license theatrical performances in that district. After addressing his worship to this effect, Mr Williams added that members of the theatrical company had performed sketches in the place during the last few days, but that had been done entirely through ignorance. The Stipendiary: I understand matters have been respectably carried out so far, and I daresay if the police are satisfied nothing will be said. It was arranged that the application should be made next Wednesday week at the Pontypridd police-court.

THE DINAS AND PENYGRAIG BRITISH SCHOOLS AND THE SCHOOL BOARDS. To the Editor of the Pontypridd Chronicle. Sir, Will you kindly allow me through the medium of your valuable paper to make a few remarks concerning the above schools. It shall be understood by those that are not acquainted this place, that these schools have been erected and maintained since their formation by the contributions of the workmen. We are contributing 2d per £ of our earning money towards them. This money, with the children s school pence, and the government grants, are the only sources, as far as I can understand by which these schools are maintained. There is a strong feeling among the workmen in favour of transfering our schools unto their respective School Boards. The following question is frequently asked, and discussed by the workmen, name, "What is the reason that we as workmen at these collieries have to support these schools ourselves; and also compelled to pay the rates towards all the other schools in the parish ?'' Well after all who are we to blame for this ? The only answer that can be given to this is, we cannot blame anybody but ourselves. Since the formation of the School Boards in our district, we are compelled by law to pay the rates towards their support, but we are not compelled to keep and maintain our own schools as well, and the only remedy we have is to have them transfered to their respective Boards. Then we shall only have to pay the same as others, and in my opinion the sooner it is done the better. I believe that it would prove advantageous to us in many other respects. Every workman, I presume, will agree with me, that those gentlemen elected as our Boards, are better qualified to manage our schools, and to provide for the education of the rising generation' than we are, as a rule those gentlemen are well educated themselves, and they can afford to give more attention to the matter than we can. ° Again, it appears to me that the mixed system is a great hindrance to the cause of education in the neighbourhood. Anyone acqnainted with the place knows very well that there are scores of children at Dinas, Penygraig, and Williamstown, &c., that do not attend any school whatever, and if their parents were to send them all to school, there is not sufficient accommodation for them'. We are not ready, nor able to provide for them our- selves, and as long as we keep the matter in our own hands, and are pretending to provide sufficient school for the plaoe, we are keeping the Board from interfering, and between us we are neglecting to provide for the education of the ever-iucr.aaing population of the place by trusting to one another, and thas ;he work is left undone. I don't wish to say a word against our local schools ncr their promoters, but I think that it would be vise, and that it is our duty to transfer our schools to their respective Boards. I believe that it wlUld be a great advantage to the rising generation I shouldlike to see others of our fellow workmen coming FORWARD to express their views on this important tubject. COLLIER. Others are kivited to express their views on the above matter, h English or Welsh .—Ed. P. C.

FAlRPlAY EXl'EKTO CREUE." To the Editor f the Pontypridd Chronicle." SIR, It is a mater of great surprise to me that anyone can be fouij for one moment with conceit enough to think tht, he can succeed in persuading people of the ninteenth century that fair is foul, and foul is fir." But wonders will never cease, and I presum one must not wonder over- much to find such aperson as described above, in the arena of debat under the nom de plu" e of Fairplay." But now what AS the facts of the case with regard to the inrtimces of the theatre. Mr Fairplay is evidently indebted to his memory for his jests and to his Pagination for his facts," and is this good argumet in disproof of his position in this debate ? Ha not the theatre developed his imaginative faouly to excess, and thus caused him to commit almoi unpardonable blunders in ad- ducing fabrications ohis own finesse, as facts, I feel assured that the reders of the CHRONICLE, who have not forgotten thr English history, will one and all maintain hut mut of Fairplay's last, letter is but a concoction of h fancy. Behold, then, my first argument agaim the stage it perverts th imagination. The heatre toon-over tends te corrupt the morals ofchose who attend it. Moso the sentiments whb arc inculcated there have this tendency. ice is set of with every charm by which it can be adorned; and virtue often represented ina ridiculous light, so as to prejudice the mind aainat it. It is well known that pride and tevena, unjust resentment and false honour that duels ail self-murder, make a con- siderable part of mo; of our plays, and are the conduct and passionloften r, commended in them. Love between sexesthe strongest passion in the human frame, attelled with intrigue. combating with parental authory, jealousy, rivals, and other opposition makes a ht of almost every play, and it is described by pYwriters as if their aim was to raise a whirlwind, vhich was to swe.p down reason and decency, AD to carry aw,.y before it every duty." Charact.s are often drawn which are nowhere to be fouc in life, persons and things represented in an extriASAnt and false light, so that the mind contra a romantic turn, the judgement is corrnptednd the conduct injured. When real chatacters -e represented they are often bad characters; J'sometimes painted in an amiable light, and divesd ot what is shocking. The rake and debauchee the favourite character and often rewarded at TH^D of the play, while a man of strict virtue is deRjbed as a hypoorite, or made an object d ridicuh Sobriety is put out of eountenanee and modesty jughed at. The hot- lipped lecher, whose moutlig fooleries and golden baits have lured many of he fair and innocent from the path of virtue is eaignated a gentleman, while the hearts he has brob, and the hopes he h:;s blighted are regarded AS trojÍes of his noble and gentlemanly spirit. No MTER how deeply the libertine may have imbrued s hands in the blood of innocence—no matter hoi many peaceful and h.ppy homes he has made,iaorab)e-no matter how many lives his accomished brutality may have wrecked and rui'.ed, Halo of extenuation is thrown around him, and hotisses from off the stage, as the embodiment of I.,oism. The mean- spirited and filthy-hearted miroant is represented with his eye glass, lots of mOr, a shooting-box in the country, a dog-ourt alwayvairing for him, and a retinue of lacqueys to perfoi his behests, and thus under the hem of a ^ENTL^II s garment, that mantle which has covered in < TIME such a mul- titude of sins and sinners, hitniseuess is hidden and he enthusiastically applaud. The language of the majority the plays :lc¡ed IA as bad as their sentiments. Th abound in pr<'FINE- ness, oaths and curses. Many Olic plays most com- monly acted are full of in tecentnguage or 01 words and phrases of double meani and things are often uttered in the Theatrwhich no modest persons would utter in compar or hear uttered by others without reckoning tlnselves affronted. It abounds with fithiness, olish talking and jesting" which Paul says "s not once to be named (Eph. v, 3, 4,) where MY critics suppose he particularly referred to th<tage. (Could it have been the grand theatre) which Fairplay referred ?) Now when this is,he case, I think nothing can be plainer than thiit IS detrimental to integrity and manliness. SN plays excite and strengthen those passions whidt IS the duty of all to prevent and restrain; tin put their virtue to an unnecessary trial; ex;e themselves to temptations, to lewdness, rexge, profane and filthy language, and every indjney- All these sentiments are enforced, an these passions heightened by the action, scery, music, and company. And the senses beiithus assaulted at once, it is no wonder that such evil communica- tions corrupt good manners." TE truth of these remarks will further appear, if u consider, that the writers and actors of plays ve been for the most part, the vilest of men If plays were a virtuous, useful, and elevatingtertainment, as Fairplay pretends, the actors of them, who enter more into the parts than the spectators, would undoubtedly be persons of sobriety and refinement But the contrary is notorious: and appears especially from the lives of some authors and many actors of plays, which have been written even by their friends. The blaspheming Marlow was slain in a disgraceful brawl; Robert Greene is said to have died of immoderate drinking. Peel, Nash, and Lodge led an unruly life. Lest Fairplay should call this assertion "uncorroborated testimonv permit me to direct his attention to a criticisii, OI Gervinus' Commentaries on Shakspcarc's works in the Westminster Review, No. xlviii. I can furnish him with more of such proofs if necessnn The influence which the stage has upon the spec- tators is seen every night in the "swinish multi- tude that rushes out of what Fairplay has happily designated "the remnants of a wooden shanty such as we have here." The remainder of this letter will appear in our next.-Ed. P. C.

PONTYPRIDD BOA K D OF GU A RL>- IAVS. THE SUNDAY CLOSING QUESTION. THE FORMEK DECISION OF 'll:1t bo Alt!) R:\hHsLD. THE PETITION 10 HE SIGN ED. The ordinary meeting of this Board was held on Wednesday, when there were present: Rev. D. W, Williams (in the chair) Messrs nwilym Williams- F. R. Crawshay; Thos. Morgan; J. Hit-hards; A. Cule; M. Cule; I. Williams (Glog); C. H. N. Grey; T. Thomas (Ferndale); J. Evans (Crofta) E. Edwards; T. Jones; D. Jenkins (Ystradbarwig); Josiah Lewis; D. Leyshon; E. H. Davies,- 1). Jones; E. Evans; W. Jelferies J ldris Davies D. Joseph, (Tydraw) D. John (Pentre Hotel); \r. Davies (Couit Villa). In accordance with a notice given at the last meeting, Mr IHOMAS MOIIGAX moved That the resolution passed at the meeting of the Board on the 16th March, with reference to the Sunday Closing Bill. be rescinded, and that a petition to Parliament in favour of the Bill for Sunday Closing in Wah-S be approved of and signed by the Chairman on behalf of the Board." He said that he and many other Guardians had been disappointed by the quiet way in which the Board at its last meeting disposed of this important question. They thought all the Guardians should have had a chance of expressing then opinion upon the subject. (Hear, hear.) He had hoard some people say they did not like to curtail the liberty of others, but if that liberty was dangerous to themselves, to their families, and to the society at large, it ought to be curtailed. (Hear, hear). All the Guardians present would agree with him that three-fourths of the pauperism of this country was caused by drink, and so were, probably, the majority of the cases in that House Therefore the Guardians should try to limit the evil. He also remarked that it would be beneficial to the health and morals of persons engaged in the trade -handsome and healthy young women who were obliged to wait upon the worst characters, it was the greatest bondage of this country. (Hear hear). Mr F. It. CRAWSHAY seconded the resolution, and remarked that it reflected somewhat upon the Board that it should have passed a resolution against the petition in such a manner before. He expressed his concurrance with the remarks made by Mr Morgan. Some moments elapsed before anyone moved an amendment. Ultimately, Mr J. EVANS, (Crofta), rose to move that the pe ltion be not signed. He urged that if public- houses were closed the doors of private houses would be all the more open, and drink which would be taken in on a Satu.d .y night would be consumed without discretion; men, women, and children wouid drink, and the result of the PASSING of a Sunday Closing Bill, lie thought, would ° e to plunge the workmen into great miaerv. Mr. WI LLIAIIS, (Glog; seconded the amend- ment. Mr. J "SIAII LMwis, supported the amendment; while MR J. Richards, Mr Thomas Jones, Mr GwiJyu, Williams, MR Joseph, and others supported the resolution of MR Morgan. The CLERK (Mr Spickett) said the resolution was passed at the time of public business in the usual way a mouth ago, but Mr T. Jones and Mr Joseph remarked ihat notice should have been given of such an important matter. ° The CLERK replied that it never was done here. The UI. VI KM AX said that unless others wanted to sp ak they had better put it to the rote as some members wanted to go away by train. In the remarks he made Mr Williams, (Miskin) said it would affect the Bill very adversely if a public toody like this Board were to decline to pass the petition and he ventured to say that it they did not pass it they would not be doing the wibhes of those whom they represented. (Hear, hear.) He ventured to say that nine-tenths of the working classes were in favour of the Bill. As to Mr Evans' motion, he did not believe their wiv..s and daughters would be made drunkards by tbe- Bill. If people wanted drink no doubt they would get it; but if not, then they would do without it; but it would be beneficial to have the temptation removed. (Hear, bear.) The motion was then put when 12 voted for Mr. Morgan's resolution and 11 for the amendment and the motion was declared carried. The Chair- man did not vote. Some other business of minor importance having been transacted the meeting termianted.

PONTYPRIDD POLICE COURT. Wednesday-before Mr G. Williams, (Stipendiary) STEAMXG Two SLEDGES.—Rees Williams, collier, Ferndale, was charged with stealing two sledges, the property of David Owen and David Jones, colliers, Maerdy. The sledges were found in a cupboard in prisoner's house on Saturday last by P. C. Llewelyn. The constable asked the prisoner if they were his. He said "No," but that he in- tended to take them back. He asked him where to. He said to the Maerdy colliery." The con- stable took the sledges to the Maerdy colliery, and both identified by their respective owners. Pri- soner said at first that he knew nothing of them but he afterwards said that his eon had told him that he had found one of them in the rubbish. The son was called as a witness for the defence! This boy had been convicted on Monday at the Pentre for stealing six Davy Lamp glasses. The Stipendiary said that he did not believe a word that he said. And told him he would sure to be transported if he went on as he did. The prisoner was sent to gaol for seven days with hard labour for each offence.

THE LATE UlNAS EXPLOSION. HOPES OF RECOVERING THE BODIES. It is now woll understood that Colonel Hunt has come to an agreement with D. Thomas, Esq. to sell or lease the whole of the Steam Coal seems, the Dinas, and Brithweunydd farms, and all the Company's houses. Mr Thomas will take pos- sesion next Monday, April 18. Thenceforth the colliery will be carried on by him under the management of Mr Joftn Ray. 18 is understood that Mr Thomas intends re-opening the four feet seam, where the explosion occurred in Jan, 1879. when 63 lives were lost, and 54 bodies still remain in the pit. They will be got out as soon as possible. We have strong hopes for believing that Mr Thomas will succeed in his philanthropic desires, for the sake of the anxious relatives, and to the great satisfaction of the workmen generally.

CONCEALMENT OF BIRTH AT PONTYPRIDD. THE PRISONER FORMALLY COMMITTED. At the Pontypridd poliee-eourt on Wednesday, (before Mr Gwilym Williams), Mary Sullivan a married woman, whose husband is in the lunatic asylum, was charged on remand with concealing the birth of her two illegitimate and still-born children. The evidence, which has been given be. fore, was gone through, and the woman was com- njitted to take her trial at the ensuing A