Abergavenny Chronicle

THE CRIMINALS CONVICTED. There is no excuse nowadays for even the most hardened of pro-Germans conscientiously having any doubt as to the cause of the present war. If they will not accept the evidence of the most eminent Englishmen on the point, they cannot controvert the testimony of a German of such high standing as Prince Lichnowsky, who from 1912 to 1914 was the German Ambassador at London. His disclosures, written for private circulation only, but by a fortunate circumstance secured by a newspaper in a neutral country, are the most damning indictment of. Germany's war policy that could be imagined. A summary of the disclosures has now been issued in free pamphlet form by the National War Aims Com- mittee. As these pamphlets are to be had for the asking, everyone should take advantage of the opportunity of reading this 12-page publica- tion. The evidence is set out in a form that anvone can understand, and all loyal Britishers ought to prime themselves with the facts so as to be able to controvert the ill-considered state- ments so frequently made by pacifists. We have been told time after time by those who always delight to place their country in the wrong that the war was caused by our secret diplomacy and our efforts to hem Germany in and burk her ambitions in the direction of Colonial expansion. Prince Lichnowsky effectively disposes of this allegation, for he shows that Sir Edward Grey's intention was not to isolate us, but to make us, so far as possible, partners in a working concern. Just as he had succeeded in bridging Franco- British and Russo-British difficulties, so he wished, as far as possible, to remove causes of friction between Germany and Great Britain, and by a network of treaties—which would finally include an agreement on the unfortunate naval question-to secure the peace of the world." In the Balkan Conference of 1912, Sir Edward Grey, we are told, hardly ever took the Russian or French point of view. On the contrary, he nearly always took our part, in order to give no pretext for war. That pretext was supplied later by a dead Archduke." Prince Lichnowsky also reveals the fact that, in 1913 two important treaties were negotiated between the German Ambassador and the British Foreign Office which should have gone far to remove all doubt in Germany as to our desire for friendly co-operation with that country. These treaties gave Germany large and important concessions in Africa and Asia Minor, and Sir Edward Grey intimated his willingness to sign them as soon as the' German Goverument gave permission for the treaties to be published. In the words of the German Ambassador, England has no -other secret treaties, and it it contrary to her existing principles that she should conceal bind- ing agreements. The German Government, however, objected to publicity. While they were obtaining, through their Ambassador, valuable and substantial proofs of friendship and goodwill, railways, concessions and interests in great territories, the War Party in Germany were hoodwinking the people and making them believe that we were their bitter enemies and the obstacles to their progress. It did not snit them to let the German people know the truth, for war had already been decided on. Coming to the outbreak of war, Prince Lichnowsky shows how hostilities could easily have been avoided but for the uncompromising attitude of the wire- pullers in Berlin, what refused to give ear to the peaceful overtures of Russia and Great Britain. On the contrary, we pressed for war," adds the Prince. In a further passage he states, After our refusal, Sir Edward Grey asked us to come forward with a proposal of our own. We insisted upon war. Otherwise our attitude in a question which, after all, did not directly concern us was unintelligible. The urgent appeals and definite declarations my urgent advice—it was all of ito use, for Berlin went on insisting that Serbia must be massa- cred." Here is another striking passage Germany encouraged Austria to attack though no German interest was involved. Germany rejected mediation even when Austria was ready to be satisfied with the Serbian reply. Germany deliberately destroyed the possibility of a peaceful settlement." Prince Lichnowsky has no doubt as to the responsibility of Germany for the war. In view of these indisputable facts," he says, it. is not sur- prising that the whole civilised world outside Germany attributes to us the sole guilt for the world-war." Yet there are still people of the pacifist type who profess not to be convinced, though we are glad to find that Mr. James Winstone and others have gained a little more sense. Xo sane nation would ever trust Ger- many again unless her military system is abso- lutely smashed, and it will not be smaleù by peace negotiations at the present stage.

Tribunal Cases.—At the County Appeal Tribunal on Monday the appeal of the National Service Representative against the exemption of Alfred Jackson, ironmonger, was withdrawn, as he had been examined by the Medical Board on April 20th and placed in Grade 3. The appeal against the exemption of William Matthews, shoeing smith, Monk-street, was dismissed and conditional exemption was granted on existing circumstances remaining the same.

LOCAL FOOD NOTES. I [BY THE EXECUTIVE OTVICKR]. I Ration Books. I The Food Controller has decided to introduce as from July 13th, on which date the currency of the national meat cards ends, a national system of rationing. It is proposed to issue through Food Control Committees during June and July individual ration books containing sheets of coupons with counterfoils, for the rationing at least of (a) sugar I (b) fats (butter, margarine and lard) I (c) meat. I Spare coupons and spare pages with spaces tor marking off will be included for use in the rationing of other foodstuffs if found necessary. Books will be printed on paper specially en- graved in different colours and will be current for 16 weeks. Under this scheme the rationing of sugar, fats and meat will be brought on to a substantially uniform basis. This involves some early modi- I fication of the existing sugar scheme. Instruc- tions on this point will be issued immediately, and will include provision for the discontinuance of the sugar ledgers in their present form. It involves also the absorption of local schemes of butter-margarine distribution into a uniform national scheme. Less Butcher's Meat. I From Monday next, May 5th, only two coupons may be used in the purchase of butcher's meat. After Monday, bacon and ham may only be purchased from the shopkeeper with whom the meat card is registered. Farmers' Butter. I Farmers supplying butter retail are asked to cancel the numbers on the customers' food cards for the particular weeks in which they are avail- able. This does not apply to fanners selling butter wholesale to dealers. — A

Births. Food Committees are authorised to issue meat and food cards on receipt of an application by the parent or guardian accompanied by a birth certificate. A certificate sufficient for this pur- pose (entitled Certificate of registration of birth ") may be obtained at the time of registra- tion for a fee of threepcuce. Deaths. The occupier of the house or establishment in which the holder oi a meat or food card dies, and, in the case of deaths otherwise than in a house or establishment, the person causing the body to be buried, shall, as soon as practicable, or in any case not later than three days after burial, return to the Food Office of the district in which the death has occurred any meat or food cards held by the deceased.

I Frogmore St. Baptist Sunday School Festival.- The annual festival was held on April 25th, when the Rev. Gwilym Davies presided. An interest- ing programme consisting of children's drills, part singing, dialogues, &c., was gone through. Upwards of 100 prizes were awarded the scholars for regular attendance. Mr. Edgar Morgan, The Beeches, presented 250 oranges to the scholars, and. Lieut. Max Beveridge presented buns. 46.-

BIRTHS, MARRIAGES & DEATHS. PRICL-On the 2nd May, at her son's residence, 32 Princes-street, Abergavenny, Mary Ann, widow of Frederick Price, of Llanwenarth Citra, aged 83 years. IN MEMORIAM. TROTMAN.—In ever loving remembrance oi our darling little Cyril, who passed away May ist, 1916. Safe in the arms of Jesus." From his loving Mam, Dad, Brothers and Sisters. WINNEY.—In Loving Memory of our darling boy, Robert Vivian, who was killed in action in France on the 6th of May, 1915, aged 22 years. To live in the hearts of those we love is not to die. In Loving Remembrance of Gwendolen Lottie Winstone, the beloved wife of Leslie Edwin Winstone, and daughter of Charlotte Sophia Flowers, who passed away May ist, 1917. Sadly missed by Mother, Husband, and Children. In Affectionate Remembrance of our beloved daughter-in-law, Gwendoline Lottie Winstone, who passed away May 1st, 1917. Ever re- membered by all at 6 Stanhope-street.

I ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. Mrs. Abbott and family wish to thank all kind friends for sympathy shown to them in their sad bereavement, also those who sent letters of sympathy and floral tributes, and those who attended the funeral. They also sincerely thank the people of Llanfoist. 3 Usk View, Merthyr-road, Abergavenny, Mon. Mr. Baron wishes to thank all friends for their kind sympathy in his recent bereavement and also those who sent Boral tributes. 95 North-street. Mr. G. Meadows and children wish to thank all kind friends for sympathy and help in their recent sad bereavement. 8 Overton Terrace.

Notice to Advertisers and Correspondents.- The Publishers of the Abergavenny Chronicle wish to inform all advertisers and correspondents that all advertisements and other matter for insertion in their current issue must reach them not later than Thursday mid-day.

Soldiers' and Sailors' Reception Fund. GLEE SOCIETY'S CONCERT. At the Town Hall on Thursday, the Aberga- gavennv Glee Society gave an excellent concert in aid of the Borough Band Soldiers and Sailors I Recep tion Fund, a silver collection being taken for this purpose. The attendance, however, was not so large as the excellence of the programme deserved. The choir, under the conductorship of Mr. A. J. Willcox, are improving in their singing at every public appearance, and on Thursday they sang a couple of new choruses, Same Old Sea Dogs," of which they gave a stirring rendering, and Deep Jordan's Banks," a competitive piece at Brynmawr Eisteddfod on Monday next, in which the choir intend to take part. The choir's singing of the chorus was thrilling and there was very little in the way of technicality for even the most captious critic to find fault with. It was a fine achievement, and the choir are to be congratulated on their de- termination to enter the competitive arena. The harmonious part-song Three Fishers and the pleasing chorus Good-night, beloved were also given with full effect. There were a number of excellent individual contributions. Mrs. Tonkin and Miss Sayce gave a pianoforte duet, and the former ably played the accompani- ments. Misses BoWt-n and Edwards, who are an acquisition to the choir, were encored for the duet Life's dream is o'er," and the former was also recalled for There's only one England," in which she displayed a contralto voice of ex- cellent quality. Miss Sayce was encored for My Hope," while Mrs. W. Evans, Miss Sayce, Mr. W. H. Garner and Mr. Meadows were also recalled for the amusing mixed quartette Pro- fundo Basso." Miss D. Prosser, who has quite the theatrical style, sang A little baby up in the moon in a confident and old-fashioned manner for her years, and the audience demanded a reappearance. Pleasing songs were also rendered by Mrs. W. Evans, Mrs. R. Evans, and Messrs. Willcox, Garner, Wingrave and Meadows sang" Stars of the summer night in capital style. Mr. 0. J. Owen gave the amusing recital of John Jones's Adventures," and, needless to say, was encored. At the close, Mr. E. Richards, on behalf of the Committee, thanked the choir and artistes for their services on behalf of the fund. It was a credit to the town that they had a party who were willing to come forward and do their best for the boys. The Committee had already presented 154 watches, and. they hoped they would be able to present another 154. The ladies' committee had worked hard and they deserved every credit for what they had done. He should like to have seen a full house, which would have given them a better heart to go on with the work. Mr. John Owen responded on behalf of the choir and said that no better fund was ever started than that of recognising those who were fighting for them and were ready to make the supreme sacrifice. Individually or collectively the choir would always be willing to help such a fund.

"WHO'S A PREVARICATOR?" I MR. H. E. PAPE AND A PROHIBITIONIST'S I STATEMENT. Mr. H. E. Pape sends us a lengthy letter replying to some of the points raised at the temperance meeting reported in our last issue. We have only room this week for the following extract One striking remark of the Rev. T. C. Jones was that of 10,000 men employed in Cammel Laird's yard at Birkenhead, 1,000 were absent every week owing to the drink.' Readers of the Chronicle can judge for themselves as to the unscrupulous methods of Prohibitionists, because I sent a cutting of the report of this meeting to that firm and received the following reply:- From Cammell Laird & Co., Ltd., Ship- building and Engineering Works, Birkenhead, 30th April, 1918. To Mr. Harry E. Pape, Aber- gavenny. Dear Sir,—I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 27th inst. enclosing a newspaper cutting containing what purports to be a statement by the Rev. T. C. Jones in which he states that of 10,000 men employed in Cammell Laird's yard at Birkenhead 1,000 were a bsent every week owing to the drink.' I do not know where the reverend gentleman ob- tained his information, but to the best of my knowledge and belief there is no justification for such a statement being made.-Yours faith- fuHy, CAMMED LAIRD & Co., LTD., (Geo. J. Carter, Managing Director.' A common saying to-day is that you can never trust the word of a German.' Unfor- tunately this makes it appear as if you cannot trust the word of a Britisher, if he happens to be a Prohibitionist." A

PIANO FUND. I To the Editor of the Abergavenny Chronicle." t DEAR SIR,—Will you kindly allow me to appeal to all those to whom circular letters were sent in reference to the concert for piano fund to kindly let me have their replies not later than Monday next, May 6th, so that it can be decided whether to proceed with same or otherwise. I would like response to show how we appreciated the brave dash of our sailors on St. George's Day. Yours faithfully, I Z. WHEATLEY, May i, 1918. Mayor.

Capt. Walwyn Trumper.-Tli(--re is a decided improvement in the condition of Captain E. H. G. Walwvu Trumper, of Crickhowell, who for the past few weeks has been in the greatest danger, at one of the London hospitals. Al- though he is still very weak, the surgeons now give every hope of his recovery. Death of Mrs. Fry.-—We regret to record the death, on Thursday, of Mrs. Fry, Brynarw, Hereford-road, wife of Capt. A. A. Fry, who has been out at the front since the early days of the war The deceased lady was taken suddenly ill and was removed to the Cottage Hospital for an operation, but all efforts to save her life were unavailing. Mrs. Fry was a willing worker in connection with various movements, and the news of her sudden death came as a shock to all who knew her. Much sympathy is felt for Capt. Fry in his tragic bereavement, and also for the two small children who are left. Capt. Fry was wired for, but could not arrive in time to see his wife alive.

GRAIG POLICE COURT. I Wednesday—Before Mr. W. H. S. Whitney and I Mr. C. Lipscomb. THREE MONTHS FOR FOWI, STEALING.—Sidney Gosney and 'Robert Scott, Hengoed, colliers, were brought up on remand and charged with stealing four fowls, value 30s., the property of John Prosser, retired postman, at Llangua, on April 2 7th. -Prosecutor said that he had six fowls of special laying strain. On Sunday morn- ing, the 27th, he only found two birds there, and discovered that the place had been broken into. He gave information to the police. At 12.30 p.m. on Sunday P.C. Frampton showed him the fowls, which he identified as being his property and valued at 30S.-P.C. Evans (Pontrilas) said his attention was drawn to a bag in a field, which he examined and found to contain fowls. He saw saw prisoners on the road and questioned them, but they denied all knowledge of the theft. He took them into custody.—P.C. Frampton (Gros- mont) said that about 11 a.m. bn Sunday, April 28th, he proceeded in the direction of Pandy. He met P.C. Evans with the two prisoners, a bicycle and a bag, and examined the contents of the bag, which contained four fowls and two ducks, and with the assistance of P.C. Evans he conveyed the prisoners to Grosmont. On Sunday, in the presence of P.S. Hatherall, the prisoners stated that they were very sorry they had done it, but they wanted food. They gave every assistance afterwards in finding the owner of the ducks.—The Chairman said that the record against the prisoners for different kinds of felonies was very bad. The Bench were de- termined to protect the dwellers of the country- side against this form of crime, and the prisoners would be sentenced to three months' imprison- ment with hard labour. The two police con- stables were to be complimented for the clever manner in which they had acted in the matter.

I Mr. R. Beavan and Dancing. I To the Editor of the Abergavenny Chriiiicle." SIR,—I have read and re-read Mr. R. Beavan's letter in your last issue, and I am still at a loss to imderstand the meaning of it all. I find that I am not aloue in being unable to make any sense of the confused rigmarole, for many people have been asking what it is all about. There has surely seldom been published such an incoherent jumble of inappropriate words and meaningless sentences. When the issues were clear before him, I cannot understand how Mr. Beavan came to perpetrate such an atrocity. I have tried to find an explanation of this incomprehensible lapse, and it seems to be due to one of two causes. The most likely is that he has swallowed the dictionary and become intoxicated with the exuberance of his own verbosity or it may be that the compliments I paid him in my previous letter have turned his brain. Whatever the cause, however, the result is that he is suffering from mental chaos. I cannot imagine that the writer—I must not call him Mr. Beavan again so soon, or he may be annoyed or highly amused at the repetition of his illustrious name—I say I cannot imagine that the writer deliberately tried to make a Chinese puzzle by abusing the English language, though he has succeeded in doing so. No, it must be mental chaos. Take his open- ing. Because I politely apologised for keeping him waiting for his rations through having to attend to the lady first, he says How sugges- tive but of what ? Manifest self-sufficing, mixed with no ordinary measure of conceit. There must have been great distention, even of an abnormal character." Now, if anybody outside Bedlam can tell me the. exact meaning of that he or she must indeed be a clever eluci dator. I doubt whether the author of it himself knows what it means. Whether Mr. (I must not repeat his name) was trying to describe his own symptoms or not I don't know, but whatever his intention, it is not at all explicit. And fancy him objecting to the word rations —in these days, too It is not classical enough for him. Does he want me to address him in classical language ? He would probably not understand it if I did. Take another instance of his mental chaos. He says If I went to my doctor in that con- dition he would gravely shake his head, indica- tive of organic mischief. To take the sentence as it is written, it obviously means that the fact of the doctor shaking his head would indicate that he (the doctor) was troubled with organic mischief. It is a good thing he did not mention the doctor's name, or he might have been sued for libel. If Mr. B. went to the doctor in the same condition as that in which he wrote his letter, his medical man would probably say to him You are suffering from mental derange- ment. Take a complete rest, and leave the dictionary severely alone it does not suit your constitution." One could multiply instances all through the letter which show an absolute confusion of thought and expression. It is difficult to know whether Mr. B. is referring to himself, or your humble, or to someone elsS. How is it possible to conduct a connected argu- ment with such a jumbler ? There is surely not a boy or girl.in any of the elementary schools but would smile at such a conglomeration of balderdash. This be-muddled critic refers to the rules of dictation. Perhaps he means diction, for there is no sense or reason in his ex- pression. Will he be good enough to enlighten us as to the meaning of some of his expressions ? For instance, he might tell us what are the rules of dictation and what are the laws of analogy, and where they may be found. He might also inform us how many theologians there were before the creation of the world. Mr. B. was trying to be so sharp in his first letter that I suggested that he had been sleeping in the knife-box, and this is his interpretation of the sentence How delighted I am to know that one of the small knives taken from my knife-box has actually brought me into the company of the most famous and historical Well, well He is like the Scotsman who re- quired a surgical operation before he could see I the point of a humorous allusion. Now, I say deliberately that Mr. Beavan is a Uvister and a prevaricator, when he is trying to deal with my letter. I did not pose as a prophet. What 1 did do was to object to him donning the mantle of a Daniel and making use of a false analogy. Having used that analogy, and being tackled with its falseness, he twists round and tries to make out that it is I who used it. He says, Oh, the would-be tricks of analogy Would-be tricks is good, but let it pass. -I repeat that it is he who is guilty of the analogy and if he does not know what analogy means he had better ask someone who does. When he says There is an admission that there was an analogy relative to dancing," the only fitting retort is that used by M. Clemenceau the other day He lies." That there was not an analogy relative to dancing was just the very point I raised. I am asked if ours was a wet or a dry dance. Why cannot Mr. Beavan say exactly what lie means ? The English language contains plenty of words to enable him to be explicit. The dancers may have perspired frely for all I know, but surely he does not include perspiration among the things he wants to prohibit. If he wants to know whether the dancers were wet or dry internally, I can only say that the caterer pro- vided liquid refreshment in the form of-tea and coffee, and there were no other drinks provided. I hope Mr. Inquisitive, who has discovered a mare's nest," will not be horrified at this revelation. He asks me to be careful how I use or misuse analogy in replying to this question. Why will he display his ignorance ? Analogy is altogether out of place in such a connection, and if he does not understand what is the proper place to bring it in he had far better leave it alone. In my last letter I asked Mr. B. the straight question as to whether he claimed that those who promoted the dance and those who partici- pated in it were devoid of practical religious principles and Christian virtues, and whether he and those for whom he speaks have the monopoly of them. It is a plain question, and is capable of a plain answer. The Man-who- ought-to-have-answered-it presumably will not face it, but shuffles out by making more reflec- tions. If a man sets himself up as a guide to what is right and what is wrong, we are at least entitled to know what his claims and qualifica- tions are. If I was attacking the Person-in- Question for any particular kind of conduct he would surely want to know what my credentials were for doing so. He leads us to infer that he is one of the elect, and that all the people who do not agree with him are infidels, or worse. If he believes that, he need not be too modest about saying so. We are told in the letter under consideration that These dances in the Town Hall are held under the pretext of raising money for the Y.M.C.A. I am not going to mince words about such a glaring misstatement as that, but I will call it by its proper name and say that it is an absolute lie, and the author of it must know that it is. It is nothing less than a charge of obtaining money by false pretences. I give Mr. Beavan an opportunity of withdrawing the slander and so avoiding the leg 1 consequences. He would be wise to take advantage of it, and if he is a man he will apologise for his unwarranted aspersion on our committee. I did not suggest that any part of the money we gave to the Y.M.C.A. went to the local branch. Naturally it went to that part of the organisation which is doing real work that needs doing. I can produce the receipts to show that the money has been received by the officials, who are well aware how the money has been raised.. The money was raised by the aid of fooball matches played by the Abergavenny Ladies' Teams. One was played in Bailey Park, and no doubt if Mr. Beavan will take his memory back to the day I stopped him in Brecon-road yard he will re- member giving me the address of the General Secretary of the Y.M.C.A., London, to whom the cheque was sent. The other was played by the same teams at Merthyr, for the Y.M.C.A. during their campaign week. It is alJ'ery well for Mr. Independent to refuse what he has never been offered. Any fool could do that. He need not be afraid that he will be put to the painful necessity of refusing monetary assistance from pur efforts. There are plenty of excellent funds that arc only too willing to accept our support. Right to the last, 1.1.- Beav—(I nearly did it that time g. I put the point (not to him, but indirectly to the Ktv. Gwilym ILvies) as to whether it was right to have had any amusement oi any kind during the whole period of the war. èlfr: B. takes th> as a challenge to him on.the question, Is it right to be dancing, even at all, when at any moment our nation may fall ? He has got dancing on the brain, or he would know that the word amusement does net mean simply dancing "ril I I. E r, si;i,, p and nothing more. Only a muddled and biased br. i:s could have misconstrued the sentence in such a manner. However, if he wants to hold a meeting in the Town Hall, or in the open air, who is to stop him ? If he seeks to make a further public exhibition (f himself it is no concern of mine. But if he does go so far as to air his verbosity in public, I hope he will be honest, at any rate, and deal with amusement in general and not dancing by itself. He should tell us all the things we may lo, and the hours during which we may do them, and the things we may not do. It would no doubt be an enter- taining list if he unburdens himself of 811 his views. As to Aberite," I don't know that he is en- titled to any reply at all unless he signs his name. What's the matter with his name that he is afraid to give it publicity ? Is he afraid of the disaster which he so confidently predicts lor me ? I am sure your readers would be glad to make his nearer acquaintance. He is evidently another of the clique who believe they have a special mission to put everybody but themselves right. He is not going to give his opinion." How delightfully neutral he is He is very anxious to teach me You shall reap what you sow." The reaping is contained in the letters of my critics, which are full of piffle and evade the issue. Surely I am not to be blamed if they cannot do better. One result of the sowing is that I have brought to light the cowardice of Aberite in making insinuations anonymously. If he is so sure of the foundation of his accusa- tions why on earth didn t he prove them in his letter and sign his name like a man ? If he will give his name and produce his proofs I will deal with his personal questions, and I cannot say fairer than that. At the same time I am not going to allow my critics a get-out by raising personal questions to obscure the issue. Y orlIS respectfully, F. \V.  I F. W. BLAKCH. I 14 SLWllope-st" Abergavenny, May 2, 1918.

hlr. Pape's Denial. I T'o ii e Editor of tht I berga i!?iizy I DEAR SIR,-In the discussion now running in your columns I note a fresh critic appears, who I is termed An Aberite." By the opening rc- marks of his letter he evidently aspires to become I a teacher and talks so confidentially of the old, old story that possibly he has had personal experience of it Judging by the way Mr Blanch has faced the heavy guns of the Rev. Gwilym Davies's compulsion brigade, the light artillery of An Abente will not trouble him very much. As An Aberite," in reletting to me, appears anxious to know whether I am the author of Mr Blanch's letters, I may as well put him out of his war-time anxiety by stating that Harry E Pape in his criticisms of others simply voices his own opinions, and is never ashamed to publicly sign his own name to any letters he compiles or writes. I have not even been asked to write anyone's letters in this discussion. I know I have a sinful habit of criticising others especially when I believe they deserve criticism by reason of lack of loyalty to the country that shelters them and nourishes them. Still, I am always ready to stand to my opinion without using other people's names or nonis-de-plume. If An Aberite's thirst for knowledge is not quite quenched, and I note lie is foiid of quota- tions, I can supply him with a fewjchoice samples of same, suitable for people who know 110 sin, only what they see in others. Yours faithfully. Abergavenny. !L\RR Y i-: P_\J'E I I HARRY i; PAPE.

LIBERTY AND THE CRANKS. I To the Editor of the Abergavenny L'kronick." I SlR,-I see, by the correspondence columns of I the ever-welcome Chronicle," that you are having a lively controversy in the old town. A criticism of dancing in war-time seems to have brought to light all sorts of peculiar views. Of course, we know that there are always narrow- minded people about who have many funny ideas in their heads, but they do not always receive so much publicity. I am glad that you have afforded this publicity, for it gives an opportunity to test by argument the insidious doctrines which are bting promulgated sur- reptitiously by people of a certain cast of thought. Already objection has been taken by some of your correspondents to dancing, cinemas, and intoxicants, and no doubt there are many more things they object to. In short, they want to prohibit everything they don't indulge in themselves. The detached observer cannot fail to be im- pressed with the fact that what the country i" suffering from is an epidemic of self-righteous persons who have such a conceited idea of their own goodness that they want to impose rules of conduct on everybody else. Should the Govern- ment or any authority seek to impose restrictions on them, what loud execrations they raise They talk warmly about the liberty of the sub- ject when it touches them, but without a qualm of conscience they strain every effort to take away the legitimate liberty of other people. They cannot distinguish between liberty and license, and their policy is that of the dog in the manger. Personally, I am not a dancer, and it would not worry me if there was never another dance held. I would not grieve if all the cinemas went out of existence, nor would I lament if not a single drop more of intoxicants was manu- factured. While that is my position, I do pro- test as strongly as I can against any crank claim- ing the right to prevent my dancing, or going to the cinema, or having a drink, or doing any of the things which a reasonable Englishman may legitimately feel inclined to do. I have too much respect for personal liberty to want to dictate to other people about such matters, and I resent their pretensions of the right to dictate to me. It would be just as reasonable for me to start a campaign to make the cranks and kill- joys do the things which they are so anxious to prevent other people doing. I hope that all those who cherish personal liberty of a legitimate character will rouse themselves to a realisation of the menace and will do all they can to scotch these cranks, otherwise they will wake up one day to find themselves bound in the shackles of the intolerants. Indifference would be a crime when personal liberty is at stake. The cranks think that the war provides them with a glorious opportunity to push forward their notions. It is not that they trouble so much about the war, but they seek to take a mean advantage of the patriotism of the people to gain what they could never hope to gain in peace time. They do not scruple to make the most mendacious statements in order to succeed in their nefarious schemes. The workers, the soldiers, and others, have all been slandered in turn. I often wonder what the boys at the front who hear or read about them think of it all They are fighting as much for personal liberty as for the liberty of the nation as a whole, and they must often wonder whether these cranks are really worth fighting for. War or no war, these joyless creatures are always, and always will be, opposed to legitimate amusements, customs and habits, and with pharisaical cant they look upon everyone who indulges in them as sinners of the deepest dye. When they try to drag in religibn in support of their ideas they become nauseating to those who know that true religion does not consist of a glibness in the quotation of scriptural passages, shouting of Hallelujahs and ejaculations of Amens I" My experience is, and it is con- I firmed by that of a great number of other people, j that the men who mouth most about their re- ligion are not necessarily saints in private life. When I hear a man mouthing about religion I o.nnot help Jeeling sutpkv-u- of Cer- | t'n]y if ^I wanted help hi tr<.ubit* I should A go 1 fu man who is always trvoig to adv-.ruse his j goodness I know I <)u) I be more likely to i nnj good-nature and gcnerostty in tne man who makes no profession of beinc religious, but proves C?nst:anity hi a practical way by his?itth, na-:t?ss,u]:remem?c-rtd??:ofkindne-.and < Jove. the cranks lia\cn't a leg on vvjien they are tcriovoly t^r-kled .0;0 their statements are analysed in the light of kh and reason. Especially is this so the point of personal liberty, Wlien they are driven into a corner they shirk the issue and try I some other tack, i-or eviden ;e of this I necel go no further than Mr. R. Pea van's letter He kas :;ot put forward a ?ng?e sound argument which ()"" f:\e ¿ an:oi{c1rri' his contributions to your columns are the veriest claptrap. He objects to datoong, but when he takes his pen in hand he n;es a veritable dancing Dervish. Whether he concocted the letter all by himself or .whether he had one of his old cronies to help him I, of course, do not knew, but if he had a collaborator they must have bumped their heads together pretty violently to produce such a horrible example of English as she ought not to be wrote." I --y I know much about Mr. Blanch, but he has smitten Mr. Beavan and his other critics hip and thigh, and it is amusing to notice how they twist and squirm. Observe the frantic efforts to divert attention from the argument by drawing a red herring across the path. Unable tc reply convincingly to the points raised by Sir. Blanch, they turn round and try to make out that he did not write the letter. Now, I do not care a brass b':hm whether Mr. Pape or Mr. Blanch wrote the letter. Names are nothing, and it is the argument which counts. Shall we appreciate Shakespeare's plays any the less because some- one says that it was Bacon who wrote them ? It is sound argument anel reasoning which we want, and not a lot of ejuibbling. 1 should not object to Mr. Beavan employing all the talent he can get hold of to assist him, if he will only produce some sound argument and stick to the point. It does not require a University educa- tion to pulverise his rambling statements. Even a working man could do it with ease. Whoever Aberite may be; he might just as usefully have saved his pen and ink if he had not some argument to offer either one way or the other. Somebody has probably been pulling his leg. Mr. Blanch seems to be quite capable of de- fending himself, and I hope he will net allow his critics to shuffle out of the uncomfortable position he has placed them in Mr. Beavau has shuffled a great deal already, but he has not answered the pertinent question as to whethe he claims to be a better Christian than every one of those who are involved in his criticism. I fear I have trespassed too much on your space already, but I should lite to make one suggestion to Mr. Beavan and his fellow Pro- hibitionists. I suppose he and they will accept John Wesley as an authority -n (I as a man whose example is worthy of emulation. They may or may not have read his Letter to a friend con- cerning tea," but if not they should do so without delay. For the information oi those who may » not have the opportunity oi reading it, I may briefly explain that Wesley discover eel that the taking of tea brought on symptoms of a paralytic disorder, and though he experimented for a long time by drinking it weaker and adding more milk aid sugar he was still more or less subject to the same disorder. He found that his ac- quaintances "suffered similarly, end they con- firmed the statements of physicians that it was a natural effect of drinking tea He says" I began to observe that abundance of people in Lonelon with whom I cemversed laboured under the -ame and many other paralytic disorders, and that in a much higher degree, insomuch that their nerves were quite unstrung, their bodily strength quite decayed, and they could not go through their, daily labour. As a result of hIS investigations and. convictions Wesley gave up drinking tea, used herbs, and was all the better for it. He persuaded many others to follow his example and to give the money saved to the poor and needy. Here's a glorious opportunity to the Prohibitionists, who are down on all things harmful, to give up their c-p of tea, which is so very harmful. Think of the transport they woulei release for the conveyance of food If I know anything of the Prohibitionists, however, they would not give the money saved to the poor and needy, but would pocket it themselves. They do not give anything away, but they try to take all they can from other people, ever, their liberties. Yours faithfully, A LOVER OF LIBERTY. While not wishing to restrict legitimate discussion, we must ask our correspondents to condense their letters as much as possible, other- wise we may be compelled to curtail them our- selves- owing to the pressure C our space.—Er.] —

Abergavenny Pig-breeding Association. A CHANCE FOR PATRIOTIC PIG KEEPERS. A meeting of the Executive Committee was held in the Council Chamber on Tuesday, 30th April, there being present Councillor Telford (chairman), Councillors J. Beckwith, F. Sadler, A. C. Graham, W. Horsington. Messrs. Stanley Rawlins, J. S. Jones, J. H Hall, W. Rossei and W. Llewellin (secretary). Councillor Ttlford was appoiuteel chairman of tne Committee. Mr. Stanley Rawlins, Capital and Counties Bank, was appointed treasurer. Mr. John S. Jones was appointed henorary manager of the piggeries. It was reported that the reconstruction oi the piggeries was in hand. Councillors Horsmgton and Graham were askeel to see that the braidings were completed as soon as possible. It was decided to purchase as many breeding <ows, with a boar' as could be accommodated in the piggeries, and to breed store pigs, to sell to members of the Association as cheaply as possible. It was felt that the present prices of store pigs are much too high, and the Association will make efforts to bring these down within the reach of every cottager who desires to keep a pig. Councillor Graham, Mr. J. H. Hall and Mr. J. S. Jones were appointed as the pig purchasing committee. With regard to subscriptions, it was considered that these should be as low as possible, and 2S. 6d. per annum was decided upon. It was decided that members of the Association could purchase pigs, either by paying the full amount down or by weekly instalments of one shilling or multiples of that amount, until a sufficient amount for the purchase of a pig has been paid in. Councillor Sadler was appointed to collect sub- scriptions and the purchase instalments, and kindly consented to receive these amounts at his shop in Cross-street. It was decided to approach the Tom Council and ask for their assistance in the collecting of edible household and garden refuse and slaughter houses offal, also for the services of a man, for such time as may be required, to look after the pigs; the Council to be requested to hx a charge for this accommodation. If there are any patriotic pig breeders in the neighbourhood who would like to give the Association a good start their help would be much appreciated. It is hoped to supply pigs to cottagers for rearing at a prLe not exceeding 50S. each.

Military Funami.-On Friday a military funeral took place at Abergavenny, the deceased being Pte. W. C. Abbott, of the i/2nd Mon- mouthshire Regt., and late of the i/3rd Mon- mouthshire Regt., who died at the Sidcup Military Hospital on \he previous Saturday from wounds received in France. Deceased, who was a son of Mrs. Abbott, of Usk View. Merthyr-road, was 28 years of age. The coffin was enclosed in a Union Jack and on top were placed the deceased's cap and belt, together with a number of floral tributes. There were a number of relatives and sympathisers at the funeral. The bearers were old 3rd Monmouth- shires, and a firing party was supplied by the Abergavenny Volunteers and was in charge of Sergt. Gardner. A short service was conducted at the Catholic Church by the Rev. Father Wray, who also performed the final rites at the graveside.