Welsh Gazette and West Wales Advertiser

NOTICE. This column is devoted to better thoughts for quiet moments. Can the wiles of Art, the grasp of Power, Snatch the rich relics of a well-spent hour These, when the trembling spirit wings her flight, Pour round her path a stream of living light, ROGERS.

Moderation. A healthful soul, a tranquil mind, A temper sweet, a heart refined, High thoughts that peace and joy bestow, All these from temperate living flow. ARCHDEACON FARRAR. #.

The Battle of Life. 0 what a shifting, parti-coloured scene Of hope and fear, of triumph and dismay, Of recklessness and penitence, has been The history of that dreary, life-long fray. And 0, the grace to nerve him and to lead, How patient, prompt, and lavish at his need. 0 man, strange composite of heaven and earth, Majesty dwarfed to baseness, fragrant flower Running to poisonous seed, and seeming worth Cloaking corruption, weakness mastering power. Who never art so near to crime and shame As when thou hast achieved some deed of fame. JOHN HENRY NEWMAN. ■ «■ 1^—■

Friendship. An elective affinity, based upon the spiritual consanguinity, which, though frequently co- existent with, is different from, any tie of instinct or blood relationship. Therefore neither the sanc- tities nor weaknesses of these rightly appertain to it: its duties, immunities, benefits and pains, belong to a distinct sphere, of which the vital atmosphere is perfect liberty. A bond not of nature but of choice, it should exist and be main- tained free and clear, having neither rights nor jealousness: at once the firmest and most inde- pendent of all human ties. GOETHE. ♦

NATIONAL SAFETY. IS IT CONSCRIPTION I In the House of Lords on Friday, the war Minister, the Marquis of Lansdowne, called atten- tion to the law relating to the ballot for the Militia, and asked leave to present a Bill. He re- minded their Lordship that the question of the ballot had been discussed on two or three occasions during the last Session of Parliament, and he then gave a pledge to the Earl of Wemys that he would dur- ingthe recess examine and revise the machinery of the Ballot Acts with the object of having ready to their hand the means of putting the ballot into operation should they ever be driven to resort to it. He was now prepared to lay before the House » Bill dealing with the subject not with any idea that such a Bill could be passed into law immedi- ately or in the near future, but because he con- curred with the noble Earl in thinking that it was desirable that the country should realaei how they stood in regard to compulsion, and what sort of case could be made out for resorting to it in what shape it could be most conveniently applied, and with what probable results (hear, hear). It could do no harm to remind the people of this country of their existing obligations to provide, if necessary, br means of some forms of compulsory service, a sufficient force for the defence of the United King- dom The fact that the operation of the law was suspended, and had been suspended for many years past, did not alter the case. The ommission of a fpw words from the Expiring Laws Continuance Act or an Order in Council suspeuumgwie operation of the Suspension Ast would be enough to bring the ballot into operation. The question would occur to everybody, "How near are we to a state of things in which the Ministry of the day might be driven to resort to the ballot?" (hear, hear) The recruiting returns of the Line for the last few months had been comparatively disappointing. They had not only to find every year the recruits whom they required to maintain the Army at its for- mer strength, but the much larger number required in order to bring it up to the higher establishment which Parliament had sanctioned. He was glad to say, however, that the Army Reserve at this moment included considerably more than 80,000 men, which had always been considered the full normal strength (hear, hear). Upon the whole the progress which had been made by the beginning of the year was by no means unsatisfactory, but during the past few months the supply of recruits had flagged considerably. He regarded the situa- tion with some misgiving, and they could not afford to relax their efforts to make the service as attrac- tive as possible to the class from which recruits were drawn. Would the ballot for Militia be likely to help them ? He would not say it would not help at all, but he doubted extremely whether it would help much. A ballot would^e; likely to help mainly for the purpose of keeping the Militia itself full. For years past the Militia had been below its" establishment, but to resort to compulsion for the sake of adding 20,000 or 30,000 men to the strength of the Militia would, to his mind, ne alto- gether out of the question. The 100,000 additional men would mean an annual addition of fcl,oUU,UUU. For a protracted struggle, after they had exhausted the resources of voluntary enlistment, the ballot would provide a most valuable reserve of power, and he had no doubt they would appeal to it when the time came. By the Bill he now proposed the total number of men to be raised would then, as now, be decided by the Government of the day upon the recommendation of its military advisers. Then, to what local authorities could be entrusted the duty of seeing that the requisite number was forthcoming ? He had como to the conclusion it would be best to rely upon lord-lieutenants and their deputies Counties and divisions of counties would be divided and sub-divided into districts, probably corresponding to parishes. The machin- ery for preparing and revising the lists would be the census and necessary forms being prepared in the Registrar-General's office. Within these dis- tricts the War Office would employ the overseers as numbering officers, and they would have to prepare and revise annually their lists, in which all men between the statutory age of 18 and 35 would be returned in classes corresponding with their ages last birthday. Each county would be credited with the number of men it produced voluntarily, and then the balance would be divided amongst its districts according to population, or each district would be credited with the number it originally provided. He proposed to exempt efficient Volunteers, but lie would have to restrict the establishment of the Volunteer battalions in order to prevent an indis-criminate influx of men at a time when the introduction of the ballot was apprehended. By exempting Volunteers the War Office would insist that the degree of efficiency was amply sufficient. Under the Bill of 1871 every well-to-do man could escape compulsory service by producing a £ 10 note. But he thought, in the present condition of public feeling substitutes would not be tolerated. Under the Bill any person chosen by ballot who refused to serve might be arrested and compelled to serve for five years from the time of his arrest and be treated as a deserter if he afterwards absconded. The other exemptions were practically thoseof the Bill of 1871 and including members of either House of Parliament every officer in her Majesty's forces, every officer on half-pay of the Navy, Army, or Marines, every non-commissioned officer, every efficient non-com- missioned officer or man in the Yeomanry or Volunteers, every policeman, seaman, or seafaring man, every clergyman or minister of religion, and every duly qualified medical practitioner. The classification proposed in the Bill of 1871 is as follows:—(1) Unmarried men above 18 years and not more than 25 years of age. (2) Married men above 18 and not more than 30 years of age, having a wife living, but no child. Unmarried men about 25, but not more than 30 years of age, and (3) all men liable to be ballotted and not included in the foregoing classes. He shared the aversion with which compulsion was regarded by the great majority of their fellow-countrymen, and he would on no account have recourse to compulsion in any shape until experience had shown that there was no other way of providing for the safety of the country. The Bill was read a first time. SENSATION IN THE COMMONS LOBBY. On the real importance of the Military Ballot Bill becoming known in the Lobby of the House of Commons, considerable sensation was caused amongst hon. members of all shades of political opinion, for the underlying aim of the measure was interpreted as being conscription. Even Unionist military members, in view of the General Election, expressed astonishment that such a measure should be introduced by the Government apparently in all seriousness. The general belief, however, seemed to be that the Bill bad been brought forward as a kite flown to ascertain the direction of public opinion.

WELSH NATIONAL LIBERAL COUNCIL. A meeting of the General Purposes Committee 9 of the Welsh National Liberal Council was held at Shrewsbury, on Friday, July 7tli. Mr. J. R. Jacob (Newport)" presided, and there Jwere also present Mr. Thomas Williams, Merthyr Tydvil (president of the Council), Mr. D. Lloyd-George, M.P., Mr. R. D. Burnie (Swansea), Mr. W. G. Dodd (Llangollen), Mr. Edward Hooson (Rhosllanerchrugog), the Rev. Lewis James (Narberth, Pembrokeshire), Mr. Wilson Raff an, Mr. Evan Jones (Bala, treasurer), and Mr. Gwilyni Parry (secretary). Letters of apology for absence were received from Mr. Albert Spicer, M.P., Mr. D. Brynmor Jones, M.P., and Mrs. Jones, Mr. David Davies, Merthyr Tydvil; Mr. Lewis Davies, Pontypool; Miss Gee, Denbigh and Mr. W. Elwy Williams, Rhyl. The treasurer submitted his report as to the finances of the Council since the last meeting, which was con- sidered satisfactory, and several accounts were passed for payment. The following sub-com- mittees were appointezi :-Finance: Mr. Albert Spicer, M.P., and the officers of the Council. Organisation: Messrs. D. Brynmor Jones, M.P., W. Brace, Abertillery; W. H. Brown, Newport; Lewis Davies, Pontypool; W. G. Dodd, Llangollen E. Hooson, Rhos Elwy Williams, Rhyl. Literature Mr. Lloyd-George, M.P., the Rev. Principal Edwards, Cardiff; the Rev. Lewis James, Narberth; the Rev. J. Towyn Jones, Garnant; Alderman Wilson Raffan; and Miss Gee, Denbigh.—The Secretary presented a report of work done since the previous meeting of the Committee, and the notices of motion received from the constituencies for submission to the National Convention to be Xgen?TaQCommufe^>4:g~"6r tKfTWiitftaF, Vice-President, Mr. Wilson Raffan, and Mr. R. D. Burnie.—It was reported that of the 33 Parlia- mentary constituencies of Wales and Monmouth- shire, 30 had already elected their quota of delegates to the Convention, or were taking steps to have them elected. The arrangements tor a public meeting in the evening were considered, and an effort will be made to secure the attend- ance of a prominent member of the Opposition. A letter was read from the London Cymru Fydd Society asking that the Society should be affiliated to the National Council, and it was resolved:— That this Committee authorise the Organisation Committee to draw up a clause to be inserted in "the scheme of the Council which will enable the request of the London Cymru Fydd Society to be granted, as well as those of similar bodies in other English cities or towns should they apply, and that this clause be submitted to the Swansea Convention for confirmation." It was decided to hold the next meeting of the Committee at Swansea on the day of the Convention.

Dr. Guinness Rogers has issued a circular letter to the Congretational ministers throughout Great Britain drawing attention to the scheme for the Congregational Twentieth Century Fund as finally revised by its Committee. The one desire of the Committee has been, he says, to stimulate and to help the varied forms of activity in which Congre- gationalists are interested, and to do it in such a way as to develop to the fullest possible extent broad Imperial sympathies, while at the same time conserving that strong local sentiment which is to potent a force. Some of those who are best entitled to judge are afraid lest the local should override the Imperial sentiment, and that the wider objects which it is sought to help and sustain should in the end suffer. The discussions which have already taken place have necessitated a delay in the opening of the fund. The first Sunday in November is to mark the opening of the fund by a day of special prayer, and the first Sunday in August, 1901, is to be made a day of thanksgiving.

Lampeter College Lectures For Clergy A gathering of clergy for theological lectures similar to those which have been held at Oxford, Cambridge, and Durham will be held at Lampeter during the week September 11-16. The lectures are especially intended for clergy working in Wales, but are not confined to them. The meeting has been arranged with the hearty approval of the Welsh bishops, in the hope that it will give the clergy an opportunity of enjoying a short period of intercourse and study. Many old students of the college may welcome the chance of returning for a short5time to the college whilst others visiting it for the first time will be heartily welcome. Those who have attended the gatherings at the Universites mentioned have written warmly of the pleasure and stimulus derived from them. The meeting will begin with a service in the college chapel on the evening of Monday, September 11th., when the Bishop of St. David's will give an address. On the mornings of the following days courses of lectures will be given by the Rev. Dr. Gibson, vicar of Leeds (formerlv principal of Wells Theological College), on" The" Interpretation of the Revelation of bt. John;" by Chancellor Bernard,, of Salisbury, on Old Testament Foundations of New Testament Doctrines;" and by Dr. Robertson, principal of King's College, London, on The Kingdom of God," For the evenings other lectures and discussions will be arranged. A subject connected with Welsh parochial history will be. dealt with by Archdeacon Bevan. But of these and also of these and also of the services the details will be announced to the clergy on their arrival. It is suggested that those who intend to come should, if possible, study the Revelation in Greek. The use of the college buildings and grounds has been given for the meeting, and arrangements have been made by which any who wish may have accommodation and board at a moderate cnarge. The return moved for in the House of Lords by the Earl of Northbrook as to the number of Church of England churches in which confessional boxes have been put up has been issued with the Parlia- mentary papers. In all the dioceses save five the re- plies to the Home Secretary's circular on the sub- ject are of a negative character. The five excep- tions are in the case of London, Chichester, Exeter, Oxford, and Southwell.

Four men, engaged in working mines in Cum- berland, were suffocated by gas on Saturday. One body has been recovered.

A Good Idea. Scarborough School Board is working at a scheme under which a series of excursions would be arranged for school children during the summer months for the study of botany. One gentleman has offered prizes for the best collections of dried plants.

Speech Day at Harrow. Speech Day" at Harrow last Thursday was characterised by more than usual brilliancy, partly the result of the exceptionally fine weather with which the Harrovians and their friends were favoured. The Oxenham prize for the best Greek epigram was won by Barnes major, whose winning effort ran as follows:— The Czar's for Peace," the foolish say, Behold the end of strife. But Russia builds her ironclads, And sounds of war are rife. Yet still of universal peace you sing, And one small swallow makes a perfect spring.

Welsh University. A LADY THE FIRST MASTER OF ARTS. The Examination'Board in Philosophy of the University of Wales have resolved to recommend that the degree of M.A. be conferred upon Miss Beatrice Edgell, lecturer at Bedford College, London. Miss Edgell graduated last year in Wales with first class honours in philosophy. She has now submitted a thesis on Lotze's Logic and its Relations to Current Logical Doctrines in England." In consideration of the excellency of the thesis the examiners have not exacted in this case any fur- ther test of examination for the degree. I

Bangor College. Principal Reichel, who has occupied the chair of history since the opening of the college, has been relieved by the Council of the responsibilities attaching to the headship of this department in order that he may have greater freedom in the discharge of his duties as principal. He will continue to give some of the teaching in the department with the title of professor of constitu- tional history. Mr. J. E. Lloyd, M.A., secretary and registrar of the college, has been appointed professor of history in his stead, and will henceforth be assisted in the work of the registrar's office by Mr. Richard Williams, who has been appointed assistant registrar. ♦

Federation of Welsh School Boards. The school boards of Wales and Monmouthshire having agreed to form a federation, the provisional executive met at Cardiff to receive and consider the draft constitution and regulations. Mr. W. L. Daniel (chairman of the Merthyr School Board) presided. The constitution and regulations, as drafted bv the sub-committee, were considered in detail, and the final form was prepared for sub- mission to the firlt annual meeting of the federa- tion, to be held at Llandrindod in the third or fourth week in September. The annual meetings will be held in March. The objects for which the federation is formed are thus defined :-1. To up- hold and preserve the powers conferred on school boards by Acts of Parliament or otherwise. 2. To watch over and protect the general interests of school boards in Wales and Monmouthshire, as they may be affected (a) by legislation of general application to school districts, either by public or private bill or county council or other order: (b) by the administration of the various departments of the Government which may exercise jurisdiction over or in relation to the work of education, or by any other authority. 3. To take action in relation to any other subject in which school boards gener- ally may be interested. The federation shall con- sist of school boards in Wales and Monmouthshire. A scheme of representation on the basis of the population of school board districts had been formed, giving one representative for a population of from 10,000 toz(jbw,AII&N, fim ^Tjorpilatian exceeding 30,000. Similarly, the subscriptions vary in the same way from 10s. to 30s. per annum. The officers shall consist of a president, three vice- presidents, honorary treasurer, and one or two honorary secretaries, being representatives of school boards in the federation, who shall De eieoieu annually, and who shall respectively be eligible for re-election. The business of the federation shall be managed by an executive committee, consisting of seventeen members, elected annually from the list of accredited representatiros, together with the officers of the federation. Of these members six shall be elected by the federated boards in the counties of Anglesey, Carnarvon, Denbigh, Flint. Merioneth, and Montgomery (North Wales) and eleven by the federated boards in the counties of Brecon, Cardigan, Camarthen, Glamorgan, Pem- broke, Radnor, and Monmouth (South Wales and Monmouth). Not more than two representatives from any board shall be elected upon the executive committee. Any officer or member of the com- mittee who ceases to be a member, clerk, or a representative of a school board in the federation shall ipso facto vacate his seat. Upon the re- quisition of not less than five boards the executive committee is to summon a special meeting of the federation to discuss any matter of urgency 01 importance.

qp- Insecurity of Tenure. The passing of the Superannuation Act for Teachers has emphasised the need for greater security in the tenure of the teacher's office. At the present a teacher of a public school has legally no greater security in her situation than an ordinary domestic servant, who may be dismissed at a month's—or even a minute's—notice on the mere personal pique of a manager; that is, she has no security Jat all. Consequently the teacher must, if she desire to retain her situation consider, first, the whims of the managers, with the view to please them, and afterwards the education of the children, too often hampered by these whims. Common sense and goodwill mostly enable man- agers and teachers to get on together amicably and well, but a new manager may appear on the scene and' determine to make a complete change, and send adrift all those he may find in the school. Teachers being, to some extent certainly, public servants, ought not to be subject to anyone's per- sonal likes or fancies. The present uncertainty of tenure does not tend to produce the best educative work; and some persons have asserted that the insecurity has affected the supply of pupil teachers. But as regards girls' schools, the argument does not hold good, at any rate. There will be little improvement in the supply till teachers have some means of appeal against arbitrary dismissal, which is really a survival of the days before education became general and compulsory- The School-, mistress."

DYFFRYN. SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIO.-The election of members of the School Board for the parish of Llanenddwyn took place at the Board School on Wednesday the 5th July. There were eight can- didates for five seats. The contest was a keen one and the poll was exceptionally heavy. The follow- ing is a list of the candidates and votes. The first five are elected:- *Mr. M. G. Williams, coal merchant, 223; Mr. R. J. Williams, Postoffice 165; *Mr W. Lewis, Brynteg, 165; Mr. Rees Evans, Llanbedr, 137; Mr. R. Jones, Ystumgwern, 129; Rev D. R. Lewis, Rector, 88; "'Mr. J. Davies, Glanmorfa 64; *Mr. W. T. Williams, Cambrian Villa, 60. Those marked were members of the old Board.

THE HWdsb Gazette" JlbrystwPtb Chronicle AND Ulest Wales Advertiser, PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY, PRICE ONE PENNY. POST FREE FOR 6s. 6d. PER ANNUM PREPAID. PRINTING POSTERS. HANDBILLS. CIRCULARS. PROGRAMMES. INVOICES. BILLHEADS. MEMORANDUMS. BUSINESS CARDS. TIME SHEETS. RECEIPT BOOKS. DELIVERY BOOKS. "Cb UlelsD Gazette" Office, BRIDGE STREET & GRAY'S INN RD.. ABERYSTWYTH. List of some of the principal places where "Cb OlelsD Gazette" is sold: ABERYSTWYTH. ABERAYRON. ABERDOYEY. ABERGYNOLWYN. ABERLLEFENNY. ABERARTH. Awth r>fi_ BALA. BARMOUTH. BLAEXAU FESTINIOG. BORTH. Bow STREET, BANGOR. CARDIGAN. CARMARTHEN. CARNARVON CEMMES. CELLAN. CORRIS. CORWEN. CRICCIETH. CWMYSTWYTH. CRIBYN. DOLGELLEY. DniAs MAWDDWT. DERRY ORMOND. DIHEWYD. DYFFRYN. EGLWYSFACII. GOGINAN. HARLECH. LAMPETER. LLANFARIAJJJ. LLANWNKS. T.T.AVWENQG. L.LANARTH- ( JiLANDDEWI. XILANGEITHQ. LLRDPOD. LLAHIL&S. LLANOS. LEDlt. LLANGYBI. LLANYFYTHER. LLANDYSSUL. LLANBRYNMAIB. LLANRHYSTYD. LLANUWCHLLYN. LLWYNGWRIL. MACHYNLLETH. MINFFORDD J NEWCASTLE EMLYN. NE-WQUAY. PENNAL. PONT LLAKIO. PONTRHYDFENDJGAID. PONTRHYDYGROES. PENRHYXDEUDRAETH. PORTMADOC. PENLLWYN. PONTERWYD. PENRHYNCOCH. TALYBONT. TREGARON. TALSARN. TALSARNAU. TOWYN. Y STRAD. YSPYTTY YSTWYTH LONDON. LIVERPOOL. MANCHESTER. PONTYPRIDD ADVERTISING CO'S BOOK-, STALL. Business Notices. p I/.C.W3PCP\. J ■: ,ia CARDIGANSHIRE CARlUAGE "TORKS J. G. WILLIAMS, PRACTICAL CARRIAGE BUILDER, CHALYBEATE STREET, (Near Railway Station,) ABERYSTWYTH. NEW CARRIAGES of own Manufacture on hand, of Best Material and lunest work- manship throughout. Rubber Tyres fitted to all Vehicles if required. J. G. WILLIAMS invites inspection of works, which is the largest and best equipped in the county. PRIVATE ADDRESS—13. BAKER STREET. E MPORI T T liEGARO-N. BEES JONES, IS now showing a large assortment of LADIES', MAIDS' and GIRLS' Q O S T U M E S IX ALL SIZES, IX THE LEADING SHADES, AND OF THE L ATEST STYLE-Q, FROM 1 OS. 6 D. UP FOR LADIES' SIZE. —— DAVID HOWELL, GENERAL DRAfERY ESTABLISHMENT, 33 & 35 GREAT DARKGATE ST, AND 2, 3-TL -KRKET STREET, ABERYSTWYTH. "Y^TELSH J^LANXELS AND < £ *HAWLS« CARPETS AND LINOLEUMS. W. R. JONES, WATCHMAKER, 32, Great Darkgate Street, ABERYSTWYTH. A large Assortment of JEWELLERY, in Gold. Silver, and Pebbles, Suitable for Presents, &c-. also LADIES' AND GENTS' GOLD AND SILVEB WATCHES. SPECTACLES AND EYE-GLASSES TO SUIT ALL SIGHTS. A Good Assortment of WEDDING, KEEPER, and GEM RINGS. FURNITURE. FURNITURE. FURNITURE. J. L. EVANS, COMPLETE HOUSE FURNISHER CABINET MAKER & UPHOLSTERER, ti R E Å T D ARK GAT EST R E- E T A BERYSTWYTH. t FURNITURE, FURNITURE, FURNITURE DAVID WATKINS, WORKSHOP: SEA VIEW PLACE. PRIVATE ADDEESS CUSTOM-HOUSE STREET. PAINTER, PLUMBER, PAPERHANGER, GLAZIER AND HOUSE DECORATOR. CHOICE ASSORTMENT OF PAPER- HANGINGS ALWAYS IN STOCK. SHEET LEAD PIPES, CISTERNS, &c., &c. HOLLIER'S COMMERCE HOUSE, B RIDGE STREET & QUEEN STREET FOR FANCY GOODS AND CYCLING ACCESSORIES*.

Be Simple. What matters it to the world whether I or you, or another man, did such a deed, or wrote such a book so be it that the deed and book were well done'l It is the part of an indiscreet and trouble- some ambition to care too much about fame- about what the world says of us-to be always looking into the faces of others for approval; to be alwavs anxious for the effect of what we do and sav *"to be always shouting to hear the echo of our voices. LONGFELLOW.

Opposition. A certain amount of opposition is a great help to a man. Kites rise against, and not with, the wind. Even a head-wind is better than none. No man ever worked his passage anywhere in a dead calm. Let no man wax pale, therefore, because of opposition. Opposition is what he wants, and must have, to be good for anything. Hardship is the native soil of manhood and self-reliance. He that cannot abide the storm without the flinching or quailing strips himself in the sunshine, and lays down by the wayside to be over-looked and forgotten. He who but braces himself to the struggle when the winds blow, gives up when they have done, and falls asleep in the stillness that follows. J. NEAL.

4. Idyll of the Hayfield. Hey for the haymaking weather I Hey for the meadows green I Scythemen all swinging together, Swish of the blades so keen. + + There go the ranks of the mowers, Sweeping the swathes behind, Bending as tall meadow flowers Bend in a westerly wind- # Stridently down in the meadow Stone upon steel is laid; Down where the grass is in shadow Some one is sharpening his blade # With hey for the haymaking weather I Hey for the meadows green Scythemen all swinging together, Swish of the blades so keen. S. R. CROCKETT.

Pleasure and Youth. I have sat upon the sea shore, and waited for its gradual approaches, and have seen its dancing waves and white surf, and admired that He who measures it with His hand, had given to it such life and motion; and I have lingered till its gentle waters grew into mighty billows, and had well nieh Bwept me from my firmest footing. So I have s^n a heedless youth gazing with too curious spirit upon the sweet motions and gentle ap- proaches of an inviting pleasure, till it has detained his eye and imprisoned his feet, and swelled upon his soul, and swept him to switt desfcructionT MONTAGU.

Justice. In a free country justice is absorbed into the -great cosmic forces, and it is apt to be an expensive incantation that wakes the lost elementary spirit. In Russia, justice shines by contrast with the surrounding corruption, but there is no mistake about it when you get it. In America it is taken for wanted everywhere, and the consequence ie that like most things that are taken for granted, I it is a myth. Rousseau thought that in a Republic like that of America there would be no more of the chains he was so fond of talking about. He did not anticipate a stagnation of the national moral sense. Herbert Spencer, who had made a sbudy of these things, said lately that the Americans had retained the forms of freedom, but ithat the substance had suffered considerably. F. M. CRAWFORD.

"The Lost Chorda How The Lost Chord," perhaps the most sue- r cessfnl song of modern times, came to be written is related by Mr. Willeby in a touching little story. Only a few months after Sir Arthur Sullivan had accepted the post of principal of the National Training School for Music he received a severe blow in the death of his brother Frederick, whose talents as an actor are well remembered. For nearly three weeks he watched by the sick man's bedsit, night and day. One evening when the .and was rapidly approaching, the sufferer had tor a time sunk into a peaceful sleep, and as his faithful attendant was sitting as usual by the bedside, it chanced that he took up some verses of the late Miss Adelaide Proctor, with which he had some years previously been much impressed. Now, in the stillness of the night, he read them over again, .and almost as he did so he conceived their musical equivalent." A sheet of music paper was at hand, and he began to write. Slowly the music grew and took shape until, becoming ab- sorbed in it, he determined to finish the song, thinking that even if in the cold light of day it should appear worthless it would at least have ;helped to pass the weary hours, and so he went on till the last bar was added. Thus was composed a .mong of which the sale up to now has exceeded a quarter of a million copies.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—THURSDAY. TEACHING SOLDIERS A TRADE. In reply to Mr. Woods, Mr. J. P. WILLIAMS said the object of the cir- cular issued from the War Office under date 17th November, 1897, was to encourage soldiers while serving with the colours to learn a trade, which would be of advantage to them when they returned to civil life. It was not proposed to allot annually a sum of money towards the cost of technical in- instruction to soldiers in the technical schools of the country. Such schools were precluded by Sections 1 of the Technical Instruction Act from teaching any trade or industry to unskilled artisans. WOMEN AND OVERTIME IN THE FRUIT TRADE. In reply to Sir C. Dilke. Sir M. WHITE RIDLEY said that the washing of bottles by women in the fruit trade had been regarded as a process outside the Factory Acts, and there had been no restriction on overtime required, but recently he had been advised that the Factory Acts applied to this process, and be gave a direction that they should be enforced. He was satisfied, however, that there was an unavoidable pressure of work at certain seasons, and he bad granted a limited overtime of an hour and a half during 30 days of the year. The Chief Inspector reported that there was nothing in the employment which would render this amount of overtime injurious to women. THE ALLEGED OUTRAGES ON ARMENIANS. Mr. J. H, ROBERTS asked for information as to the present serious position of the Armenian Christians in the provinces of Van, Bitlis, and Erzeroum and whether any action had been taken by the English and Russian Consuls in the dis- tricts referred to to discover the instigators of the recent raids. Mr. BRODRICK: We have heard quite recently that Turkish troops were sent to the Moosh Plain in search of revolutionists. Her Majesty's Vice- Consul at Van has just returned there from a journey to Bitlis. According to his account the operations were directed entirely against revolu- tionists, who were said to be in hiding, the innocent villagers being left undisturbed. Her Majesty's Government have no information as to raids on Armenian Christians other than revolution- ists, as stated above, but Her Majesty's Ambassador will be asked for a further report. FRUIT FROM THE WEST INDIES. In reply to Mr. Lawrence, Mr. CHAMBERLAIN said: A contract has been signed with the Jamaica Fruit and Produce Association for a dirrct fruit and passenger service between Jamaica and the United Kingdom, to commence in May, 1900. The contract is for a period of five years, and the steamers will run fortnightly, at an average speed of 15 knots, between Kingston and Port Antonio and South- ampton. The steamers will b. fitted for the con- veyance of fruit, and will possess accommodation for twenty-five first-class and twelve second-class passengers. The contractors bind themselves inter alia to employ at least six agents in Jamaica in developing the fruit industry, to improve the wharf accommodation at Kingston and other ports, and to build one or more hotels on the island. The subsidy payable is Z10,000 per annum, of which half will be contributed by the Imperial Government, to be increased to L12,000 if more passenger accommodation is required. A contract will, it is hoped, shortly be concluded with the aid of an Imperial subsidy between the Dominion Government and Messrs. Pickford and Black. The contract is for a period of five years, the service is to begin in July, 1900, and the contractors will bind themselves to maintain a fortnightly service from Halifax and St. John's alternately to Trinidad and British Guiana at an average rate of ten knots per hour. The steamers will proceed alternately (1) by way of Bermuda, St. Kitts, Antigua, Mont- serrat, Dominica, St. Lucia, Barbadoes, St. Vincent, Grenada, Tobago, to Trinidad, and (2) by way of Bermuda, St. Lucia, Barbadoes, Trinidad, to British Guina. No arrangements have at present been made for the remaining service recommended by the West India Royal Commission, viz., a special fruit service between Dominica and St. Vincent, and the United States of America or Canada. I fear that thers is no probability of the information being received from all the colonies in time for the return to be presented during the present session. I may remind the hon. member that the return is not limited to the manufacture of rum, but extends to the production of spirits of every kind. THE FINANCIAL POSITION OF RHODESIA. Mr. J. B. ROBERTS asked tho Secretary for the Colonies whether, in view of the fact that the expenditure of the British South Africa Company last year exceeded the revenue by the L51,000 equal to £51 per head to the estimated white population, and the estimated deficit fv- year was £ 418 700. Her -,rerence to serious co.hitl il. of Rhodesia disclosed by these figures. Mr. CHAMBERLAIN understood that the white population of Rhodesia was officially estimated on September, 80, 1898, at 13,346, and therefore the deficit for the last year would be at the rate of P,38, and not iE51 per head. Her Majesty's Government did not propose to depart from the policy of declin- ing to assume financial responsility in regard to the affairs of the Company. Mr. J. ELLIS asked the Secretary for the Colonies whether, as required by Article 17 of its charter, the British South Africa Company had duly furnished to him accounts of its admininistra- tive expenditure and sums received as public revenue for the financial years 1896, 1897 and 1898, and an estimate of such revenue and expenditure for 1899; and whether he would lay them upon the table; whether, at a recent meeting of the Legis- lative Council of Rhodesia, the Administrator stated the admininistrative expenditure for 1898 had been 9783,985 and the public revenue Z255,000, or, adding sale of lands £ 272,955; what was now the accumulated deficit arising from ex- cess of expenditure over income and what was the datejup to which the past balance-sheet of the Campany was made up and presented by its board of directors to the shareholders. Mr. CHAMBERLAIN said he had received the accounts for the financial years ended ended 31st March, 1896,1897, and 1898, and an estimate of expenditure for the year ending March, 1899, and also for 1900. They would be laid on the table. He understood the Adminstrator had made a statement to the effect given in the second para- graph of the question with respect to the revenue and expenditure for 1899. There was no accumu- lated deficit. All deficits had been met by the Company. The date of the last balance-sheet presented by the directors to the shareholders was 31st March, 1897. THE BLOEMFONTEIN CONFERENCE. Mr. DILLON asked whether the despatches from Sir A. Milner, giving an account of the Bloem- fontein Conference, had been received, and when they would be presented to the House. Mr. CHAMBERLAIN: The despatch has been received, but Sir A. Milner states that the notes of the Conference which he tranllmits are not finally settled, as he was waiting to receive any comments which the Government of the South African Republic might desire to make on them. On the receipt of any corrections of the notes or on information that they require no correction, the despatch and its enclosures can be laid on the table if desired. Mr. DILLON asked whether the Dutch version of the proceedings was not published in Pretoria three weeks ao.1 Mr, CHAMBERLAIN was not aware, but in any case the facts were as he had stated. The High Commissioner informed Her Majesty's Government that he had submitted his notes for correction to the Government of the South African Republic. He (Mr. Chamberlain) would not like to take the responsibility of publishing them until an answer had been received from the Government of the South African Republic, and in the present state of matters, while negotiations were still pro- ceeding-although they were not official negotia- tions,-and until the result was known, he did not propose, unless he was pressed, to publish any rurttier papers. Mr. DILLON gave notice that he would repeat the question a week hence. PWLLHELI CORPORATION AND THE REGULATION OF BOATING. Mr. LLOYD-GEORGE asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Corporation of Pwllheli, in the year 1897, sought Parliamentary powers to enable them to reprulute the number of passengers allowed to be carried by pleasure boats in their district, and that the Committee of the House of Lords struck out the clause containing such powers and whether, if the Corporation pro- moted a bill containing a similar clause in the ensuing session of Parliament, the Board of Trade would support the measure. Mr. RITCHIE: There was a clause in the bin introduced by the Corporation of Pwllheli in 1897 providing for licences tor pleasure boats which would possibly have enabled the Corporation to regulate the number of passengers to be carried by such boats in their district. It appears that this clause was struck out of the bill while it was before the House of Commons, but I am not aware of the reasons. Having regard to the provisions of Section 172 of the Public Health Act, 1875, I am not of opinion that any legislative sanction is necessary to enable the Corporation to make by- laws to regulate the number of passengers to be carried by pleasure boats. Mr. LLOYD-GEORGE: Was not the clause struck out in the House of Lords? Mr. RITCHIE: My information is that it was struck out in the House of Commone. LEAD POISONING IN THE POTTERIES. In reply to Mr. E. Robertson (who put the question for Mr. Woodall), Sir M. WHITE RIDLEY said that, comparing the first six months of 1898 with the first six months of 1899, the number of reported cases of lead poisoning in the china and earthenware district had diminished from 223 to 160, while as regarded notification of lead poisoning generally there had been some increase in the number of reported cases. The diminution in the china and earthenware industries was probably due, in part at any rate, to the monthly medical examination. In reply to Sir C. Dilke, Sir M. WHITE RIDLEY said there was un- doubtedly great variation in the returns from month to month. ATTACKS ON PRESIDENT KRUGER. Mr. MACNEILL asked the First Lord of the Treasury whether his attention had been directed to a speech delivered by Earl Grey, when presiding at a meeting of the South African Association, held at Newcastle on Monday evening, in which Earl Grey referred thus to the President of the South African Republic :—" On no occasion had President Kruger ever shown himself amenable to moral persuasion. Experience taught them that he yielded to no argument but force whether Earl Grey was, under the charter of the South Africa Chartered Company, a life director of the Company, and had been Administrator of Rhodesia; and whether any steps would be taken to bring to justice Earl Grey and other persons engaged in this country in attacking the President of the South African Republic and disturbing the friend- ship between this country and the South African Republic. Mr. BALFOUR There is nothing in the obser- vations that seems to call for intervention on the part of the Government or of the courts of law. ARBITRATION WITH THE TRANSVAAL. Mr. S. SMITH asked the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in view of the recent recom- mendation of Professor Westlake to leave the questions at issue between this country and the Transvaal to jurists chosen by the parties and an umpire named by those jurists, the Government would, in the event of the .failure of the present negotiations, propose this form of arbitration before proceeding to extremities. Mr. BALFOUR: The question refers to a case that has not yet arisen, and I do not think this is an appropriate time to make any statement of policy upon a hypothetical case. THE APPOINTMENT OF A NEW JUDGE. Mr. MACNEILL asked whether the name of the gentleman to be appointed as an additional judge of the Chancery Division of the High Court would be communicated to the House of Commons before the House was invited to vote public funds for the establishment of this additional judgeship. Mr. BALFOUR replied that to take such a course would be contrary to all precedent.. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—FRIDAY. GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS. On the motion of Mr. LOGAN, the House ordered a return of all contracts for manufacturing articles by the Government Departments either with con- tractors outside the United Kingdom or with contractors or agents in the United Kingdom who obtain articles from abroad. ALL SAINTS', CARDIFF. All Saints' Church (Cardiff) Bill was considered and ordered for third reading. VOLUNTEER RIFLE RANGES. Mr. WYNDHAM, in answer to Colonel Wynd- ham Murray, stated that the number of ranges which it was intended to construct for Regular troops was 41. The Volunteer corps were not taking steps to combine for the purchase of ranges and had not been invited to do so. The best sites for ranges had to be very carefully selected before negotiations were opened with Volunteer corps, and the scheme under which this could be done had not yet received the sanction of Parliament. IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT. The House went into Committee of Suppiy (eighteenth allotted day). On the vote of £415,161 to complete the sum for prisons in England, Wales and the Colonies. Sir C. CAMERON proposed a reduction of the amount by iZ5,000 in connection with the imprison- ment of debtors. Imprisonment for debt was, in his opinion, totally objectionable, and he observed that it was not general over the United Kingdom. Mr. DILLON said no man ought to be detained in prison who was not guilty of a crime, and he held that the refusal to pay a debt was not a crime. Sir. M. WHITE RIDLEY reminded the Com- mittee that the state of the law was that no man could be sent to prison for debt unless lie refused to pay what he was able to pay. The reform that bad taken place in prison management, and to which allusion had been made, was based upon the report of a Committee, who recommended that there should be much less distinction between h t.v L.n. .V reason why1 they should not be compelled to work, or whyjthey should be allowed to spend two or three shillings a day on food from outside when they were refusing to pay their just debts, (hear, hear). Debtors could choose their own work, and some of them earned as much as 30s a week while they were in prison. It might possibly be well to adopt the Scotch system and abolish imprisonment for debt; altogether but that was another question entirely. Debtors were in no way associated with criminals; and so far from regarding the new regulations as a hardship they liked the change. (hear, hear). The Committee divided, and the reduction was defeated by 212 to 75; majority, 137. The vote was agreed to. The Committee divided, and the reduction was negatived by 115 to 35; majority, 80. The vote had not been disposed of when at mid- night the Chairman reported progress. The House adjourned at five minutes past 12 o'clock.

Appointment. Mr. Bowen, Headmaster of the Higher Grade Schools, Festiniog, has been appointed a Sub- Inspector of Schools for the Carnarvon district.

LLEDROD. ACCIDENT.—Last Saturday a little boy the son of Mr. John Parry, mason, met with a severe acci- dent while following a mowing machine in a field belonging to Penlanlas. It is supposed the lad was following the machine closely and while attempt- ing to take a ride on it stumbled and fell, with the result that his hand got entangled and two of his fingers cut Off. C.M. CHAPEL. The Rhydlwyd Calvinistic Methodist chapel is being completely renovated. The whole of the inside work has been already finished. The floor, which has been laid of block wood, is the first of its kind in the district of the Monthly meeting. The interior of the building is a great improvement upon the old one. The outside also is being done up in good style. The walls are cemented and repaired, and the surroundings will be improved by a new wall with palisade railing in front. The total cost of the work will amount to about £ 550. The date of re-opening has not yet been fixed, but it will take place during the present summer.