The Barmouth and County Advertiser and District Weekly News

COLONEL JOHN JONES, M.P., MAESYGARNEDD. One of the characteristics of modern times is the increased attention that is paid to local history and literature. The com mot of Ardudwy, which comprises the district that lies between the Dwy- 'l'yd river in the north and the Mawddach in the south, has been a rich field of profitable research for several students. Many books and articles, in the vernacular and in English, have recently been published dealing with the history of the district. The latest is a book which bears the title of "Ardudwy a'i Gwron (Ardudwy and its Hero), and which is the work of the Rev. David Davies (Dewi Eden), Harlech. The hero is Colonel John Jones, M.P., of Mnesygrarnedd, more commonly known as the Welsh Regicide, who signed the death-warrant of King Charles I. John Jones was the son of Thomas ap John or Jones and of Ellen, daughter of Robert Wynn ap Ieuan of Taltreuddyn near Llanbedr. The ancient farmstead of Maesygarnedd is situated in the extreme end of the Nantcol Valley in close proxi- mity to DrwsArdudwy. The Col.'s father was the owner of much property in the neighbourhood, so that his son cannot be said to have been born of humble parentage, as the Royalist biographies would have us believe. Also, his mother was descended from John Collier and John Palgus, who came to Harlech with Edward I., and who were the ancestors of Sion Phylip of Moebras, the scholarly poet of the Vaughans of Corsygedol in the time of Queen Elizabeth. Jones seems to have been educated in Wrexham, where he came under the influence of Walter Cradoc and other Puritans. And this no doubt accounts for the fact that, whilst Merionethshire was one of the strongholds of the Royal- ist cause, John Jones was a devoted soldier in the Parliamentary forces. In the first civil war Jones was made a Colonel, and in 1646 he negotiated the surrender of Anglesey; he also took part in the siege of Harlech Castle in 1647, when this war was brought to an end by the surrender of the garrison. In the second civil war Jones was again en- trusted by Parliament to re-conquer Anglesey, which was now in charge of Sir John Owen of Clenenau, the distin- guished ancestor of Lord Harlech. For his services he was voted C2,000 by Parliament, Col. Jones had been returned to Parlia- ment in 1647 for the county ofMerioneth, which he continued to represent till 1653, when he was elected for Denbighshire. So, when soldiers and generals resolved to bring Charles to trial for treason, Jones was selected as one of the King's Judges, and be signed the famous death- warrant. Afterwards he was elected a member of the Council of state of the Common- wealth, and in 1650 he was appointed one of the Commissioners to govern Ire- land, a post which he held for four years. He is described as "having discharged his trust with diligence, ability and in- tegrity." By this time a marriage was arranged between him and the Protec- tor's sister, and soon afterwards be was appointed one of the Committee of Safety and of the Council of Sbate, and, later on, a Commissioner for the govern- ment of Ireland. When Charles II. returned in May 1660 Jones was arrested. He never at. tempted to escape but determined to meet his fate boldly. On Oct. 13th be was brought to trial and condemned to a most cruel death. From his letter to a relative, his speech from the ladder and his prayer, it can be gathered that he met his death calmly., Mr Davies is to be highly congratula- ted on the excellent way in which he has marshalled the interesting facts in the life of this illustrious son of Merion- eth. The book is beautified by several photographs and contains a number of valuable letters written by Colonel John Jones and his contemporaries,

I.. THE PRUDENTIAL ASSURANCE I COMPANY. It has long been agreed by all whose duty it is to compile the chronicle of insurance or comment on the doings oc institutions recorded therein that tbe Prudential stands in a kingdom of its own, unique, unapproachable and net comparable with any other company operating on similar lines. Of course, the Prudential has bad exceptional ad- I vantages. With the exception of a mutual society, which never aimed ab a great extention of business, it was first in the industrial field, and under the able management of a great insur. ance organiser it has established itself on a firm basis and won extensive popularity years before the other pro- prietary concerns entered the industrial assurance arena. But there is no need to speak further on this occasion of the admirable concerns which compete with our leading industrial office; we lack space, as it is, to deal with the achieve- ments of the Prudential alone. We may preface our observations on the sixty-fifth annual report just issued by saying that it is in all respects worthy of the Prudential. That, need- less to say, is to imply a high standard of excellence, and we think the most cursory examination of the fignres will show that we have not erred on the side of praise. Let us take the salient features in the order given. A huge new business in the ordinary branch would, of course, be confidently anticipated, for the Prudential is known far and wide as one of the best offices for ordinary life assurance, giving a splendid bonus, the increase of which in due course is oqe of the things in insurance which can be predicted with confidence. But who in the present state of competition, with many first-class ordinary life offices dis- playing special activities in the home area, who would have reckoned on such figuies as those reported—71,359 policies for sums amounting to C6,849,224, as against 59,854 policies for 15,586,153, in the previous year? Conceding the unequalled power and prestige of the Prudential, the magic of its name," as someone has said; and the more or less automatic growth of the ordinary busi- ness by what may be called overflows from the industrial section, it must be recognised that an increase of 11,505 policies and zCl,263,071 in sums assured is something quite out of the common run, and that it could not possibly be attained without the most able, zealous and unsparing efforts on the part of the company's officials and agents. It is noteworthy that one-seventh of the new business consisted of policies for sums assured ranging from X500 to £ 20,000. We may draw attention also to the wonderfully low expense ratio shown in this branch, notwithstanding the enormoas business transacted. Last year commission and management out- lays on ordinary business came to X406, 334 or only 8'27 per cent. of the pre- mium income. We may be sure that the bearing of this remarkable economy in management upon the bonus pro- spects will not be ignored by persons desirous of insuring their lives, to whom the Prudential appeals as attractive in other respects. In the Industrial branch the results reported are also extremely satisfactory taking all things into consideration. The premium income, amounting to R7,874,456 shows an increase of £81, 894, and this would have been much greater but for the fact that fifty-two week's collections only are covered by the present accounts, whereas there were fifty-three week's takings included in the accounts for 1912. We are glad to earn that Mr W. H. Mallett, Supenintendent of the Port- madoc District, was highly congratula- ted by the General Manager and the Directors for the excellent results at- tained by the staff under his supervision during the year; and we direct our reader's attention to the names of the local representatives of the company as given at the end of the Annual Report in our other columns in the present ssue.

I 110 CARS A DAY-IN ENGLAND. I THE FORD COMPANY'S RECORD- DOUBLE WAGES AND COSTLIEST STEEL IN THE MOST ECONOM- i ICAL CAR MADE. Last week a record was established, which it would take probably half a dozen other car building firms in this country to equal. In a single ordinary working day, without any special stim- ulus save the stimulus of public demand waiting to be satisfied; without even knowing until the day's end how many vehicles had actually been completed, the Ford Motor Company of Manchester assembled in their Trafford Park Works no less than 110 Ford Cars. The assem- bly included also the fitting of bodies and the addition of all accessories. The Ford Car as it issues from the assembly shop goes straight out to the road and its private owner, and lives as long, or longer, and is vastly more eco- nomical, than any other car of its power. No car has won so many eulo- gies from its owners. No body of car owners are so enthusiastic. Because of its economy of first cost as well as of running cost, the Ford has been derided as "cheap." Its cheapness, however, is only apparent because of the comparative dearness of all other vehi cles in its category. There is no virtue in expensiveness. In the motor car it is the volume of service which the car will give to every soverign spent upon it that matters. As for labour cost, it is not generally known, but it is nevertheless the fact, that the wages of the workmen in the Ford Factory at Manchester are not only well above all trade union rates, but are often double the wages paid anywhere in the motor industry or for a similar class of labour. The Agent for Merionethshire is our respected and well-known Motor Engineer, Mr Wilkinson, The Lion Garage, who will at all times show in- tending purchasers the Ford Car, as he will have a demonstration car always in his garage, were purchasers can thoroughly overhaul the various parts and have trial runs in same. Mr Wilkinson will be pleased at all times to give the benefit of his practical know- ledge to intending purchasers.

REVIEW. I Worship and Work Thoughts from the Unpublished Writings of the late Canon Barnett. Selected and Edited 1- by his Wife, (Letchworth: Garden City Press, Ltd. Cloth 1/6 net). This is a singularly interesting book without a single dull page from begin- ning to end, and is worth its weight in gold. The thoughts are fresh, lucid, stimulating and inspiring, and no one can give the book a careful and serious perusal without making a resolution to do his utmost to serve God and man in the spirit of the Divine Master. Space permits us to make only one or two quotations, which we feel comfident will send the reader to the book itself. ADVICE TO THE YOUNG. I Be sure of something. Get a foot- hold in life which you know to be firm. Have some belief which you would die for rather than deny. Then you will know that God is with you, and the blessing which it becomes us older ones to give will not be a mere form of words. GIVE BY SHARING. I The knowledge of God grows in every generation, and with larger knowledge there will be larger laws. Gcd said of old Thou shalt do no murder." God says now H Make common what is best. Give by sharing. The charm of the volume is heigh- tened by the Introduction and the texts from the Bible and Browning added to the passages by Mrs Barnett. We heartily commend the book to our readers.

DOLGELLEY RESIDENT'S GRATITUDE. Mrs C. Roberts, of 3, Arran Bridge, Dolgelley, says :—" I have been troubled now and again with a nasty pain across my back, no doubt arising from kidney disorder. I have taken Doan's backache kidney pills, and am glad to say I have found them very good, for I am better in my back and they have brightened me up, too. I have recommended Doan's pills to others, and shall certainly do so again. (Signed) C. Roberts. Uric acid poison left in the system by weak kidneys causes lumbago, rheumat- ism, gravel, disorders of the urinary sys- tem makes you feel dull, heavy, tired and miserable, leads to fatal disease if neglected. Doan's backache kidney pills act directly on the kidneys and bladder, bringing quick relief, and ensuring the poisonous uric acid and waste water be. ing removed before they have time to set up disease or irritation in the body. Price 2/9 a box 6 boxes, 13/9 of all dealers, or from Foster, McClellan Co., 8, Wells-street, Oxford-street, Lon- don, W. Don't ask for Backache and Kidney Pills-ask distinctly for Doan's Backache Kidney Pills, the same as Mrs Roberts had.

NEWS FROM ALL QUARTERS. All business is at a standstill in -Lima owing to a general strike, and the trans- portation service has ceased. oooo It is estimated that during the current year the net receipts from the Russian Government's spirit monopoly will amount to about C70,000,000, oooo Miss Ellen Terry will leave London on Friday for Australia and New Zealand, where she will give about 50 of her Shakespearean discourses. oooo By the will of the recently decease Dr. A. Burznski, a well-known Polish physician, the Polish Boy Scout organ- isations inherit the whole of his fortune of £ 40,000. oooo Gold produced in Southern Rhodesia during February reached a value o £ 25S,888. This constitutes a record out- put, the previous best having been C257, 797 in March 1913.

Forthcoming Events Free insertions under this column to all those who bring in their Printing on all Forth-coming Events. MARCH. 26th-Drama Performance at the Pavilion. 27-Soiree at the County School. APRIL. 10th-Grand Entertainment by the Wesleyans at the Pavilion on Good Friday 13th-(Easter Monday) Annual Football Cup Competiton. 13th (Easter Monday) —Grand Enter- tainment in aid of the Caersalem Chapel. 13th (Easter Monday) Competitive Meeting at the Council School Llanbedr 22nd—The Annual Primrose Fete at the Assembly Rooms. JUNE 3rd, 4th & 5th.-Grand Bazaar at the Council School, Dyffryn. 17 & 18th— The Bangor Diocesan Sale of Work For Missions Over-Seas at the Church Hall, Barmouth. AUGUST. 5th.—Flower, Fruit and Vegetable Show at the Council School, Llwyngwril SEPTEMBER. Caersalem Sale of Work.