Papurau Newydd Cymru
Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru
16 erthygl ar y dudalen hon
OUR SHORT STORY. I
OUR SHORT STORY. I — < THE WIDOW'S MITES, I By VINCENT EMS. I Capper, boatman, of Tar. ea-coughed nervously once or twice, fidgeted about in his corner of the jetty -.eat, licked his lips, and then screwed his coarage up to the point of saying what he had been trying to say for the last hour. "It ain't fixed up for certain, Ben," he said, "but don't he surprised if you 'ear I'm ge'etin' married at Christmas." Be.-i-).Ir. Benjamin Doe, also of Tarsea, and likewise a boatman—looked up from the tliole pin he was whittling. You?" he gasped. "You gettin' married? Ain't what I've suffered taught you no lesson, then? I'd have thought I'd 'ave teen a walkin' warnin' against 'oly matri- monyone o' them examples sent special by Providence for other folks not to foller, same as it says in the Scriptures." "You've said a score or more of times that you were 'appy enough when you was mar- ried," said Joe. "An' I'll say it again!" said Ben. "My 'pore missus was the best o' wives, an' there a better mother in the county, but she'd always got a sort o' contrairy twist in 'er, an' although I don't want to say a word ugaiu.-t 'er, secin' she's dead an' gone, I reckon she went 'a bit too far in the con- trairy business when she died an' left me w, th ix chil-dreii-a pair o' twins an' four single 'uns, an' none of 'em over eight! I've forgiven 'cr," continued Ben, tears in his eves, "but all the same I shall stick to it that "it was contrairy, 'er dyin' when she did." "P'raps she couldn't 'elp it," suggested Joe. "She could, if she 'adn't been contrairy an' get up an' done a fortnight's washin' when she ought to 'ave stayed in bed, same as the doctor ordered 'er. So 'ere's me with six little 'uns to look after! I've got to put to bed at night, get 'em up in the mornin', cook for 'cm, feed 'cm, bath an' dress 'an it's fair turnin' me rcy-specially the dressin'. I can dress a boy some'ow, but darn me if I can a gal- '•a^ofc no how "All wimmen ain't contrairy," said Joe, il. ain't everyone that 'as six, an' leaves "elTI." "Yon never know your luck," said Ben gloomily. Who s the woman you've been gettin' round?" "She's a widder, name o' Benton, an' she's stayin' at Mrs. Green's for a month. She's 'ad n bit of a operation, an' a lady s he used to work for is payin' for 'er to 'ave a rest an' get well again. I rather think she's on for another 'u.sband, an' although I ain't breathed a word to 'er on the subject, not yet, I've got an idea that if I was to say to 'er: Mrs. Benton, ma'am, I ain't never been rn,rrl*e, on account of the young lady I to call Mrs. Capper 'avin' gone -off with another chap. which although it was thirty years ago, sort o' set me against wimmen, but I respects you, ma am, an' likes you, an' 'avin' been given to under- stand that you're on the look out for a -d thit you're decent man. 'ere I am, on offer for better an' wome, if you'll 'ave me '-she'd say she would." "Was that 'er I saw you talkin' with last Friday?" asked Ben. "That was 'cr." said Joe, flrtshing. "She tiii't a bad figger of a woman," ad- mitted Ben. "She ain't!" agreed Joe. "An' she can cook, too! She was kind enough to make me a pudclin' last Sunday, an' I'll take my affvdavy the King never ad' a better one! An' as for iiiei,diii -W ell, look 'ere, Ben! A tailor couldn't beat that Joe stood up and showed his re-seated trousers. "Mrs. Green called cut to me that MM, Benton 'ad mended all the children's clothes, darned all their socks, an' cut their "air, an' there wasn't another thing she could find for 'er to do! So, as I'd beeft neighbourly, an' obligin if there was any- thin' I wanted mendin' I'd only got to 'and it over an' it would be done right away. So I passed these trousers over," concluded Joe with a grin. "She seems sort o' 'andy," said Ben. 'Andy echoed Joe scornfully. "She's more than 'andy—she's an out-an'-out marvel, 'specially with kids. Mrs. Green says the place 'as been a Parrydiso since she's been there an' took the children off 'er 'ands. Mrs. Green's got five, you know, Ben, an' with a 'usband who was at the war, it's "I've got six." said Ben gIlIDIly, "an' a missus in Icai-eii. That's worse! I .say, Joe," he resumed, with an apparent change of subject, "me an' you 'ave been pal.- and partners for a good many years, 3aven't we? An' I've always done my best for yeu, 'aven't I?" "You have'" agreed Joe emphatically. I'd 'ave been dead three times if it 'adn't been for you. You've been one of the best, Ben, an' I don't never forget it." "Then," said Ben, "I want you to re- member it special, now, by doin' me a kind- ness. If this widder wants to get mar- ried again, an' you 'aven't said nothin'. to 'er, not yet, 'and 'er over to me My six want lookin' after dreadful, an' from what you say Mr. Benton would be the very one to do it You don't want to get mar- ried at your time o' life, Joe, an' "-plror- ing- his trump card-" you jn-omised after I'd pulled you out of the water that last time, an' worked oil you for a couple of hours, an' brought the life back to you when the doctor said you was gone, that if -ever the time came when you could do any thin' for me you'd do it. You've got your chance now. Joe! Joe scratched his head and considered the matter for a minute or two. Then, with a little sigh of renunciation, he responded to Ben's appeal. "I'll give up my chance to you, Ben," he said. "You've a right to it. All the same, it's a bit of a disappointment, as I'd pictured myself bein' married an' 'appy an' comfortable for the rest o' my life. Of course, if she won't 'ave you, it's under- stood that I can try my luck, then. 'Tain't every woman would be on for marrvin' a widder man with a ready-made family o' six "That needn't be mentioned," said Ben firmly. "All you've got to do is to intro- duce me as a friend o' yours, an'—when I ain't there—lay it on thick about what I earn, an' 'ow I don't never smoke or drink "Eh?" queried Joe, astonished "Don 't never smoke or drink or swear or do anythin' continued Ben. "You can 'int that you're not a marryin' man, but that I'd be a reg'lar prize, an' if she was wise she'd snap me up quick." "All right," said Joe. ")! do my beat, honest an' fair, for you. All the same, it .don't seem quite right to 'ide up about them six of yours. Couldn't I give 'er a sort o' roundabout 'int-^omethin' -she couldn't get 'old of—but which I co%ld throw in her face afterwards if she came an' said I'd egged 'er on with false pretences F" "You can 'int that my first missus left eomethin' behind 'er terrible expensive, -which I'll 'and over to 'er for a present," grinned Ben. "You can give a wink an' say I'm pretty generous. But after all's said an' done, Joe, once me an' 'er are married, .each of us takin' the other for better an' worse, she'll 'ave to take to the children, even if six of them is worse than sh< thought! I ain't on so much for a wife foi myself as a mother for them." "Suppose Mrs. Green sees 'ow things are ?oin" between you an' the widow an' lets out about the children?" asked Joe. "Me an' Mrs. Green wilt 'ave a talk/' said Ben, "an' if ten shillings don't keep 'er mouth shut I'll be surprised!" < I Joe, very loyally, did his best fcr Ben, and Mrs. Green, for twenty shillings, kept her mouth shut. Thus, with Joe-short, rotund, rugged of face, and whiskered—out of the running, and Ben-tall, clean-shaven, and quite attractive—the sole competitor, small wonder is it that he won the race! The courting was done, the banns were up, and the wedding fixed at the somewhat early hour of nine, to give the bride time to cook the dinner—and to receive her I)resent. As ito the .latter, the widow was intensely curious. By putting two and two together she had decided that it couldn't be anything I cs..s than a real gold brooch set with djs* I mondtj. — Tbe joyful day came, and the wedding duly took place, Joe being best man But he deemed it wiser to plead the unexpected arrival of a couple of (non-existent) nephews as a sufficient reason to escape immediately iftcç the ceremony. He had no desire to be present when Ben gave his bride her pro. mised gift. A few days after the wedding Ben came down to the jetty, looking ravage and morose. "Well, Ben," began Joe, did she take to 'er nice present? D\Jd1 she——" He got no further, for Ben burst in with a flow of language most luridly rabid and entirely incoherent. "If you've done," remarked Joe, when Ben halted to take breath, "p'raps you'll say what's 'appened. I can't get no sense out of what you've said so far." Ben swallowed hard, and with an effort splattered out his tale. "When we got out of the cab she said she was lookin' forward to seein' my 'ouse an' what was in it, an' 'ad I got 'er present ready? I told 'er, so as to sort o' break the ice a bit, that there was half a dozen things in the 'ouse that might surprise 'er a bit, but I 'c-ped she'd like 'em, an' that. So we went into the kitchen, an' there was my six sittin' sort o' scared, but all cleaned up proper an' dressed in their best. Ir. Smith 'ad obliged me by seein' to that, Mrs. Green—who ought- to be b'¡J('d er'—'avin' asked to be excused There,' I says, there's the half-dozen things in the 'ous. that'll surprise you' They're, all mine —the whole lot of 'em I I thought me puttin' it in a joky way like that, that she'd laugh. But she didn't, Joe! She just stared as if they were images of murdered kids in the Chamber of 'Orrers Then she t'ays, 'An' where is the present I was to 'ave? Them six is the little present,' I answers back, laughin'. My first missus left them. behind 'er, an' they're terrible ex- pensive They think nothin' of gettin' through a gallon of milk a day, an' then 'ovv-Iin' for more 4 Oh,' says she, with a sort o' snap. I want to run into Mrs. Green's for a minute,' and she went off with a bounce. I waited till she came back "With 'er 'ands full of Mrs. Green's 'air?" grinned Joe expectantly. "No," snarled Ben. "She came back with 'er 'ands full o' kids-six of them! Six, Joe' 'Ere's my six,' she said, bold as anytbin'. What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander They're what my first dear pore 'usband left he'ind 'im! I kept e'm as a surprise for you. My sister, who's been lookin' after them for me, brought 'em over the day before yesterday, an' Ntrs. Green was kind enough to keep 'em 4'11 I was ready to 'ave them.' you could 'ave knocked me down with a feather, Jce' Twelve of 'em to kpep" "Thank 'eaven!" paid Joe fervently. "Thank 'eaven'" echoed Ben, his face a study in rage and indignation. "You thank 'eaven because I've got to keep "No," said Joe, "I thank 'eaven that I ain't got to keep six'"
THE X-RAY DETECTIVE. I
THE X-RAY DETECTIVE. I The llontgen Rays play an important part in detecting the remarkable tricks which are resorted to by the native diamond miners in the great Kunberley diamond re- gion in South Africa and other parts of the world. So great has the temptation often become to steal diamonds, especially when an extra large one may have been suddenly unearthed, that these natives have been i nown to resort to the most unbelievable tactics in order to carry the diamonds out of the mine. One of the most successtul schemes of de- tection involves the use of a powerful X-ray machine having several X-ray bulbs excited simultaneously. As each miner passes be- iore the X-ray bulbs, the examiner looks hrough his fluoroscope and rapidly swings it up and down, so as to take in the entire 1 body ;11 a few seconds. This system quickly ddcds the presence of a diamond, no mat- ter whether it is buried in the flesh, resting in a hroat cavity, or even in the stomach The logical question arises, how can the X-rav detect the presence of a diamond in- side the body, especially when it may be temporarily todgie-d by the clever thief in proximity to large or fairty large bone struc- tureÛ. This is easily answered by a perusal of the table showing the various frans- parencies of different materials under the X-ray. It has been found that the diamond has a different- transparency than any or- dinary materials, including the hone and flesh of the body, which might happen to he in proximity to it at the time of such an examination. Also the diamond is a most peculiar substance. and it has certain di;ore.eent properties which render the facility of its detection all the more pos- sible, as it has a tendency to fluoresce or glow lightly when under the influence of X-ravs. which phenomenon is readily de. tected on a sensitive fluoroscopic.
[No title]
Foxes on the Inverness mountains having killed many sheep, shepherds are shooting them. Discussing profiteering at Rochford, Essex, Rural Council, Mr. Cocks said that on going to use a "nutmeg" bought at Southend he found it was a wooden one. Mr. Bonar Law said that he hopes to an- nounce the decision regarding the increase of the old-age pension before the House of Commons rises on, December 23. By a decree the Prussian Government abolishes martial law in Greater Berlin. The rumour that M. Millerand would probably oppose M. Deschanel for the French Presidency is denied.
PENSION, PROBLEMS: nOW TO…
PENSION, PROBLEMS: nOW TO SOLVE THEM. By AN EXPERT. Some Facts About the Cost of Pensions Increases—The Marriage Dowry to Re- Married War Widows-Particulars About the Ministry of Labour's Training Schemes—How Many Members of the Women's Land Army Have Chosen to Stay on the Land. FREE ADVICE TO OUR READERS. In order to keep abreast of its many- 1 sided work the Ministry of Pensions 71as asked for and received from Parliament sanction for a supplementary vote of ■ £ 32,044,000. This large sum of money re- presents the cost of increases and improve- ments that have been recently introduced- -3, 'financial burden which the nation gladly shoulders. It may be interesting to look at some of these points in detail in order to see how the money goes when alterations for the better are made. For instance, there is an increase of £10,000,000 due to the recommendations of the Select Com- mittee on Pensions for an increase of pen- sions and allowances. This was the Select Committee appointed some few months ago, which carried out a specific pledge given bv the Government at an earlier date. There are other small improvements in pen- sions which cost F-2,000,000 this year, while there is an increase of £ 19,000,000 in the cost of treatment and the cost of allowances to men undergoing treatment. to men under,?),oln, treatment. The Ministry of Pensions has had to deal with 28,000 more disabled men this year than they had anticipated, which is due to the very rapid demobilisation of the Army; while there are increases relating to the widows of motherless children of deceased men. One very interesting fact emerged in the speech recently delivered in the Houao of Commons by Sir L. Worthington-Evans, Minister of Pensions. Some 38,664 war widows had re-married, and had received a dowrv of a year's pension on their re-mar- riage. There are now about 180,000 widows on pension. It has now been found possible to remove the distinction that has hitherto existed be- tween the provision made for the wives of men under treatment in asylums for mental disease due to service and that made for the wives of men under treatment in hospitals for other disabilities. At present the wife whose husband is in an asylum receives an allowance equivalent to a widow's pension with an extra 7s. 6d. a week. In future she will receive the full allowances such as are provided for the wives of men in hospitals- namel" y, a llat-rate allowance of 2(-xi. & week, together with the balance of the man's treatment allowance (21s, a week or more, according to rank),, after deduction of the small amount required for the man for pocket-money. In addition, she will, as formerly, receive children's allowances pay- able. In view of the higher rates of widow's- pension now payable, the increase resulting from this change will not, in many cases, be great, but the discrimination made against the wives of men in asylums has always been keenly felt, and the Minister of Pensions is glad that it has been found possible to remove it. 'I- h # » delay as there The main cause for such delay as there is in providing technical training for dis- abled ex-Service men is due to the lack of sufficient training institutions. Energetic efforts are being made to expedite the ac- quisition of the additional premises required in order that the men shall be absorbed in skilled industries as soon as possible at standard rates of pay. During this period the disabled man is entitled to unemploy- ment donation, together with his disability pension. The training schemes administered by the Ministry of Labour for the benefit of dis- abled ex-Service officers and men fall under three heads. These are: (1) Industrial training; (2) training for commerce and tne professions; (3) training of ex-officers under the Royal Warrant for pensions. The first is administered by the Training De- partment the second and third by the Ap- pointments Department, in conjunction with the Educational and Agricultural De- partments for England, Scotland, and Ire- land. About 12,000 men are in training, and about 20,000 men have completed train- ing. Facilities for training for commerce and the professions are not restricted to the disabled; all ex-ofifcers and men of similar educational promise are eligible. Although the Women's Land Army has been demobilised, the value to the farmer of women's work gains ever-increasing re- cognition. At least 75 per cent. of the women who were in the Land Army on de- mobilisation are Remaining on the farms. In the case of Surrey, for example, of the 299 members of the Land Army now work- ing there 212 have said that they wish to remain on farm work after demobilisation, 33 are applying for settlement in the Colonies, and ten are asking for small hold- ings at home. The women have been drawn from all classes. Our Pensions Expert is anxious to assist sailors and soldiers and their wives and de- pendents in dealing with intricacies of the War Pensions System. Address your queries to "Pensions Ex- pert," c/o Editor of this paper. All essen- tial facts should be stated as briefly as pos- sible, such as name, number, rank, regi- ment of soldier, name and rating of sailor, particulars of families and separation al- lowance and (in inquiries concerning civil liabilities) pre-war or pre-enlistment in. come, present or war income, and full lia- bilities. Do not send any documents, birth certificates, or discharge papers, etc. Will correspondents please make a point of sending their regimental number, rank, name, and regiment?
- CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS.
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS. There will be four clear days' holiday this Christmas. Friday, December 26-Boxing- Day—is. of course, a statutory bank holiday. By a proclamation Saturday, December 27, is also to be observed as both a bank and public holiday. This will give business people a respite from Wednesday night until Monday morning.
CENOTAPH TO STAY IN WHITEHALL
CENOTAPH TO STAY IN WHITEHALL Mr. Baldwin (Financial Secretary to the Treasury) told the Commons that £ 5,000 was part of an expenditure of X102,000 for the erection of a rpplica of the existing cenotaph in Whitehall, the present site. Westminster Council had agreed to the site being used, and it was the intention of the Government to erect it in permanent form there.
I CLUB WINDOW.
I CLUB WINDOW. The wily Hun is going a little too far in his endeavour to fulfil the obligations placed upon him by the terms of the Peace Treaty. And Marshal Foch has takeD heavy gUlli over the Rhine. It is hardly probable that the Germans will be such idiots as to offer any resistance of a serious nature, but it is obvious that unless the most stringent mea- sures are taken by the Allies the Hun will break out again within a few years. His desire is to do so, but fortunately his naval power is weak. At the same time it will be well if we troop ourselves constantly in- formed as to the strength of his aeroplane resources. A few air raids by the Hun could upset many a good plan—i.e., know- ing he had enough metal to make bombs. The new Master of the Rolls, Lord Stern- dale, is a man of ready wit. In the days when he was a simple barrister, he was en- gaged in the conduct of a case, and had occasion to object to the irregularity of the counsel on. the opposite side. "I have a right." answered tne counsel, "to deal with my witnesses as I please." "To that I offer no objection," came the quick retort; you may deal as you like, but you mustn't lead." # # # This is not a bad yarn, told of a disciple of Thespis. At an amateur performance an artiste eave imitations of several popular actors, one of whom happened to be present. Afterwards the ambitious amateur sought an introduction to the "star," and asked hopefully: "Did you see my imitation of vcu?" "I did," replied the great man promptly. "Then, sir," persisted the aspir- ing youth, "may I ask you to give me your opinion of my art as t- hown in that imper- sonation?" "Well, my boi," the great man said, "one of us is rotten I" # The retort courteous and the neatly turned repartee are only to be met with when one passes the time of- day with "true" artists. Here's an example. Vilhjalmur Stefansson, the famous Polar explorer, was one day describing to an interested circle of listeners the way in which the Eskimo women prepare the skins for their .wearing apparel. Said he: "They chew them inces- santly with their teeth, which, as a result, are worn away to mere stamps. This causes them to speak with a curious mumbling accent, quite unintelligible to the 'ordinary listener. In fact," he corclud(d, "I was never able to make out what any of- the older womei were talking about. It was all Greek to me." "Greek-" said a bright young girl amongst his audience. "Gum Arabic, I should call it, Mr. Stefansson should call it, -Ur. Stefans?,on' Another "soft answer" that nearly caused wrath instead of turning it away was that which occurred in a local railway train. "Some people," sniffed the passenger who wanted the seat upon which a tired man had put his feet—some people think thev'v€ bought the railway when they've took a tup- penny ticket." "Referrin' to me?" said thE o: to )rour va-?t tired man, aggressively. HO: to your vast belongin's!" .aid the other, glancing with scorn at the intruding boots. "Put my feet where I like!" said the tired one. "Put 'em on the rack, if I want to" It was the opportunity for a master stroke of sarcasm. You'll be fined if you do," said the ob- jector; "that rack's for small articles only!' The working of the juvenile mind is truly wondrous, and many of us would like greatly to be placed in possession of a '"thinking" machine which will tell us the thoughfs of a child. On one occasion a little bov who was being examined in natural hiS'¡ tory was askod if he knew the one great dinerence between himself and a big browa bear. He looked puzzled. "Well, you see,' said the teacher, encouragingly, "you can take your warm ccat off, but a bear can 't take his coat off, can he?" "No," assented Tommy. "And do you know why he can't?' was the next question. "I suppose," said Tommy, after thinking for several minutes, "it's because Heaven alone knows where th< buttons are!" » # # Here is another instance of a similar cha racter. "One day," says Miss Ivy Close, the popular film actress, "I was playing in a production in which a crowd of little raga- muffins gathered in from the London streets apjieared as juvenile supers. Our producer had prepared for them a gorgeous srlpr, to which the youngsters did full justice. One little chap in particular ate so heartily and continuously that eventually I said tc him by way of a joke: Look here, my little man, you mustn't eat any more. If you dc you'll have nightmare, and see elephants and tigers and lions, and scorpions and devil- fish, and-' The boy grinned delightedly and passed his plate along. Gimme another helpin' he begged, I want to see all their things.' # At a West-End dinner-party the other day the proposal was made that the guest. should relate in turn what in their estima- tion was the funniest story they had evei heard. One contribution to the symposium was to the effect that two young women were intent on choosing a present for a thiid at one of the big stores, and they evi- dently found the task a difficult one "Well," said one hopelessly, "I've madt every suggestion I can think of. It's yout turn now." "Tell you what," cried hei friend. "The idea has only just occurred tc me. Let us give her a book." "Oh, no. said the other resolutely. "There's no sense in that. She's got a book" # ♦ And talking of choosing presents, the con- versation between two ladies who were dis- cussing their Christmas shopping will in- terest you. "I can plan for other women and for children easily enough," she said "but I am always bewildered when it come: to my husband. He insists on buying hi: own ties, and I simply dare not risk any cigars!" "How simple you are!" scoffed hei hostess. "It's nonsense to say a woman can't buy cigars. I always do." "But however can you risk it?" exclaimed her hearers it chorus. "Quite simple!"—with a shrug ol the shoulders. "I just make sure of getting one of his tl.i own-down stumps, and it's easy then to match the shade." # # Talking of wonderful women, here is a story connected with Mrs. Charlotte Cameron, the lady traveller who has recently returned from a journey through Alaska tc the shores of the Polar Sea. There she met an Irish prospector, whose ruling passion, like many of his countrymen's, was a hatred for everything Scottish. One day he and hir two companions came across a tribe of Eskimos ruled over by a chief whose name began with something that sounded like Chehto and ended in a sneeze. After a supper of seal-meat and beans the Irishman started on his favourite topic, and said many nasty things about the way certain Scottish prospectors were exploiting claimp in Alaska, when suddenly the chief with the i unpronounceable name burst forth 29 fol. lews: "I'll tell ye what, ma mon, gin ye dour lowse yere tongue upon my country like that I'll ge ye a cloot on the lug that'll mak' ve tingle fra this till Hallow'en!" "B( jabNs;" cried the astonished Irishman, "I thought ye was an Eskimo!" "And tiae I am an Eskimo the noo, ma braw chiel," said the angry chief, "but ma feither's auld leather breeks ne'er travelled farther than jus fra Glasgow to Greenock and back again; and when I gang awa hame with the guid gold these gowks are getting for me"- indicating the members of his tribe by a sweep of the hand—"I'll just be Wullj Forbes, son o' auld Daddy Forbes, o' th< Gorbals, for a' that's come an' gane!"
! NOTES ON NEWS.
NOTES ON NEWS. Stern measures axe to be adopted to pre- vent a continuation of the Wild West "hold ups" which are far too prevalent in all parts of the country. Especially so will be the case with bank officials, who are going to adopt strong precautionary methods against the possibility of a continuance of the armed raids which have been so frequent lately. It is hinted that many of the banks will have stalwart guards placed on duty in quiet suburban and bimilar branches. Other precautions will also be taken against pos- sible robbery, and a good many of the head messengers in the big City bank branches are already armed with revolvers. Flying Across Australia. The fine flight of Captain Ross Smith, with three companions, from Hounslow to Port. Darwin (North Australia), brings the announcement from the Air Ministry that in connection with the organisation by the Aus- tralian Commonwealth Government of an air route between Port Darwin and MeLbourne for the use of competitors in the flight to Australia, advice has been received from Australia that Captain Wrigley, A.F.C., with Sergeant Murphy as passenger, has just completed a flight from Melbourne to Port Darwin. This flight of 2,400 miles was accomplished on a B.E. 2E machine, four years old, with a 90 h.-p. R.A.F. en- gine. This is the first occasion that Aus- tralia has been traversed by air. In all probability, Captain Ross Smith will con- tinue his journey from the northern to the southern end of the great Continet. Welsh Students in London. u Some 150 students of Aberystwyth College, at the invitation of Mrs. Lloyd George, attended a meeting at 10, Downing-street to consider the question of forming a Students' Union, a project in which the wife of the Prime Minister is keenly interested. One aim of the meeting was to obtain additional support for the proposed union, and to make that organisation a memorial of the Foun- ders of the College and of these College students who fell during the recent war. Sir Ellis Griffiths, one of the oldest, if not the oldest, ex-student of Aberystwyth now in London, was among those present. Sir Alfred Davis, permanent secretary of the Welsh Department of the Board of Educa- tion, urged that in view of the great politi- cal and social problems to be faced in the future, the value of the proposed Union would be very great, apart from its com- memorative character. Such an association should have every chance of a successful career. m Control of the Railways. Following, the announcement already made of the new body which is to control the railway systems of the country, a conference of the Southern branches of the National Union of Railwaymen has been held to con- sider the question of control of the railways and other transport services under nationali- sation. The conference was private. Mr. A. 0, 1-ejrv, president of the London District Council, presided, and the delegates present represented about 100,000 railwaymen. Speeches were delivered bv Mr C. T. Crump, president of the N.U.R., fr G. D. H. Cole, Mr. W. W. Mellor, and others. A resolution was carried bv which the conference pledged itself to decline to accept any scheme which does not provide for full control by the workers of transport industries, both local and national. This resolution will be pre- sented to a conference of District Councils of the N.U.R. to be held next month. Fire Fighters' Pay. A more definite move has now been taken in regard to the question of increasing the pay of our firemen, and the Fire Brigade Committee recommend the L.C.C. to revise, as from April 1, 1919, the scales of pay on the basis of the pay of the Metropolitan Police so far as such basis is applicable to, or comparable with, the pay of the Fire Brigade. Due regard, it is recommended, should be given to pension rights and other emoluments of the two forces. The esta.b- lishment of a two-shift system by June 28, 1920, on the understanding that no applica- tion for a 48-hours week is made until June 28, 1922, is also suggested The expenditure involved is estimated at 119,5W. and certain special payments are proposed for men who were on the staff on April 1, 1919, men joined since that date to be paid pro rata. The Committee add that they have been in- fluenced by the consideration that, like the police, the Fire Brigade is composed of selected men. The nature of their occupa- tion exposes them to exceptional hardship and danger and often cal1s for unusual courage and resource. To which all of us will add" Hear' Hear! Home-Grown Food. Some interesting opinions were expressed by Lord Bledisloe, who, at a luncheon of the Gloucestershire Old Spots Pig Society, said he wondered if the country would bear in mind the lessons of the war, and, even at some pecuniary loss, would maintain the greatest national interest of agriculture. It was for the Government authorities to de- I cide how far we should provide food for the nation from home-grown produce. He thought more discrimination should be ex- ercised as to ploughing up rich pastures in the West of England. He doubted whether it was true economy to put all money in wheat-growing to the exclusion of all other foodstuffs. In an emergency there was no- thing more valuable than pigs and potatoes, for which, as well as beet-sugar, the valley of the Severn was most favourable. Lord Bledisloe added that lie should like to see control ended, and farmers left to settle their own domestic affairs without Govern- ment interference. Qualified men should be placed at Whitehall, or the future of agri- culture would be precarious The importa- tion of foreign lfour should be stopped, and also the exportation of millers' offals, which were so urgently needed at home. I Reformed Public-Houses, I Mr. George Roberts, M.P., the Food Con- troller, speaking at the Popular Cafe, which forms part of the Castle Hotel, Richmond, said he was a temperance reformer, but whilst, as men and women of the world, they recognised that there was always danger of abuse or excess in the indulgence in drink, nevertheless all appreciated the fact that life was made sweeter and brighter by a moderate use of what he believed the Creator had ordained for all—"the nut. Jirown nectar," or a glass of sparkling wine. He was prepared to say that the experiment that was being tried at Richmond, that of "Reformed Public Houses," was one that ought to be welcomed, and was something t h,i t, ought to be encouraged and closely watched to see whether it did not consti- tute a system worthy of universal applica- 5 tion. lie believed that many of the men who had served in the various theatres of war had returned to thi6 country with the desire to see the old stand-up bar abolished, that t!ley might be able to take their wives and families into a licensed house that wae re- spectable and comfortable.
I FUN AND FANCY.
I FUN AND FANCY. Anyone can grasp an opportunity, but it takes a clever man to hol<f on to it. Mr^. A.: "You say you kept a cook for a whole month. How in the world did you. manage it?" Mrs. B.: "We were cruising on i yacht, and she couldn't swim." She has the craziest notions of any woman I ever saw." "What now?" "Why. she's trying to organise a secret society imong her own sex." Hostess: "You have said something dread- ful to Mr. Bestseller." Host: "I merely sug- ^o.-ted that he should engage the fellow who prepares his advertimen to write his uOOKS ior him!" "Were you upset bv the bank failure?" "Yes. I lost my balance." First Pupil: "What does our dancing- master say about my progress?" Second Pupil: "Nothing much." "Surely he must liave some views" "Well, he thinks you aiight make a good eccentric dancer." damsel exclaimed "it is topping 1 o jazz hours and hours without stopping But th" peoi le she met In the street were upet, For she jazzed tt-hen she staited out shop- ping "I tell you I must have some money," ■oared the King of Maritana. who was in -Ole financial straits. "Somebody will have .0 cough up." "Alas," sighed the guardian )1' the treasury, who had formerly been the :jurt jester, "all our coffers are empty." Little Gfrl (to film actress): "My father •ays he often 6aW you act on the stage be- fore you went into pictures." Excited Metres. "What did he say he had seen me Little Girl: "The Eighties!" "How do you like that cigar I gave you, >ld man For two hundred bands off that 3iand they give you a gramophone." "You lon't say If I smoked two hundred of those cigars I wouldn't want a gramophone; I'd want a harp." Golfer: "The day I get round these links n less than a hundred I'll give you a K>verei^ii." Caddie (cuttingly): "Thank ye, iir: It'll come in handy in me old age." John, I need a new dress. All I have ire out of style." "Everything's frightfully jxpensive, my dear. Better go in for litera- ture for a bit, and pretend to be superior to ".Ie fashions." The benevolent old gentleman had taken i friendly interest in Cohen's son. Sup- pose," he said one day. "that I should give ,ou a thousand pounds. What would be :he first thing you would do with it: 'Count it," said the promising youth. Wibbles: "Scribbler doesn't write any of ;hose mother-in-law jokes. nowadays, I notice." Wabbles: N o-not since his mar- riage." Wibbles: "Why, I wonder?" Wabbles: "Saye he found out by actual experience that a mother-in-law is no joke." "Jack complimented me on my complexion last night." "Scrt of a powder-puff, eh?" Oliver: "Men are more valuable than women.' Olivet: "What nonsense!" Oliver: "It's a fact. Every man has his price, but brides are given away." "Marv," said the sick man to his wife, when the doctor had pronounced it a case of flu, "if anv of my creditors call, tell them that I am at last in a position to give them something.' s Mummy: "Oh, you cruel boy! You're making your brother cry." Algernon: "No, mummy, I'm not. I'm only sharing my cod- liver oil with him-what you said was ro nice. "What gave you the earache at your last place" asked the newly-married lady who was engaging a servant. Applicant: "W ell, you see, the keyholes were so terribly draughty there." Peggie: "Why do you say he is a bird? PC),, v: "Well, he is chicken-hearted .and pigeon-toed, has the habits of an owl, likes to wear a swallow-tail coat and collars with wings, he is always acting the goose, and he is a perfect jay." He (to the fair one): "Gracious! What's that clicking sound—woodpeckers?" She: "No, darling. It's the man taking moving pictures of your proposal to me, to be used in case I have to sue you for breach of pro- mise He'd dabbled on the Stock Exchange In shares that were no class— "Were you a 'bull' cr I asked- He just replied: "An as:" I Post Office Clerk: "We cant pay you the five pounds on this money-order until you are identified." Man: "That's rough! T h at' rough! There's only one man in the town who can identify me, and I owe him four pounds." The Man: "I say, Mabel' What do you mean by keeping me waiting at the corner half an hour and looking like a silly fool?" The Maid (sweetly): "I know I kept you waiting, Wilfred dear, but, really, you know, you did the rest yourself!"
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HAIRPINS IN SURGERY. I
HAIRPINS IN SURGERY. I It is a well-known fact that a woman can put a hairpin to almost any use. but it has remained lor a military surgeon to apply this bit of bent wire to surgical operations. How 'hairpin surgery" is 1 accomplished is described bv Dr Angelo L. Soresi, a sur. geon serving in the principal military hos- pital of Milan. "In minor surgical opera- tions, explains Dr Sorest, "when s pecial retractors are not available, ordinary hair- pins nny he utilised Such retractors are elective and economical, and may be used in many ways. Thev can be made self-retain- ing v placing a weight on the end. In minor operations they are sometimes ideal; thev can be widened or narrowed as neces- sary at different steps of an operation. the incision should be widened, the points of the pin also can be proportionately widened, without resorting to a change of retractors; even in the case of certain <>peia- tions where large retractors are needed, the pin can be enlarged to advantage and a second pin put between the branches of the Ono that has been widened. "Forceps, held by an assistant, may be attached to the side of the pin that is not bent, and by bending either of the points or the top of the pin, one can obtain cither a hooked or a blunt retractor. If a verv sfciong retractor is required, hairpins used by 'women to curl the hair should be em. ployed. If sharp-pointed retractors are wanted, pins with sharp {joints are selected, if, en the other hand, blunt-pointed re- tractors a-re preferred, pins having a riall knob are utilised. All these varieties of pins are easily obtainable at a draper's. "A rat advantage of using hairpins as tractor- is that they can be bent so as to follow the curves on the part on which they are used, so that the retraction can be made without changing the natural position of the tissues that have to be retracted."
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General John Vaughan, commanding the Cavalry Brigade, prosecuted his batman at Aldershot for stealing a camera, value £:3, The man had hitherto borne a good charac- ter, and was bound over. Swansea Corporation's new Parliamentary Bui includes a scheme for the provision of a municipal motor-'bus service. A miner was killed at Afan Valley, Gla- morganshire, by being buried for 12 hours under 10 tons of colliery roof, his eon, who was holding a light for him five yards away, being uninjured. Rev. Norman MacLeod Lang, Bishop. Suffragan for Leicester, has been appointed Archdeacon of Northampton and residen- tiary Canon of Peterborough, in succession to Archdeacon Hutton, Dean-Designate of Winchester. Lord Greviile is prepared to sell the town of Mulbngar to his tenants. The Koyal Agricultural Society has ac- cepted an J ir-vitation to visit Cambridge- in 122. Harry Walter Welfoot was sent to prison for six months at Cardiff for stealing and teaching his son, aged 12, to assist him.
OTHER MEN'S MINDS.I
OTHER MEN'S MINDS. I Working men are not devoid of intelh- i gence, but sometimes lack information and I knowledge.—Mr. R. Young, M.P. TAXIS BETTER. I I have never been in a Tube railway, and I never intend to go.— Judge Atherley I Jones. INVALUABLE. I If you have a young man you ought to know what he is worth.—His Honour ,Jdt I Tobin. < DEAR! DEAR! I Dr. Addison's tears absolutely wring my I heart.-Mr. R. B. Cunninghame Grahame (on vivisection). MORE LIGHT WANTED. I I hope in the days to come more light will be thrown on manv of the gallant deeds I of Englishmen—Earl Beatty. IN THE EAST. I There never was a time in East London I when so few men and women were avowed unbelievers.—Bishop of Stepney. THE DIFFICULTY. I In business there is not the same oppor- I tunity of getting to know people in the J same line as oneself.—Lady Rhondda. < THE UNHAPPY JUDGE. I There are no moments deeper in unhappl- ness in the life of a judge than when he has to sentence a woman.—Mr. Justice McCardie. A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY. I T only-wish that Labour would realise the golden opportunity it is inadvertently frittering awily, in the engineer- iug- and motoring industries —Mr. E. Man- ville, M.P. OF COURSE NOT. I Premuium bonds arc not in the least a* immoral proposition.—Major Lloyd-Graeme, I M.P. OUR COTTON SUPPLY. I The world's supply of cotton is seriouslj I threatened for the next five years.-Pro- fessor J. A. Todd LABOUR AND STRIKES. J A Labour Government would experience I worse strikes than any other Government.— Lord Ilaldane. OUR AMBIGUOUS LAWS. I While Parliament makes laws, it appears to he nobody's business to explain them.- Miss M. I. Ingram. THE NEW ACTS. I Since the present Parliament came into I office 174 Acta have been placed on the Statute Book.—Colonel Amory. M.P. THE SUGAR "CORNER" I I am beginning to think that there is a I real prospect of our being some day at the mercy of a sugar "eoi-iier.Lurd Bledisloe. AMERICA'S ENERGY. I America possesses such stores of energy that it will one day become the greatest nation in the world.—The King of the Bel- gians. HIGH WAGE PROBLEM. I You men have got too high wages, and are throwing your money away. I cannot afford to do it,-Sir E. Cooper (Lord Mayor of London). A CO-OPERATIVE COMMUNITY. I The time is coming when individualism will vanish in this country in favour of one great ^o-operative common wealth. -Coun- tess of Warwick. THE HATEFUL HU. I Our late enemies trespassed terribly against the people of this country, but that is no reason why we should not approach them in a Christian spirit—Lord Parmoor. DOMESTIC BRAVERY. I Domestic service is a form of glorified I slavery.Nllss AI)aAA-,n. HOPE OF THE FUTURE. I The hope of the future was that the world j will adopt Free Trade.-Sir George Pai&h. I THE BATH FETISH. I Bath rooms have become a fetish; the de- mand used to be for a bow window.—Judge lladcliffe. OUR WAR DEBT. I The war debt of Great Britain is no I cause for shame, but for honest pride.— Mr. Benjamin White. NONCOMMITTAL. I People in Government departments will never admit it when they are iu the wrong. —Mr. Justice Roche. LOVE AND RESPECT. I We learnt to respect each other even on I the battlefield before we learnt to love each other—President Poincare. WHERE GERMANY SCORES. I Germany has very effective control of its I town-planning, and the sooner we have the I same the better.—Dr. J. Scott Lidgett. A NEW PALESTINE. I The Jews of Palestine, in spite of all ob- stacles, will soon be able to commence the great task of reconstru-,tion.-Dr. C. Weiz- mann. NEVER AGAIN. I It is the policy of the Supreme Council not to allow the return of the Hapsburg dynasty to Hungary.—Mr. C. Harmsworth, M.P. BENEFIT FOR ALL. I What has been done by trusts all over the world for the benefit of capitalists can be done for the benefit of aiL-Colonel Eldred Pottinger. SANE OFFER. I When I was in England I was offered £ 3,000,000 for the Commonwealth merchant I fleet.—Mr. W. M. Hughes. A QUAINT RELIGION. I So far as I can make out, Bolshevism is the nearest thing to religion in Europe at the present time.—Mr. Bernard Shaw.
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Lerwick naval base has been closed. Horse and poultry food mixtures are not now controlled. At a Wesleyan bazaar at Surbiton, Surrey, there was a Christmas tree laden with Treasury notes. In a nitro-glycermP explosion at Nobel's factory, Stevenston, Ayrshire, one man was killed. Mr. Winston Churchill is to speak at a Coalition mass meeting at Sunderland on January 3. Repatriated Germans from South Africa have arrived at Plymouth and proceeded to Rotterdam by the steamer Win-Jhuk. Mr. Ernest Gardner, M.P., is is stated, has intimated to the Windsor Conservative and Unionist Association that he will retire at the next General Election.
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The sale of the Marquess of Bute's Aber- dare properties realised £ 234,000. Of 4,935 cases in London infectious hos- pitals. 2,922 are of scarlet fever and 1,674 are of diphtheria. Mrs. Dunning, of Wylam-on-Tyne, has celebrated her 102nd birthday. Mr. W. Kenrick, once M.P. for North Birmingham, brother-in-law of Mr. J. Chamberlain, left £ 168,309. Swansea proposes to purchase the Duke of Beaufort's rights on Swansea sands for 410,000. Men of Kent and Kentish men celebrated their 70th annual dinner by entertaining Falkland fieht heroes. V
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The War Office has left Christmas and New Year leave to the discretion of general officers commanding home commands, and detailed instructions will not be issued. Ealing Education Committee is to open its meetings with prayers. Glasgow Corporation has secured a large quantity of vaccine for anti-influenza in- oculations. A farmer who bought a horse belonging to the R.F.A. camp at Swanage next day found it had left his farm and walked back ten miles to its old quarters. Paris police have arrested ten Chinese coolies in connection with a series of exten- sive robberies at Paris railway stations. Private Clark, cf the Labour Centre. Park Roval, was found dead, clutching some electric wire which had been blown down. Army cyclists laid a wreath of flowers made into their corps' badge, a wheel and crown, on the Whitehall Cenotaph, inscribed "In mcinorv of our old pals, from the 60th Division Cyclists' Corps."