The Cambria Daily Leader

I The Day's Gossip. • m I Leader Office, Wednesimy We are on the v rc of another Leap Year. The evasion is supposed to cause great excitement to the fair sex. but it is interesting to learn that to the wisdom j one Roman ruler and to the whim of another we owe the leap year. Julius | Cteear found the Roman Kalends in such j i* muddle, for. ignoring the seasons, it fftan produced summer in the middle of winter, that, finding the astronomical year was 3&H days, he mode that the civil year too, dividing the days between the months in 30's and Si's, except that February had 29 (lays, with an extra one j in leap year. But later camt" Augustus, who, annoyed that his name month bad only 30 days, took one day from February and added it to August. Thus August i now has 31 days, and February, except in every fourth year, only 28. I A Lord Methuen Story. Lord Methuen, who yesterday opened new headquarters for the Comrades of the Great War at Bath, tells a good story, against himself, concerning an incident which happened to him when he was GoT- ernor of Malta. While on a visit to a hospital on the island, he chatted with a South African who, in the Boer War, had fought against us. Thinking he recog- nised the man, the Field-Marshal asked where they could have met before; but the ex-Boer, with a sly smile, hinted that the information might be unwelcome. He was pressed by the Governor, however, wjio was greatly tickled when he learne(I that the man in hospital blue had been one of his escort whilst a prisoner of war in the Boere* hands. The Crank and the Kaiser. De.5dribing the police arrangements for hi; protection at a funeral he- attended, the President eays: Tfte police arrange- mellb at the church were exasperating to a degree. There were fully five hnn- dred policemen in the streets around, just its if there was danger of an attack by a ferocious mob; and yet, though they bl throngs, of policemen inside too, an elderly' and harmless crank actually got in*;fl' r.itji tliem to pref<e«t me with some foolish mem./ris'! about curing the Ger- man T)Mperor of cancer. I felt lik" a fool w'th all the policemen in solemn and purnoseless lines around a bouc: and- fhe-n I felt half exasperated and haJf-nrawed wh"r I found that they were utterly helpless to -prevent a crank from jfettiftg inr.cV tt f>ll.w—"Roasevelt's T etters, quoted in John o' London's Wrekly." The Dickey. -1 The revival of to-day are as surpris- ing as the innovations. That Delorerl article of Yictorian dress, the diek, his I come back. At present it 1 urks modestly in one or two suburban shop windows, but- it will groir bolder w:th the Junuary winds. The demobilised shiver is re- sponsible, of course. With flannel and wool almost unprocurable, men cannot recapture tlie Warmth of Army garb, and with surprising unanimity are taking to Army shifts, with which everybody, curi- ously enough, seems to bo well supplied. The etriped foft dickey is the answer to any wb i -thp-Ariii chest advertisement. Mm is (he comfort- loving animal, ajid he leave woman to he e legant and cold. Peep o' Day. The pink dreamers of the breaking day were stealing down the valley as we neaied the old castle, the great rising sun hung above the 6r trees touching Up. the crumbling walls with gold. That earlv morning scene will ever be in- Scfeliblr fixed in my memory. I pictured J Ralph de Morgan and his followers rid- ing up the steep hillside hundreds of I years ago; and, as I mused, an actlv '■ little da-bchick popped under the water (the stream is very deep in some of the bends just un^er the old ruins) as if by magic. A water rail, shiest of birds, darted into the undergrowth that: fringes the wood opposite; an old grey- j hniroo fisherman appeared round the bend of the loud-singing stream, in his hand a great pale trout. slung head to tail by a piece of cord. What a picture! -arid what a sx-,I)iect t The scene was completed in n gorgeous array of pink and purple clouds in the east fringed witb red gold—ftway up above with silver—arid the' little dew«drops, mil- I lions and tililimls of them, reflecting pearly aaiure, pink and purple, like sq, many tiny pendants off those old- I fashioned ornaments our grandmother used to decorate the mantlepiece with. — "Roamer." I Hark the Herald Angels." It No Christmas hymn, I suppose, is more popular than Charles Wesley's Hark. the HerHhi Angels Sing." but it was prac- I tically unknown during its author's life- time. It wM never included in any of John Wesley's hymn-books; and not un- til nenrlv a century after it wais written was it admitted into the Methodist Hymn- i t!?% fir?t ni,,i(l e, book. The t'lte Dr. Cmnmin firt: made it popular by adapting to it a melody by Mendelsohn, the time to which it is now liniirersallv,Ri)-ng. Thir, mflody. it is in- teresting to reooll. forms a movement, for tnafe voices, in Mendelssohn's uTht- gesang," which was composed for the 400th anniversary of thp invention of the art of printing. Mendelssohn eouM no more have imagined the adaptation of this I melody for n bymn-hjne than Charles I Wesley could have foreseen the larh of hift hymn.s, for writing to his I English pablHlerK concerning an English edition of Fe«tge«flng." the composer especially referred to the movement Dr. I Ctimmings wedded to the hymn a& quite I uneuitable for sacred words." J I Sugar In Sweets. I A Town Talk paragraph tells us that on reading that the Food Controller intended I reducing the sugar ration for domestic purposes at an early da. a man on tho Mumbles Railway waxed very indignant, and suggested that the. Food Controller should curtail the su pplies to the confec- tionery trade by over half, and GO in- crease the domestic 611PP-. Thi~ (eays a correspondent) is an instance of iesi, but not according to knowledge. If the man on the Mumbles train had but made1 a few inquiries, he would 1 ave dispovered things that might have somewhat modi- fied his wrath, even if they did not reduce it. more, or less, to ?11 absurdity. Some IjJOint like <1) the con feet ipnery trfidc is a verj* important one, and'could not be closed down without great dis- advantages and inconveniences to the public; (%) sugar is but one of a large number of ingredient? used in I sweet confectionery, and a cutting down of the sugar ration means less use of many other articles: (3),in fact, the supplies of augar to the trade have been curtailed, and \fhey now are entitled to no more than 75 per cent, of the 1915 supply, itself by no means a normal year. Further, the trade is already threatened with a further reduction to 25 per cent, of the 1015 RIIPPlr. (t) if all the sugar now very economically and very uscfyiUy Tjscd in the mannf?rture of ?ee? 'WHe hrïlM ()vr to the.dome?ti? aupply, the u??ert'nce tboroia w<mld be wrj slight.

I I———mrmTMTn i AH.™— !<)!)! !<!)))!Mt)<tf))t!)t!M!t? "1 j E L. -y-' c: 1- 1 S ?<? ?ciM?e House, ? i" I..d 1 Ol O ial Swansoa. 9 t i7 Special ¡- Holiday I Attraction all Next Week commencing Monday, Dec. 29th. The Great Six Papt PHILLIPS I PHOTOPLAY, J '!4"" II! ("- <. 1f r! t1! !Jj III g sill, kin ,1', ,1 j> f" f; I LII ,H rL lif. II "oM. i1 Iii 1iI] a'il i!.j lilt An Amazing Screen Torsion of the Most Successful Melodrama u in Theatrical Hisiory. Featuring ThoiiJas Santschi in the, movies example of Screen Art ever offered in Swansee6 IHOUDI^i—Final Episode of this Marvellous Serial. I MAE MARSH in FIELDS OF HOOUR, FIVE REEL DRAMA, j i A CLEVER DU??V, Triangle Keystone. I Topical Budget and Usual Full Programme, -1J:  1 2 0 A New Year's Eesoklien for You. "™" Learn Fox all's Rapid I System of Shorthand. J -\= PAGEFIELD COLLEGE St. Helen's Road, Swansea, | The Leading Commercial University of Wales, 1 Has acquired the Sole Rights in the 1 United Kingdom of teaching this remarkable new systell1., I m The principles of this system can 1 be mastered in I FOUR HOURS. A speed of 80 to 100 words a minute can be attained in eight weeks.. £ Day & Night Classes. Correspondence Courses. Evening Classes Commence Friday Next, Jan. 2nd, at 6 p.m. Fall information from the Principal. j r ■ ■i>rr EXPERT POSTAL TUSTION. 1 Learn Pitman's Shorthand and Commercial Book-keeping quickly. New Easy Method. Failure Impossible, Shorthand, 20 Lessons 21/ Book-keeping 22/6 DAMSEL JONES, F.I.P.S., &c. (The well-known I 14, GEOFFREY STREET, NEATH. IIIIIJHI gninill"1"" «ragy-.n

PENLLERGAER. The great We?h prize drama, Acres Maesyfelin," at the Brighton &11. Gor?- einon. Thurstlay arid Friday. Box oitice open to-njght. Book at once.

DUNVANT. Under the auspices of the Trades and Labour Council, Mr. Meth Jones, 01'- ganiser, attended to explain the Rent Act. Questions were satisfactorily answered. S'kft Rev. J. H Davies presided. E. S. Chappell High-street Swansea, haq 1.000 Overcoats In Stock- 10 per cent. Dis count Allowed Discharged Sailorb and Soldiers.

PONT AROU LAIS. Mr. W. Ewart lhomas, Arostn. Ji.me.i-streef, has just succeeded in gain- ing the diploma of L.C.V., and Mr. Albert- Davies, James-street, has negotiated the intermediate grade at the same college. The dwaun-cae-CUirwen Dramatic Com- pany at the Brighton Hall, (4ortiejmcn, on Thursday and Friday. Gi-eat Welsh drama, Aeree Maesyfelin."

BONYMAEN. A reception was given to Private Evon Ley-shon Sims on Tuesday evening at Cwm Chapel. Mr. D. J. Davies prejidincr. The following contributed to n miscell- aneous programme:—Mrs. Xortliy, Misses Lilian .Tor.?s, ITnnnah Williams, Olwen Lcyshon. Lizzie Body combe, Evelyn \SIn?. Messrs. Brinify WUIinma, Ivor ?-?owi(,r, Tom iml DaviM. and- Mor' gnns. Accompanist, Mrs. H. T. Davies, Cwm. Mrs. Northv prest ntod Private SiIUl; with a sum of money. also tho I usual gift from the reception committee 11 S. Chappell. Hisb-street, Swansea has i 1.000 Orercoat* in Stock: 10 per cent Die-1 count Allowed Disebarge(I Sailors and RolcJien

I GOWJZRTON. G-vraun-oae-Giurwen Dramatic (Company at the Brighton Hall, on Thursday and Fri- day. performing th-e gret drama, "Acres Maceyfelin."

I SKEWEN. At toe Iniee Misssion Church, Skewen, the Baud of Hope Choir rendered two, performances of the Service ctf Song, en-t, titled The King Wonderful," under leadership of Mr. Benj. J. Noot, the ac- companist being Mrs. Alice Davies. Tlifi j chair Was taken respectively by Mr. TV. • J Cement and Mr. W. G. War. Th?-o T,?r? large and appreciative audiences,

MAFOD. Daiydi Evans. b'fyRonhenrr, was the subject of a verv interesting lecture ,rii-eii by Mr. John Jrioberts at the Phila- delphia Young; People's (nnld on Tues- day .evening. V, n Evanp pre- sided, nd also sang a solo. Mr. John. Lawis and Mr. Morgan John, together with th pastor, Hew D. Pry so Williams, at the conclusion of the lecture. Mr. Richard Davies sang the Welsh National Anthem after the usual vote of thanks Oil Thursday the church is giv-l ins; a reception to the boys" who have now returned from the Services, and who \vill hp presented with stiitahly IU- scribed gold medals, etc. Printed and published hv the, Swansea Press. Ltd.. at Leader Building*. Swansea^.

4 SALE BEGINS TO-MORROW 9.30 a.m. 4 ?—? j  J Ss  ———\ j-? f  ?-?s   II COATS! COATS! COATS! The biggest bargains in or out London. Man-Tailored Coats- All Shades. See shem in the windows to-night. 65/0 Fanbury's Sale Prices- 326 37/11 35/9 BARGAINS IN MODELS! You are only paying thr cost of the Fur Collar in these beautiful Coats and Wraps. All Colours All Stvles. All Sizes. Formerly 70/6 73/- 60/0 Fanbury's Sale Prices— 55/- 52/6 49/9 ? ? IE? A ?? t 9 BANG I The Cost of Living Fails I Fanbury's Winter Sale cômmencing ????.??..r?-? tomorrow affords sorue of the most ?t M  vP^' amazing opportunities ever offered llatfg' 1/ /? ???????????? I by any Ladies' Costumier. You've M.n9 ~~j/ jr/ ( 11 heard much talk of High Prices," J g Tv&'3" Just study tkis advertisement. Then I ??/????'????????? ? ? J? study this advertisement. Then ? ??, 'jf$m Branch at the address ?s Fanbury's { !f1 ???!  ?'? Branch at the address be!ow. ?Vin- ??.??i'? ? J§t'M dows are now dressed and the lights 111 1 1 -Jr ??- ff.jjf'  ?'  ? are left on for y? to see for yo"?' I T t ?? .?????\J? self what you will miss if you are I M not ther* tomorrow morning early J y^f|| ??'???????? Be there, for this represents an 'j ???r????? s? opportunity to secure garments of /? r ????? fine quality guaranteed, and of ^pf^k f beautiful tailoring-at prices much'  r HUGE REDUCTIONS ON FURS-Yonwi)) below t elf actual worth. SERGE and GABARDINE COSTUMES —t- i-. • ,« full. iHabticailv marked down. LARGE CAPE STO'.ES. ie Every Lady looking for an extra-  oQe amot't   pleas- r  7 (;lIS.. 'tj, Gns.. ManvMode?amon?tthcrn. Sachpteas- ? ?<-a..?.<-(..n?\. )?c)t'a.r_)U!?yEverv Ladv j looMnb t? for an extra- 'in!=:y?tndnear!)!u:if}n))\'Sitk  Fabbury's Sale Prites- Fjbu?-?'??p??? ?? ordinary Coat opportunity, should ?u?'&PrX?'?"'?' ?Gt. 6? Gns. 5 Gns. see this brilliant assortment on sale ? Hozen Tw? Costumes to dear. Mu?toma-.e! ?..?ny €J, & -i| Gns. to-morrow, '■'f11-1 }'i ioes-»5 4i Gns.. 4 Cns. I r.nbu" r l'lces- Fanburys Sale 1,Prlcss ? f<tn&ury'Sa"*m')ces— «?. Ml'n O/ft 3 C.a. 4 Cns. 5? 6ns. It means real satisfaction to buy M11 E2/6 1 from a shop which shows such a t/  ? vast assortment—it means UDnvalled ?'?L |. savings—when your selection is made ..?p?B  ?S?..  from the stock of an establishment j????????? f ,? ^possessing stock own designing rooms I jj\ ^aE'3 aa-^ Factories in London. ??????SE??? 1 I It means untol<3 satisfaction in ????M? It means untola satisfaction in  /?i-.iL?,??Y comfort and happiness when you «^^8aBEBHSj|ar Jj |H|' realize that all Fanbury's Garments 8^ /m M11' (whatever the selling price), are I 1 "II II ¡ ful1y guar?Cnteed. 5 ¡.J I () I ?'?p €CME TO'MOSRCW, AND ? ? if ;? YOU'LL SAVE 'Rm'r'ONEY /.1 I ,10(. 1M L."  i! .e!'3 ¡ Ii .'IWI/. '&{I." ¡ v YWEEDS! TWEEDS! TWEEDS! %»P^  •• W.wn .Twtei) Uats to bs sold at loss of SEAL PLUSH MODEL COATS of <!ne? 1 PI" :d lll,c'e: L().,t (,)\"unng-" ,a.:Jd 261 OX!ORD S'I' nnunstH\bleSeal Plush and <. :oney PJU!5h.! I') xt']'e arf' UI'C11I-n al/,I hI'ltlllIl n WiStare- are ui'cdSlxti'-ri ami l!tl*ul 1 VVell-msde with and without Itjr collars, 1 Usual Pi »coS-7!»/;< Wll 6 a/9 *» *■* andhandsomeiysi? )incd. Keal Gems at Fa..bu¡'y's Sale Prlce$- S' 'If T SE  Usually Pi, ii & 1 Gus. I ——?,?, 1tV AI, A "MM-IRRI: Smart Tweed Skirts, 5 Ons. 6 Gn, 4 Gnu. ? Smart Tweed Skirts, -"lö' 2'/11 19/6 Few Pony Cloth CoMswi!'be sacrificed. Smart U?uat P"ces-?.? 24/lt 1916 Usually 126/- 99/0 89/9 F ? Fanburyq Safe Prices- Fanbury's Sale Prices- ,J 12'6 18/9 15/11 73/6 841. 63/- SALE BEGINS TO-MORROW 9.30 a.m. 'SALE BEGINS TO-MORROW 9.30 éJ..m.

F I A GOOD WORK. P f: I* Mount Pleasant Chapet Children Entertain Poor Youngsters. The members of the Mount Pleasant I i Baptist children's service believe that it | more b.c»»e<i to give than to receive," and every year they prove this by giving a tea to a number, of the poor children of the town. It was felt by some adults that I UI high prioes' of provisions would cause them to abandon their good intention this yeatf, but where there's a will there's a way," n,nd the children decided that the t-ea should, under any circumstances, be given. Thejr- accordingly set to work to obtain f- the n-ece«a.ry funds in the same manner a.s n previous years, and some very pretty I «kerviettes were bought, and the. children undertook to soil these, oxplaining thf object of their sale to each purchaser. They i met mth a line response, but felt that in i*iiet vnt ? a fille r(?s jrder k) monlie certain that their object shoul-d be attained, they would make an j additional effort, and, accordingly, in a very &hort tiiJie,\a carol party war. formed and trained. For some nights before Christinas they visited various houses, and a e.-bnsidei-attle sum of money was raised, the whole of which was devoted to the ioct in view. The result of these efforts by theehil-j dren w?< reswhed on Tuesday afternoon. ? when over 2? of the iworest children of l r th? town sat down to an excellent tea pro-I vided out of the money thut; raided. To! say that the, children appreciatld theef citorts is to put mildly what was evident- to those who were privileged to be present. The Rev. II 0 Miander opened the pro- i reed ina.nri the leaders of the meeting,! agisted by other kind friends, waited on the gr.este of the children's service, ana I staw that. each child was fully satisfied. The |j-. ohiidren gave hearty cheers for the mem-j Jr- hers o! the service who were reeponsible for providing the tea, and trooped out j htappy and contented. I Ths leaders and ohildren feel very grate- j ful. &nd wish to express tbeir thanks to I r who purchased the serviettes, and 'I v yave to the carol party, and thus enabled | taoin to ,Iow. what has been aptjy de«t- J oribfl A- an eipr^soion of practioa.1 j C'a.Utiajiity. j

I Alterations in Train Services JANUARY, 1920. The Best and the Cheapest Time Table on the Market to-day is the 1,1 < T. & P. Time Table Published by Thomas & Parry, Ltd."Printers, Swansea. Price 2d. j See your Stationer at once; if you fail to t secure I a copy, write the Publishers. t

SKEWEN FUNERAL.  The lace Mr. Sidney J. Johns, lata of the Rifle Brigade, only son of Mr. W. D. Johns, cashier of the Main Colliery Co., was buried in Skcwcn Bari^h Cliucchyaid on Tuesday. Tho Rev. W. Cann, of th0 United Methodist Church, officiated, being assisted bv the Revs. P. Marchant Lewis and J. ifvans Jones. i ii, pi-esei-it ii-ei-i) the father, Mr. Bernard [aruma (brother- in-law), Messrs. Hy. Thomas and Joht) Curtis, T. Michael, Alf .and Richard Squires (uncles). There was a reprasentative gathering., among those present being the chief officials of the Main Coilie;,v Co., in- cluding Mr. F. G. Way (commercial 'manager). Mr. A. E. Jones (resident ayent), Mr. F. S. Scargent (chief mechanic), the following managers—Mr. Wm. Evans, M.E. (Bryncocl*), Mr. J. Westmacott, M.E. (Court Herbert). Mr. Fred Williams, M.E. (Nos. 3 and 4); from the office staff—Messrs. J. H. Cole, W Williams, J. Cawker, Lew Davms, and Tom Jenkins. The wreaths :n- cluded one from the D. and D.S. and S.. J and the Main Colliery staff.

LOUGHOR. a Great Welsh Prize Drama Aeres .w felin." at the Brighton Hall. Gorsemon. on Thui«day and Friday. Box office open to- night for reeerved seats.

BURRYPORT. Burryport docks on Tuesday evening was crowded with hipping-J5 Jurgl" vessels in, the dock and three, had just 1tft. Hundreds cf people visited the docks. It was a novel ight for Burry- port. to witness so many nationalities. E. S. Chappell Hi eh-street Swansea, has 1,000 Overcoats in Stock: 10 per cent. Dia\ count Allowed Discharged Sailors and Soldiers.

KSNGSRRIDGE. The Grpat Prir Dra.ma, "Aeree ltae«y-1 inlin," at the Brighton Hall, on Thursday and Friday. Box office open to-night. Bock now.

LLANGADOCK. A re-union of the Mangace; brar^ n ot the n. and D.S. and S. Fcd^ri'tion was Md nt Rf? T?oa Hojpl. 'PT8ided oT?r I.v <? Vic?r ?h? .Rpv..?. Titu1. The n; easion w<M celebrated wH h a dinner, f01.. lowed by a programme of speeches and songs. The Forces was proposed by the prosidpnf., and responded to hy Mr. \rthur Davies and Mr. D. L. Davies. The Ministers of the Gospel" "'as sub-1 mitted by Mr. A. S. Jackson, and re- j ponded* to by Mr. J. S. Davies. Dis- charged and Demobilised Soldiers and Sailors was pro]K#efl by th" president, 'and responded to by Dr. TTopkins. Messrs. A. F. Lewis, D. W. Evans. Dan F. James (secretary of the D. and D.S. and S.F.). ThR !'o?owi*i? contriburpd to <hf mnstfal pr?r?nm?:—M?s?rs. W. J. 7Jn\d. Evans. W. WiU'An?. W. GaT-?f-h) Rdhcrts. The mcompanist w?s Miss Laura Hoyd. Other | toasts were submitted by Messrs. D. M. t Evans,* A. F. Jackson, 'D. B. Davies, and! D. M. Evans. The hon. sectetary Wl\!J Mr. D. F. James, of the firm of MeJ;snr) W. and W. James, auctioneers. )

WATCH NIGHT SERVICES. St. Mary's Parish Churci-t SWANSEA. A ATCH NIGHT 1 SERVICE Conducted by the VICAR OF SWANSEA TO-NIGHT AT 11.15. I Subject— "CROSSING THE LINE." Collection for "Leader" Fund for I Widows and Orphans. ALBERT HALL. | 54th Watch Night Service, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31st, at 1, p.m., will be Conducted D.V.) by *• Mr. BASIL SMELLING.

GROVESEND. TVve Qvraun-cae-Gurwen Dramatic Com- pany. with their Great Welsh Drama,; Acres Maesyfelin, at the Briehton Hall.; Gore«inon, oa nursday and Friday. Bow J office open to-night for reserved eeata.

GORSEtNON. All Toorls lead to Brighton Hall 'on. Thursday an,l Friday. The Gwaun-oae- (iurwen Company will perform their gre..t prize drama, ?M-"s Maesyfelin." 'EeaerTe? m? be obtained ah t.hn ?&t3. &. M. (Hox O?Ic?) to-night fror.v Bnght.on Hnll (B.o: Offi('f') to-DJl!'ht fraTi\' 6.30 to 8 i,.Ia. Bwk at once, or y,,u Kjil ba. t'jo late.