Welsh Gazette and West Wales Advertiser

THE BURIAL OF QUEEN VICTORIA. OF last Saturday it may truly be said that rth won back a Sabbath; for on that day the whole world associated itself with the, mournful ceremony of the burial of the! noblest of Sovereigns. Never before ins our rough Island's story was it made sol signally clear that the path of duty wasl the way to glory and never before was] the masttry of the QUEEN over the hearts of. her people so impressively asserted, as by the grand obsequies and solemn ob- servanees of last Saturday-not to those only who had the privilege of witnessing the pomp and splendour of the Royal pageant but also to the countless thousand., who, in the even tenour of their way,'g paid their tributes in their village homes—i Shave endeavoured at some pains, to faithfully! in their little Bethels among the hills. Wei imiiTor the feeling in this district by| Icollecting and summarising reports of the various observances. Our list is by no means exhaustive but we believe it to be fairly typical of the whole—the numberless |mainfestations of sorrow throughout th.es tnd that must go unrecorded will not, on| that account, lose neither in value nor sincerity. To print all the reports that! reach us would go beyond our limits; but all testify to the spontaniety nd universality of the allegiance to the lemory of the Great Dead—probably unparalleled in the whole realm of history, Profes.sor J. R. Seeley says that we have n unfortunate habit of distributing histor- ical affairs under reigns. We do this mechanically, as it were, even in periods where we recognise, nay, where we exaggerate, the insignificance of the monarch. Even the most influential Sovereign has seldom a right to give his name to an age. I In place of these we must study to put divisions founded upon some real stage of progress in the national life. We must look onward, not from king to king, but [from great event to great event." When Time will have focussed the long reign of rom great event to great event." When Time will have focussed the long reign of it will fully meet all the demands of the historian's canon. The half of what we owe [to her long and glorious reign has not yet een told. "By soft gradations what to her long and glorious reign has not yet mighty changes hath she wrought Long periods of undisturbed repose give strength to the bulwarks of a nation as they do to the framework of the earth. The eologist tells us that the thickest strata are due to the long unbroken calm of ancien seas; ar#l science can never unfold what terrible forces what catastrophic con- vulsions have been kept low in the bowels of the earth, by these great rocks until her violent heat was tempered, and her constitution strengthened. While QUEEN VICTORIA reigned. Russia had our different Czars Turkey, five Sultans; France had a King, an Emperor, eight Presidents, a Provisional Government, and a Committee of Public Defence; Italy had three Kings; Spain, five Kings and Queen nd a Republic; Prussia, five Kings; Austria, two Emperors; the United States, eighteen Presidents Holland, four rulers j and China, four Emperors, and Jthree overning Empresses. Her MAJESTY had as contemporary rulers of great nations, as any Emperors, Kings, Queens, and Presidents as there were years in her reign. We may contemplate the progress and xtension of our enormous empire during the sixty-four years of QUKES YICTOBIA'S reign; but who can estimate the debt of our national strength and greatness to such n unparalleled continuity. In truth, there as been no time like it in human history. The advances made by science alone have altered the face of the globe. The land is vered with a network of iron roads, inking all people together in swift and easy intercourse; and the sea is threaded i very direction with that subtle wire along which towns and cities enter into converse. If peace has seldom been absolutely universal throughout her MAJESTY'S bound- less domains during her long reign, and if her Ministers have entered upon question- ble and unworthy enterprizes our home population, nevertheless—prodigously aug- mented during the period-has acquired olitical and general education by means of the cheap press and the Board Schools, and has peacefully secured civil and social enfranchisement. When, some day, the Sannals of the past sixty-four years of the British Empire will be the study and wonder of historians, there can be no doubt that the Victorian era, with its rich literature, it mazing geographical and colonising adven tures, its vast advance in science, and its evelopment of national resources and ideas will be ranked as a classic period in the chronicle of the ascent and evolution of | tpress the hope that, at home and abroad, S humanity. In concluding, we can only the influence of her example and of her! junsels will not soon die away, and that er virtues will "smell sweet and blossom i their dust." It should ever be our prayer that the great sorrow we are now experiencing should,' after a time, become idealised, and that it should" gradually rise till it becoraes a thing of contemplation on which we cam well with calmness, and leave a mellowing,! nfluence behind." | ¡ F.

NOTES AND COMMENTS! jf — 1 DEATH, THE LEVELLER. 1 :1 ■ Tho glories of our blood and state « i Are shadows, not substantial things; E | There is no armour against fate I Death lays his icy hand on kings: » I Sceptre and Crown t! 1 Must tumble down, | And in the dust be equal made jpj g With the poor crooked scythe and spade. || s Some men with swords may reap the field, i And plant fresh laurels where they kill: jj| i But their strong nerves at last must yield | j They tame but one another still: jf i Early or late fe j They stoop to fate, Bj | And must give up their murmuring breath jj* When they, pale captives, creep to death. | The garlands whither on your brow 1 Then boast no more your mighty deeds | Upon Death's purple altar now a B See where the victor-victim bleeds j| ij Your heads must come N To the cold tomb; g M Only the actions of the just jj 3 Suiell sweet, and blossom in their dust. 1 J. SHIRLEY. | j g In a speech at Is ewry, four days after lierl gdeath, Lord Wantage said that the last! recorded. words of her late Majesty th(-' Queen on her death-bed were, Oh that peace may come." I: 8 At the Northampton Police Court on ■Friday summonses were heard against two Sbrewery firms, and the agent of one of them, for selling beer adulterated with arsenic., The Corporation of Northampton pi-osecuted. The quantity of arsenic was regarded as sol Hserious by the medical officer of the borough! ,I + jujthat all ihe casks of beer on Northampton? ■premises were confiscated. "The Bench iu-| Bflicted fines of £ 10 and costs on each of the| rewers. Tne summons against the Agent was withdrawn. i M Several heavy falls of snow occurred in HNorth Wales on Monday, the weather being bitterly cold. On Sunday night a heavy mgalo sprang up, and a regular blizzard pre- vailed. The snow was whirled about with terrific force and in the country districts it lies several inches deep, and the Snowdon Hand Plynlimon ranges are covered to a con- fflsiderable depth. Last Tuesday, owing to! the snow, much difficulty was experienced in Htaking the mail bags to Devil's Bridge and Bother places in mountainous districts. SMr Austen Chamberlain has addressed toi the Senior Deputy Chancellor of the! University ot Wales a letter in which he| states that the Lords Commissioners of thel Treasury, in view of the estimate of receipt.. and expenditure of the University, feel justified in asking Parliament to vote a grants of £4,000 to the University in the next nancial year, but they trust that the con- binued progress of the University will suable it to dispense with some part of this assistance in future years. I This Thursday evening and to-morrow, an important joint counties conference will be held at the University College, Aberyst- wyth, for the purpose of considering a scheme for giving instruction in the art of dyeing and weaving. Principal Roberts, who has taken great trouble to collect informa- tion at first hand by visiting some of the most famous English centres engaged in the industry, will submit a scheme. This is a movement which will appeal to a large section in South Cardiganshire, where, it is to be hoped, it will win the interest and support it merits. i Last week we had occasion to make a omment on the manner in which Mr Elizabeth James carried on her duties as secretary to certain public bodies in Aber- ystwyth, with especial reference to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Needless to say, the remark made were strictly confined to Mrs James' method of discharging the secretarial duties, nd were not in any way intended as a reflection upon her character and reputa- tion. We have, on several occasions, at the request of members of societies, called on Mrs James, as secretary, for information and announcements respecting those bodies, and she has invariably declined to give such, stating that she recognised no paper but that of Mr. Gibson's." We, therefore, upon this ground, made the comment in good aith, believing it to be a fair comment upon such conduct of public business. I In well-informed quarters there is (says the Manchester Guardian") a steadil owing conviction that an effort is contem- plated, if not already actually being made bo find a peaceful solution to our troubles in South Africa. It is said on good authority that the title of Supreme Lord (German I Oberhorr," or overlord) was suggested by the Kaiser, whose sincere and friendly desire or peace is unquevstionable. That doubt bout Sir Alfred Milner's usefulness in outh Africa are entertained in Birmingha as well as in Montrose and Stirling is alread an open secret. Statesmen who have con- sistently opposed the war are being un officially consulted, and it is at last recognised that if a settlement is to be achieved it must e a settlement by consent. There must be give and take. Of course no one is optimistic, but if there is a genuine desire at the Colonial Office for peace and a readiness elsewhare to orget unfortunate utterances it will perhaps not pass the wit of statesmen to work out the idea of Supreme Lord, or Suzerain, into a scheme that will satisfy the British publi nd the Africander party at the Cape withou being absolutely repugnant to the majority of the Boer population. The announcemeri that Sir Michael Hicks-Beach intends to as for another seventy millions for the comin year on account of the war in South Afri will quicken the general desire for a settle- merit. A good many manufacturers ar beginning to feel uneasy about the possibility of serious changes being introduced into the I tariff in order to meet this extraordinar expenditure I A full report of an eloquent memorials address by the Rev Principal Bebb is given in this week's issue. B Dr Jayne, the Bishop of London, andH formerly Principal of St David's Lampeter, is mentioned with some assurance!! in connection with the vacant see of I London. H | The Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the exceptional sickness and deatli attributable to arsenic in beer, and generallyw in articles of food or drink, held its firs'tg sitting on Tuesday at 8, Delahay-street" Kelvin. The commisssoners Westmister, under the presidency of Loiill what should be their course of procedure i and then adjourned. 1 There is very little news of late from | South Africa. A Capetown message stat.e.s ] bhe post captured at Modderfontein, in the j Transvaal, numbered over two hundred men, i^and that apart from the officers 28 men werel skilled and wounded. In Cape Colony! ^Kitchener's Fighting Scouts have had an -| pother engagement with a Boer force neail Clinwilliim, and the enemy were followed inS the direction of Van Rhyn's Dorp. I The Nonconformists of Northampton hav<|| decided to take action with regard to Bishop of Peterborough's refusal to allow|| the mayor's chaplain, a Congregational^ minister, to read the lesson at tle U11¡tc(1. igR memorial service at the, parish church on ^Saturday. Councillor Jackson lias given! inotice that at the next meeting of the town! ^council lie will move a resolution on, the^ |subjectand tho continuance of the custom of| ^corporation church parades, seeing that the| ^Nonconformists are in an overwhelming! ^majority in the town and on the |At other places in the county the Bishop! |has sent similar refusals, which in some ease.1! jgcaused united services to be abandoned and | aseparate services arranged. | | The King's addresses to the British people | |to his colonial subjects, and to the Indian| JPnuces and people were entirely, it i>| Hdeelared by those in touch with the Monarch J |the effort of his own mind. Even the! ipliraseology was dictated by him. At fir.xt| |jthe suggestion was that the King should ex-1 Ijpress his indebtedness to his people in one| ^general address. However, he was con-| Ivineed that the devoted sympathy of thcJ '^colonies and the unfailing loyalty of India| Ijwould be better recognised by a personal| Jand direct expression of gratitude and oi| ■confidence. If it be true, as it is also said,| jgfchat the original draft of addresses was| Ipenned by the King himself, then of cour se ■that document will have a considerable liis- fitorical Value. Elsewhere we print the ^King's address to his people in the ^vernacular. | It seems that [the criticisms on the Iehaviour of the Aberystwyth students or:9 'reclamation Day gave rise to much eom-S lotion in College circles. It is to be re-8 retted that the students hastened to explain! lie incident in print in the way they Ve are not aware that any person in own ever entertained the idea of im-| ugning the loyalty of the students. That! self-evident to all who are familar withi retted that the students hastened to explain! r, the incident in print in the way they dirt, We are not aware that any person in the" own ever entertained the idea of im-| ugning the loyalty of the students. That! self-evident to all who are familar withi the College. What the townspeople re-i I sented, and justly so we believe, was thrS i manner in which they behaved at the pro-3 fceedings; and the fact, possibly regrettable! on some grounds, that they were not invited to take part in the procession did not in any. way justify their intrusion and misbehaviour I We felt it our duty to call attention to th I matter in the way we did, as we find tliet-I lis a feeling among a large section of th § | younger people in the town that greate I | privileges are allowed the students than tol Sjthem in the public streets. 1 I The announcement that the title of Princes >f Wales is likely to remain unbestowed fori i considerable period—it may be for a gen-i sration—has created among Welsh folk a| eeling which it would not, says a daily! taper, be any exaggeration to describe asi lismaythat the Duke of Cornwall and York! s not the eldest born son of the King does! a considerable period-it may be for a gen- eration-has created among Welsh folk a eeling which it would not, says a (bily paper, he any exaggeration to describe asi ,-g (iisiiiay that the Duke of Cornwall and York is not the eldest born son of the King does not seem in itself a satisfying explanation. During the late Queen's reign the Prince of Wales's frequent mingling with the Welsh people, his affable ways, his. gracious accept- ance of high positions, have won for him the highest esteem and the most loyal affection.1 We have received several communication on the subject. Some of our eorrepollclentf: I ask whether the title does not carry a pledge of the recognition of certain natiora' sentiments. At a meeting of Carnarvon Town Council on Tuesday it was proposed to include in a resolution congratulating his Majesty the King on his accession to the Throne an expression of hope that the Duke of Corn- wall and York would we graciously per mitted to assume the title of Prince of Wales nd that, in the event of his Majesty con- erring such title, that it would please his Majesty to have the ceremony performed i the historic Castle of Carnarvon. The pro- poser thought that if such an event camel o pass Carnarvon would be able to establish ifce; claim to be the capital- of Wales I The St. James's Gazette says :—" A ood deal of error and confusion appears tol have crept into people's minds on the sub- ject of the title of the Prince of Wales. T begin with, here is no 14 constitutional ques- tion whatever connected with the arivinsrB or not giving of the title. The Crown may create a Prince of Wales, or not, at pleasure, d presumably might create anyone. Pre- cedent certainly does not support the view that a Prince of Wales must be the eldest son of his father, born while his father wa King. There have been nine exceptions tc his rule among the 19 Princes. The uture Richard II. was created Prince of Wales after the death of the Black Prince, though the latter had not been King, Henry V. was created Prince of Wales, though he was born before his father ecame King Edward, the son of Richard III., was created Prince of Wales though he was born before, his father became King. The future Henry VIII. was created Prince of Wales after the death of his eldes brother, Arthur. Henry, the son of James I., was created Prince of Wales, though he was born before his father was King of England. Charles, his. brother, the second son, was created Prince of Wales after tho death of his elder brother. He, too, was born before his father was King of England Charles II., of thefuture, was created Prince of Wales in his ninth year, though an elder brother named Charles had prede- ceased him, only living a few hours. The future George II. was created Prince 0 Wales, though he was born before anvori reamed of his father becoming King of England. The future George III. was created Prince of Wales after the death offl his fathor, Frederick, who of course was never King. All these are obvious facts, the evidence for which is open to anyone yet they seem to be ignored by many people. 1

CARDIGAN DISTRICT LETTER. A, GREAT NONCONFORMIST GATHERING. In compliance with the published request of the Mayor (Mr D. Ivor Evans), Satur- day last was observed at Cardigan as a day of mourning, and the public generally icted loyally in the matter, ceasing both from business and pleasure. The State Church and the Free Church Memorial services naturally claimed wide- spread attention, both being timed to syn- chronise with the funeral of Her late was crowded to the doors, the congregation nciuding a strong contingent of the Royal Naval Reserve from the St. Dogmell's battery, and a small rnm ter of the men of I [Majesty. The Parish Church of Dogmell's the "F" Co. 1st V.B. Welsh Regiment. The former body, under Chief Officer Fisher, (ttended church by command; the latter body attended optionally. Col. W. Picton- Evans was in command. The band of the Volunteer Corps (under Colour-sergeant T. Lewis) played to and from church. The service in church was the one appointed for the occasion, the reader being the Rev J. R. Thomas, curate, and the pretcher, the curate-in-charge, the Rev Henry Jones. At the close of the service, the organist (Mr jLlewellyn Davies) played several funeral [marches most impressively, while the con- 'O'l'egatlOn remamed st:uuhng. n SJgregation remained standing. j The united meeting of the Free Churches |of Cardigan was held at Bethania Baptist jjvJhapel, the largest building available in the district, which was crowded to the doors, many persons failing to obtain even standing room. This fact should silence at once of Cardigan was held at Bethania Baptist jjvJhapel, the largest building available in the district, which was crowded to the doors, many persons failing to obtain even standing room. This fact should silence at once Sthose critics who questioned the necessity tor Nonconformists to hold a separate and sdistinct memorial service. Not even a small Sfraction of those present could have obtained ladniis.-iori to St. Mary's Church. The jj/erviee was uf the usual Evangelical type— ^earnest pmyers, simple and telling addresses, |and grand coi g■•egational singing. The Ipaslor, the Rev John Williams, conducted, |and everyone present was supplied with a jfleaflet giving the order of the service, and ipwith the words cf the hymns specially ^selected for the occasion. The following gwas the order of the service :— I Emyn 1, Ar lan Iorddonen ddofn" I(Moab). « Lesson, Psalm xc., Rev D. Garro Jones. | Hymn 2, Lead kindly light." 4 Prayer, Rev D. Garro Jones (in the ab- fUence of the Rev J. Moelwyn Hughes). | Emyn 3, "Cawn exgyn o'r dyrys anialwch" |(Crugybar). I Address, Rev George Hughes (Baptist 1 Ilymn 4, Hark a Voice divides the S^y |( Aberystwyth). | Anerchiad, Rev T. J. Morris (Cong.). I Emyn 5, Bydd myrdd o ryfeddodau" |( Babel). IMrs Edith iiees Evans. I" Sacred solo, "The Christian's Good-Night," Gweddi, Rev T. Limb, Tredrissy. Organ solo, Dead March in Saul," Miss Griffiths. The master idea of both addresses was the far-reaching influence of the Queen's life upon Christianity. Both speakers exulted in the world-wide tributes to Hex- Majesty's life and character, and claimed that her memory would be perpetuated through all ages by, above all else, the fact that she was |a Christian Queen. It is difficult to convey all idea in words of those moments of inspir- ation which move the mass to display their feelings,but there were two striking instances on this occasion. In his eloquent prayer, the Rev D. Garro Jones reached a climax with the sonorous words c. God save the BKing," and an anti-climax with the words |—"l ea, and save Thy People, too. It was imple, but the effect was almost one univer- ."al i-esponse' Another such moment was in the refrain to the solo sung by Mrs Evans, the whole congregation joining with electrical effect in the words Good Night, Good Night." Moments like these spring up ^spontaneously, and leave a lasting impress- lion. | Strangely enough there were Nonconform- | ists who considered that it was the patriotic | duty of the Free Churches to merge their | identity on this occasion of High State,in the ^memorial service of the Established Church. ■However well-meaning they may have been, ithey appear to have failed, to say the least, to have done justice to the loyalty of the Free Churches. The political relations, no lless than the contrasts, of Church and Dis- sent will not bear compromise, and the bulk f the Nonconformists in Cardigan acted in his instance in harmony with this view. jgOiie question: Could Dissenters consistently Ihave raised their voices in invocation to the Virgin Mary ? The Nonconformity of Cardi- igaijk did qnite right to preserve their individ- uality on this great occasion, for what guar- aantee is their that, when time has softened ithe sorrows of the Nation, Churchcraft may jfnot point to this historic event as a Church triumph, and as proof that Nonconformity is, las is alleged, a mere excrescence ? | TELEPATH.

ABERDOVEY. VIOLETS.—As proof of the mildness of the weather, primroses and violets may be seen in full bloom in front of the Police Station here. They re, however, obviously on forbidden ground. CONDOLENCE AND CONGRATULATION. At. a ommittee meeting of the. Literary Institute on Thursday evening, a vote of condolence was pasaed with the Royal Family in their sorrow on the 4death f her most Gracious Majesty the Queen, and con- ratulating King Edward upon his accession to,tho hrone. WIU-THBR RBCoBDS.-Captain Edwards" who s charge of the meteorological instruments,, has it completed the records for the year 1900* which id as follows :—Bright sunshine, 1671-3 hours; nfall, 34-53 inches mean daily maximum,, 54-1 j ditto minimum, 50-1; ditto dry bulbs, 52L; ditto wet bulbs, 50; relative humidity, 86. From June o September inclusive the mean daily maximum as 64-5; ditto minimum, 60-5. Observation made 8 a.m. daily. !WSATHBR RECORDS.—Captain Edwards,, who COMPETITIVE MEETING.—A successful competi- i meeting was held on Wednesday evening, luary 30th at the Tabernacle C.M. Chapel, the Rev. J. D. Jones, presiding. The musical adjudi- ator was Mr J. G. Thomas, F.T.S.C., Blaenaa. istiniog, and Miss Margaret Riohaidsably accom anied on the piano. The following is a list of the. ubjects and successful competitorsCofnodion o. gethau, best, D. James answering questions m Holwyddoreg, R. 0. Jenkins; recitation. ilodeuyn unigs" RowJaad# and J. O. Evans; tten exam, under 13, M. Rowland flannel petfcil t, Elizabeth Williams j explaining Welsh pro- erbs, Griff Jones, exam under 16, T. W. Thoiaas; methawd 11 Crist fel dysgawdwr," Joanna Owen; riting third and fourth commandments, So A. ones; imromptu singing under 12, Blodwea ughes; duet, Y ddeilen ar y lli' prize divided L. Bell, J. Pugh, and J. D. Hughes, H. Lewis; .ration under 12, Jico," Barbara Owen solo er 12," Ernan," S. A. Rowlands; overall for child, Eliz. Williams; exam under 21, v. Xichards e composing,. W. James; impromptu singin* over 12, Florrie Owen exam on St. Joha, J. Evans; best letter describing a visit to the Happy Valley, R. 0. Richards; recitation over 18, Anterth yi ystorm," D. James quartette, J. Lewis and party knitted gloves, Miss K. Williams; solo under 16- Maggie Williams; questions frctsa Hyfforddwr gllebecca Edwards and Margaret Jones; baritone solo, Cvmru fy ngwlad," Thomas Jones: traeth- awd, Ailenedigaeth" William James; transla- tÜ n. E. H. Edwards: exam under 28, R. 0 HRichards and Katie Williams; party of eight, hymn tunes, Mr John Pugh and party juvenile ■choir, Awn, awn." IXberaaQl ohoir, conducted bv ■Mr R. Griffith. 4 11