The Rhondda Leader

Honouring a Doctor. The Author of "Tandra." Pesentation at Abergwynfl. The Mission Room, Abergwynfi, was on Tuesday evening, the scene of a very interest- ing function, viz. That of a presentation to Dr. W. N. Fisher, of Glyncorrwg, late of Abergwynfi. The audience consisted of a good- ly contingent, presided over by Isaac Davies, Esq., J.P., Chairman of the Urban District Council. There were also present, amongst others, Rev. W. Meredith Morris, Rev. John Williams, Mr. D. H. James, Schoolmaster, Glyncorrwg,, Ex-Councillors David Richards, W. Lewis, &c., &c. The Testimonial had been a popular move- ment, and a strong Committee had been formed with Mr Davies as chairman, Mr Walter Williams, Treasurer, and Mr. T. W. Lewis, Secretary. Mr Davies, in referring to Dr. Fisher said his work, his great ability, and his sterling worth, had endeared him to all sections of the Abergwynfi community. The Testimon al could not adequately re- present public regard for its recipient, but was a slight token of a kindly spirit and affection- ate regard on the part of the subscribers. Mr. John Gregory sang The Warrior." Rev. J. Williams stated, he was gratified to be able to testify to the many good qualities of the Doctor. Mr. John Morgan favoured the audience c2 with a fine rendering of U Y Bachgen Dewr." Mr. Walter Williams then handed a cheque to Dr. Fisher. Mr. Williams in a pretty, humourous speech recalled the close associations which existed between the human body and the medical Doctor. Dr. Fisher in rising to respond, received quite an ovation. He briefly reviewed his stay in Abergwynfi, and feelingly thanked them for the magnificent testimonial Rev. W. Meredith Morris also spoke, after which, Mr. John Smith sang "Sweet Gene- vieve with charming effect. Mr. W. Lewis proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman. Mr. W. Mathias seconded. Mr. loan Williams, A. L.C.M., presided at the piano with much ability.

OLD GLAMORGAN. (BY VULCAN.) The British were men of commerce long before the Christain era. They were visi- ted by the Phenicians eight hundred years or more before the birth of Christ, and commercial dealings were carried on be- tween them until the days of Alexander the Great. Aristotle, who died about the year 322 before the Christian era, states that the Greeks at that time carried trea- sures from the British Isles to their coun- try, The Syracusians also visited these realms for the same purpose. It was chiefly minerals of various sorts that were traded in at that period, although there were many other valuable treasures in the coun- try, which were, generally, reserved for home purposes and uses. The British were acquainted with the utility of iron, tin, lead, brass, etc.,before the coming of Ceesar. They used iron and brass in the manufacture of chains and plates. The latter were used as the current coin of the country. Csesar, and other Roman histor- ians, refer t6 these ancient Welsh coins. Strabo states positively that iron, corn, cattle, gold, silver, etc., were tradel by the British before the coming of the Rom- ans into the Island. But where it is true that the ancient Welsh tribes were ac- quainted with the art of commerce, and knew also the use of iron, lead, brass, etc., before the days of Caesar, yet, the state of trade was very low in this coun- try until the coming of the Emperor and his hosts. One of the chief obstacles in the way of the ancient commerce of the Island was the absence of convenient roads along which to convey its resources within reach of foreign merchants. After the coming of the Roman hosts into Bri- tain, this obstacle was entirely removed, with the result that a great commercial revival followed. After Caradog, Prince of Glamorgan, had fallen a prisoner into the hands of the Romans, his adherents were soon conquered, and the country, from end to end, subjugated by the Roman general, Julius Frontinus. After this officer had reduced the Silurians under his sway, he joined their different regions to- gether, by making convenient roads from one district to another. These roads he named Julia Strata, or Via Julia, after his own name; but Maritama was connected with the name of some of them, in order to distinguish them from the chief high- way, Via Julia Montana. The great high- way, Via Julia Montana, came into the region of Glamorgan at Caerwent, and from there to Caerleon on Usk. From there, it led on its westward way, and crossed the River Taff, a little to the north of Car- diff, then through the Vale of Glamorgan, and to Neath. After reaching Neath, it stretched onward through Loughor, and downward to St. David's, where it termin- ated. Many other ways branched out from this road into the interior of the country. One of them is visible until this day a little to the north of Neath, on the ridge of Hir-fynydd. This way ran up to the River Tanad in the north, where there was a Roman fortress named Mediolanum. The Welsh call this way Sarn Hcle^i, in memory of Helena, the daughter of Coel Codebog, and the mother of Constantinus. Afxfher of these ways is seen a lit4-1- to rh of Cardiff, which R eads or t, r there- over the Abe K "Jaj îistll rad Bridge, and Monmouthshire, and then to Caer-Bannau, namely, the chief station in Breconshire, about twelve igiles to the north of Swansea. Another is Seen on Mynydd-y-Gnair, known by the name Pen-cae'r-Clawdd." It starts from the old camp which is visible on the mountain in the direction of the south, but it] at once, inclines a little to the west until it unites with the other main line that went from Swansea to Landilo. Near this road stands an ancient Roman dyke formed of earth and stones, and measuring about one hundred yards in circumference. After these excellent roads had been completed, Glamorgan, and other parts of the Princip- ality, wore a much more flourishing aspect. There was a wonderful revival of com- merce, and we find several ironworks star- ted here and there through the country. Soon after the Emperor Adrian landed in the Island, which event took place in 120 B.C., a comparatively large forge was established at Bath. The design of this forge was to make weapons of war for the supply of the soldiers in various parts of the empire, but many other things besides were made there. After starting the Bath forge, men were sent to the country of the Silurians to seek for minerals, timber, etc., and large quantities of them were found in the mountains of Gwent and Hereford- shire. Operations were commenced for digging down to them, and they were car- ried across the river to Bath, and thence they were carried along the road which runs side by side with the Bristol road, to the forge. As the demand for war mater- ials increased, the need was felt for new works, and so one was establshed at Caer- leon-on-Usk, and one in the locality now known as the Forest of Dean, and others at Chester, Ilchester, etc. Now commerce was very brisk and flourishing in East Glamorgan, for much of the ore melted at these places came from there. Gradually works were started at Cefn Pwlldu, and Hadnock, as well as at Bolston Gaer, near Miskin, in Glamorgan. In 1762 one of the coins of the Emperor Antoniuas Pius, was discovered under a great heap of cinders near Miskin, on which was caved a number of hounds and hares. Many heaps of old cinders have been found in the Neath Valley and the Taff Valley. It is not known when, nor how, they came there, and so it is thought that these also belong to the Roman age. After the Saxons came into the country, commerce deteriorated greatly among the Silurians, the same as among the other tribes of the Island. They exchanged commerce for war. The Welsh were a very brave people, and the Saxons and their predecessors were made to feel this to their cost. They commenced to battle against their enemies the Saxons about the first part of the 6th century, and the struggle continued until the time of Henry VIII., when it ceased. During this long period, we know but little of their history as traders, but much is said about them as warriors. Giraldus, who flourished in the 12th century, says that the inhabitants of the Forest of Dean sent iron in his time to Gloucester, therefore, we must believe that they had not entirely abandoned com- merce. The Silurians possessed other resources than iron, namely, cows, pigs, horses, sheep, etc.; but they were utilised chiefly for home consumption. About the end of the 16th century, and the beginning of the 17th century, trade revived a little aoif— jthem, and we find that they erected fur- naces for melting iron, instead of the old troublesome pits used formerly. These furnaces were not large, and were blown with bellows, much in the same manner as blacksmiths blow their fires in our days. The first furnace, according to this style, was erected in Gamorgan, and its erec- tion was at Ynyscedwyn, on the banks of the Tawe, in the Swansea Valley. A fur- nace existed there in 1461, and this was the oldest in Wales. A piece of pig-iron was discovered in Ynyscedwyn in 1795, bearing the date 1612 carved upon it. When trade revived, it was felt necessary to adopt some means more in accordance with the age and the state of trade, for conveying the different resources to the seaports and other convenient places, for transmission to foreign lands. This brings us to the close of the 18th century, when important and interesting developments followed. (To be continued.)

Death of the Clerk to the Guardians. Reference by Judge Gwilym Williams. On Sunday night, at eight olclwk. the death occurred of Mr Edward Colnett Spickett, Pontypridd, clerk to the Board of Guardians at the age of 74. Deceased was born at Llandough Cottage, Cowbridge in 1825, his parents being Mr E. Powell Spickett and Mrs Elizabeth Caroline Spic- kett, who was the daughter of Captain James Colnett, R.N. He was educated at Cowbridge Grammar School, and was sub- sequently articled to the late Mr W. Lewis, solicitor, Bridgend. He was admitted in the year of 1848, and his first practice was at Pontypridd, where he was destined to occupy several onerous and responsible positions. Some years afterwards, in he was appointed by the late Judge Fal- coner as the firs Registrar of Pontypr c d. County Court, the business being then carried on in the Assembly Room of the New Inn Hotel, a position which he occu- pied with ability up to the last. He was alsJ appointed the first clerk of the Guar- dians in the Pontypridd Union, and also registrar of the Bankruptcy Court, both of which offices he retained until his death. Other public position which he held for many years were the clerkships of the old Pontypridd Highway Board and Rural Sanitary Authority, the Pontypridd Burial Board, and he was, until some time ago, superintendent registrar for b'rths marria- ges and deaths, being the fast to occupy thatoffice. He was one of the njost. familiar figures in the town and district, especially in connection with the County Court and the Union, both of which institutions he stivea ably and well. He was a devoted member of the English Congregational Church. In politics he was a Liberal, though for many years he bss not taken any active interest in politics. Mr Spickett, who was one of the best known and oldest solicitors in the county had suffered for years from a bronchi''i affection, bu his splendid spirit and fcooi constitution kept him up, and he continued to discharge his public duties up to three weeks ago. Then, however, he was stricken with his old complaint, but for a time it was thought he would recover until on Thursday he had a relapse, and passed away peacefully on Sunday night. He leaves three sons, Mr J. E. Spickett, who was recently appointed joint registrar with his father; Mr W. Spickett, clerk of the Caerphilly and Llantrisant District Coun- cils and Mr Edwards Spickett, and two daughters. On Monday, before proceeding with the work of the County Court at Pontypridd, Judge Gwilym Williams paid an eloquent tribute to the .memory and character of the La*# 1 Spickett, wi; 1 — "w"1 A' « position T" l nave e 1) A 11, able mischief among there to-day Without The oQver-s+llich I feel over the event which is known to all of us. The death of Mr Spickett is an event which can- not fail to be felt, not only by those who have been connected with him profession- ally or closely allied, as I and others have been, in the administration of matters in this Court, but also by a very large number of the very dense population of the district, and I would also say I think more especially so by the professional men with who mhe has been so long and so honourably associa- ted. Words fail me at the present moment to convey a due appreciation of my per- sonal opinion of the character of Mr Spickett. I would say this, and I think his life is summed up in a very few words-as a most honourable, straightforward man, a man who, like all of us, had his faults. Brusqueness of manner was one of the dis- tinguished characteritics of his terse speak- ing, and I attribute that brusqueness of manner in very many instances to his thorough straightforwardness and his im- patience with anyone that appeared to him to lack that quality of straightforwardness. I think that the long connection I have had with him-which commenced long be- fore I was connected with the County Court in any way, as an ex-officio guardian of this district, where he commenced, so to speak, his public career as clerk to the guardians of this Union, and his connection with me since as registrar of the courts where I have been judging-has afforded me an opportunity of judging the man's character perhaps more fully than it is possible for any other person in this room to have had. I sum up his chaarcter as a pure-minded, straight-forward gentleman. But there are others who will feel the loss iti a thousand times more accentuated form To them I would extend my respect- ful and deep sympathy, and I am certain I may add your sympathy to mine. "I tako it," concluded his Honour, "I may add 3 our expression of sympathy to my own to- wards the sorrowing family, and especially to Mis? Spickett." Mr A. Parsons, New- port, and Mr W. R. Davies, solicitor, Pontypiidd endorsed his Honour's expres- sion of sympathy and his testimony to the character of the deceased. The latter added that his colleagues in the prof 33S; »1 rjciced with him that Mr James Spiekott (t'ectaffd's eldest son) had been ap,,tiiit,d Ky his honour as registrar of the Co :i t, and the loyalty which had been extended to the late registrar by the members of the profession would be unswervingly extended to him. The funeral which was an immense one, t« ok place at Glyntaff Cemetery on Thurs- day.

Brass Band and Male Voice Contest at Abercarn. On Saturday last, a Brass Band Contest took place in the Market Square, Aber- carne, when a spacious tent had been erec- ted for the occasion. Mr D. F. Pritchard, Crumlin,being president, Mr J. Ord Hume, Fleet, adjudicator. The competing bands were —Abertillery Town Band Blaen- avon Templar Silver Band; Cwmaman Band; Cwm Waunllwyd; Great Western Colliery Silver Band; Nelson Temperance Band Treharr s Town Band. The adjudi- cator awarded the first prize to the Cwm- aman Brass Band (conductor Mr W. Smith) Treharris Town Band received tehecond prize (conductor Mr G. Dumnoch): and the nrize was aw^^ to the Abertillery Town Hand (conductor, Mr" B. Wrtgirt). We were very pleased to note the success of P the Great Western Colliery Silver Band (conductor, Mr Gus Foxall), who came in fourth, this being their first attempt at a competiton. At the Male Voice Com- petiton, which took place in the public Hall the test piece being "Martyrs of the Arena" anly two parties entered, viz., Abercarn and Blaenavon. The adjudicator (Mr Wm. Thomas, conductor of the Treorky Royal Male Voice Pary), awarded the first prize < of £10 to Abercarn (conductor Mr S. All- < sopp), Blaenavon receiveing the second 1 prize of L2 10s. It is proposed to hold 1 these competitions annually at Aberearne.

IVIORE WAR PICTURES. Vivid Sketches from the front. Our readers will be interested in the per- usal of some extracts from private letters sent from the seat of war to friends in England, which have recently been pub- lished. War is a funny game. "I lay where I fell for about three- quarters of an hour," says an officer in a letter addressed to his mother, "when a doctor came and put a field dressing on my wound, gave me some brandy, put my hel- met under my head as a pillow, covered me with a Boer blanket which he had taken from adead man,and then went to look after some other poor beggar. I will never forget the horrors of that night as long as I live. In addition to the agony which my wound gave me I had two sharp stones running into my back. I was soaked to the skin and bitterly cold, but had an awful thirst; the torrents of rain never stopped. On one side of me was a Gordon Highlander in raving delirium, and on the other a Boer who had had his leg shattered by a shell, and who gave vent to the most heartrend- ing cries and groans. War is a funny game mother, and no one can realize what its grim horrors are like till they see it in all its barbarous reality. I lay out in the rain the whole of the night, and at daybreak was put into a doolie by the doctor, and some natives carried me down to the station. The ground was awfully rough, and they dropped me twice; I fainted both times. I was sent down to Ladysmith in the hospi- tal train; from the station I was conveyed to the chapel (officers' hospital) in a bullock cart, the jolting of which made me faint again. I was the last officer taken in. I was then put to bed, .and my wound was dressed just 17 hours after I was hit. They then gave me some beef tea, which was the first food I had had for 27 hours." The Highlander and his Kilt. "One of our poor fefugees has heard no- thing from her husband and sons who were mining at the coalfields, Dundee they were underground when the town was shelled. She hopes they may have got away. An- paper and sending it up to them. They are beaten black and blue bytheBoers for leav- ing the train to get a mug of water for his mother and sisters. And yet these Boers are the men who are compared to Cromwell's Ironsides by Little Englanders! Our wounded men are in good spirits, and so thankful to be properly cared for. They are having letters written to their sweet- hearts and wives. Ladies are buying note- paper and ending it up to them. They are longing for their wounds to heal to be fight- ing again. One poor Gordon Highlander was kept quiet by the nurse's threat of re- moving his kilt from under his pillow; he declares against the blue hospital trousers" Before War was Declared. "While I was working the Ladysmith to Charlestown section of the Johannesburg mail, just before war was declared the sights were sufficient to make one's blood boil. People came to our engirt js to leg hot water in order to provide food for babies and invalids. They could not gi-t 1 ft water while com ng 1 li ougl i V/ refused simply because tu.5* Ar •vlV«»^T1lUeii and children were pacit in coal trucks, while ttit; ing Boer" were leisurely riding vnipC ] At every station the women were jeerea'at and rifles shoved in their faces, and some of the cowards even flung stones. How different under the Union Jack I Food was then given them, and tea or coffee, and they were made as comfortable as possible. Six births occurred in one train of coal trucks, in which men and women and youngsters were crowded together." "Tommy" bragging, the wounded groaning. "The most horribe part came afterwards. It was dark by the time we finished, and we had to take up a position (late the Boer position) in the dark in the pelting rain and wind. You cannot possibly imagine any- thing more pitiful than to sit out there all night and hear "Tommy's" loud bragging mixed with the groans of the woundedand dying." How our Smartest Officers Dine. "I dined with the Dundee column, last night. I will give you a description of this dinner as showing how Burns's 'gilded pop- injays' fare when times are warlike. To begin with, there was no sort of furniture, If you want to sit down you did so on the floor. We each got hold of a large tin mug and dipped it into a large tin saucepan of soup and drank it, spoons not existing. A large lump of salt was passed round, and every one broke off a piece with his fingers. Next you clawed hold of a piece of bread and a chunk of tongue and gnawed first at one and then at the other.— knives and forks there were none. This finished the dinner. Add to this two or three tallow candles stuck in a cocoa tin, and the fact that none of the officers had shaved or had had their clothes off for a week, and had walked some 45 miles through rivers and mud, and you will have some idea of how the officers' mess of one of the smartest of her Majesty's foot regi- ments do for themselves in time of war. Not a murmur or complaint was to be heard." Would Shoot any Man retiring. "The Talana Hill fight took eleven hours and a half hard fighting to get possession of the hill. We were soon at the foot of the heights, where, under a heavy rifle fire from the Boers, the brave little riflemen and the Dublin Fusiliers went up the steep hill. Half-way up there was a breastwork of rocks to climb over, and then we were picked off one by one,and, worse than that, we had a flat piece of ground to go over right in the open. Our men were dropping down wounded, and our colonel thought they were retiring. He turned round, revolver in hand,and said that any man re- tiring under the Boer fire he would shoot. Almost immediately he received a bullet in his heart, and lell, never to get up any more; and another of our officers was hit in the stomach ctnd blown m piece, by a shell from our own guns."

Testimonial to Eos Wenallt. All musical folks will be glad to hear that there is a movement on foot at Aberdare to give a Complimentary Concert to Eos Wenallfc. He has had a most successful career as an nateur tenor vocalist, having won no less than National Eisteddfod prizes. He has also been most feisty in hie native town assist- ing all charity movèmN ,r his singing. He is retiring now from the 0^ we heartily wish the veter»n a pom these Concerts.

DON'T FORGET THAT "VIRIDINF"' is the CURE /or CORNS. r] iiscovery has led wany to imitate it, butVith SofvSte0HTridiP»eeETalion ,otS,?s W poB £ tn!i haS 6e0,,rai- 10 J. MUNDA, Chemist, High.et., Cardiff, 57a j ESTABLISHED IN 1836. For the PROTECTION of TRADE. STUBBS' MERCANTILE OFFICES, (STUBBS', Ltd.) 42, GRESHAM ST, LONDON, EX. Subscribers, by obtaining timely information through THE STATUS ENQUIRY DEPARTMENT MAT AVOID MAKING BAD DEBTS. BVBRY TRADER SHOULD RBAD STUBBS' WE2KLY GAZETTE, With which is issued a Supplement containing LISTS OF CREDITORS UNDER ALL THE IMFORTAHT FAILURES. THE COMMERCIAL REGISTERS CONTAIN MORE THAN NINE MILLION ENTRIES. DEBTS RECOVERED PROMPTLY and remitted to Subscribers on TUESDAY and FRIDAY in each week. BRANCHES at Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bradford, Brighton, Bristol, Belfast, Card » Glasrow, don, Dublin, Dundee, Edinburgh, Exeter, GUKRW, Huddersfield, Hull, Leeds, Leicester, 'Nofctw. (West End), Manchester, Newcastle, NorwichNotffl* ham, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Southampton, Sunderland, Swansea, Wolverampton.. Dumfries, SUB-OFFICES.—Buxton,Oamtodge, Dwby,l>umines, Gloucester, Greenock, Grimsby, Halifa\, Hdlesboro1, ness, Ipswich, Limerick, ^^{.erthfpS; Newport (Mon.), Northampton, Oxford, uraterfonl, Reading, Stockton-on-Tees, Torquay, Walsall, Watenoro, £ 2 a., a u ^PROSPECTUS forwarded on application to any of the above Offices. -= THE 30 I RHONDDA WORDS LEADER 6d. Wanted umip Advts. 1s. SITUATIONS VACANT^ FFICE BOY WANTED.-Apply in o\vn (J handwriting, stating age, r 0ffice, employment, if any, to Dl., Tonypandy. "VOUNG Lady wanted J_ Must be experienced, quick an<* ddress_ in the keeping of account*. Wholesale," LEADER^Office^Tonggan^ SITUATIONS WANTED. Sen nowat-liberty, would like ;"™ j *i? re time in omce, debts or. Tonvnandv ifreq(_JcLjn EMPLOYMENT wanted or commission for good house, by Gentleman with spare tinie.-B3., LEADER Office, Tonypandy. UNIOR Clerk, aged 19; two .year^ex' perience; used to doub.e entayr „ keeping; good references. Apply • •» LEADER Office, Tonypandy. ANTE D-Correspondents in all dbtnete W in Rhondda Valleys to represent the RHONDDA LEADER. The three essential qualifications required are promptness, brevi. ty, and thoroughness. Applications sh addressed to Editor, RHONDDA L > Tonypandy. HOUSES WANTED. ANTED to Rent, early as pass^ Dwelling House in TWa £ j^?o 28/- or 30/- per month. Send particulars "Tenant," RHONDDA LEADER Office, ^7^ FOR SALE. DELICIOUS "owls prepared for table, a9 a pair fat Ducks, 4/- wjth Large Turkey, 5/- Post Free, C t „aPi order.—Miss Annie Cuff, Dungann 37 Co. Cork. —" AND Basses7all sizes and the Fish, Game, and^Meat^street, G. Hair, Manufacturer, Wellington Street, Hull. 4t PLEA for the Portable Tud JT Just enlarged, double size (PI II.), illustrated, with copious Impressive revelations for all, rheumatic sufferers. Post, 4 £ d.-W. J Bulkington, Nuneaton. PAPER BAGS, PACKING Twines, Carded Goods, Stati' and General Sundries, for shopk W. Ford, 33, Taff Street, Pontypri' ing of every description artisti t, promptly excuted. MISCELLANEOUS. OREIGN STAMPS.-iny quantitv -f I old Foreign Stamps purchased. LOOK UI your old letters, or colleetionsin' „ c)_; school, and send particulars to P or," LEADER Office,^Tonypandy; — "FPT!Ti„AtS«bftSunf. 'iW all chest complaints. Jee' 17 from Lewis, Chemist, Mardy. i EI{VOI'S clebility, loss of vigour. Men, why suffer when you can have mfallable recipe for 1/3 stamps, quite^armless, easUJ made.—Truscott, Hygiemst, 1-, Gk Street, Birmingham. __— 90, PICTURES FRAMED complete fro"1 go, and upwards at Richard Glass, High Street, Treorchy. Photo^ Mouldings, Prints, Oil Paintu#™ lg enlarged to any size. PROF. DAVID AstroWjst, Magnetic Merthyr Tydfil- Albion House, P^1" address with stam^. Advice Free. ^a. •?/. Snfcial Medicine or Prescn^, Restorative. I rc^;sn Sciatica and Kheunia^') 111innt.es N»*raJ0* — | Asthiii# Ailments, Health, Di matters 1/- Herbs, see 2nd Kings, v. II. As 29. Ol PARCEL OF £ dw J- post free: all s< pieces, or mixed ^ortii