The Rhondda Leader

THE SUBTLE HUN. I called at the centre for curing this tytw of disease in a large town, and learnt from the doctor in charge that the disease is very prevalent; it appears to be rather increas- ing than decreasing. One melancholy fact is that the soldiers coming home bring it tc their wives. The Germans are the most horrible race under the sun; they aro I capable of any devilry; they stand con- demned for ever as the inventors of poison gas. And does anyone suppose that they are not capable of sending all their diseased Women into the area occupied by the Bri- tish troops with every encouragement to do their awful work among the lads? I should like to believe that, bad as we are, ave aro not the worst nation in this hideous respect. We have led the way in the battle against tuberculosis; I do not think we have much to boast about in the other terrible scourge. The only satisfactory thing about the crowds at the treatment centres is that the men and women who are infected have the m,en aii d ivomen ii- h o sense to come at all; it is a better plan than buying nostrums from swindling quacks, which used to be such a common practice a few years ago. Concealment is the worst measure to adopt; it is the neglected cases II that develop such dreadful complications later. -0: 0- PITY THE UNFORTUNATE. In all this hateful business, we can spare a thought for the unfortunate women who ply their trade with a simulated outward gaiety and inward misery. Come with me and see the out-patient department of the hospital for women; there is no gaiety there; many of the women are crying, many are in pain; anyway, they have not long to live; it is a life that kills. What we really want is a change of heart; metri- cal measures, drugs to prevent disease, hos- pital treatment, research to discover better forms of treatment-all these are valuable An their way. But the di ease could be wiped out in a few years if everyone could voluntarily adopt a higher standard of morality. I know it is a dream—a fanciful, imaginary vision. Of course oer young men and women are not going to love cleanliness and health. I hope I am not too bitter. But I see the same conditions existing now that existed when I first began as a junior student knger ago that I like to think. The people have not yet reached that stage in evolution when yon appeal to their sense of justice and honour: our soldiers are not ashamed to bring into their I own homes so lovingly decorated with flags in their honour a disease that has a lasting i and painful effect on wife and child. And alas, some of the wives have not been true, and the home-coming soldier finds in his own house the dLmse which he Las deter. mined to avoid while he has been away.

TAIKS ON HEALTfl. £ I ",J, i ? D U!' A ? ? 1. By A FAOOOTOR, 'ITIE FLY.' I -) -,T. Once again the earth has gene round the sun and brought us to the fly season. Every year we have this problem to deal with, and no great progress seems to he made. The people are very slow to appreciate what is to their advantage. At present we hear of nothing but shorter hours and more money. A. subject like N-rgienc takes a back place. Let us get as lIluch as we can and do as little as possible for it; it is a had cry, and none the better for being penur r, I want everyone to work as hard as ever he can, and in no way could his energies be better expended than ir. 'helping to tackle the fly question. If everybody trie:! to down the flies we should succeed; we downed the Huns, but it was only by ir,along a deter- mined national effort. It is erly indiffer- ence to the welfare of our children that makes us careless about flies. o I IT'S YOUR DUTY TO KILL. We know that summer diatrlu^a and other complaints that carry off }ij tJc child- ren arc caused by flies, but the attitude of tlie general public is listlessness and apathy. Flies live and breed on dirt; no dirt. no flics; plenty of dirt, plenty of flies. It stands to reason that it cannot be right to allow a fly to settle on our fosd when a moment ago the wretched insect was dabbling its.feet in some tilth in t:*e et^cets. All food should be carefully c tered up; jugs should be covered with an eld scrap cf musEu weighted at the four corncrs by j beads. \Y c ought to prevent the fees from breeding, but if we cannot do thjjt we can prevent them from falling into l.ahy's milk. Flies are cruel in- it is a duty to kill them. You can I to spend a few shil- ling", on covers, 1 e you sn,ve thereby a few pounds in burial feeis. I had a patient ■ who had recovered from a severe attack of influenza and pneumonia. Tiie illness left him very weak. Look at him with me for a moment. His face is pale; his lips are not red as thev ought to b?; his eyes arc rather rod as thcv ou?'ht to sunken; h? sits in h?s chair with Ids back bent in a huddled position, the muscles of the back are hardly strong enough ta brace up his spine his hands fall in a listless fashion on to his lap his legs are placed ltt the positifol1 requiring least efi'ort; you can see his prJsa beating in h>; n-ck it la rather fast; his breath is rataer short, and he gasps as he talks. Alt this you nclic? as you exchange a me-ining greeting with him, or you wo.:id notice if you were a dectcr and trained to be ebsprvant. j —■—= o: — BEWARE OF THE QUACK. The sceno changes and the invalid is sent away to the sea-side for a month. C leave him there and go about our business. Scene changcs again. The month has gene by; the patient returns. Heavens a miracle! Can this really be the same man? j This active, energetic creature, who prefers j to stand up rather than sit down, who cracks jokes, -who has smiiings lips, laugh- ing cheeks, and bright eyes. Well, this is won! rful; health instead of disease, st", 'i instead of weakness, energy in- j .f lassitude; what wizard's vorJi is Ah, it is a secret, and I am net going to tell you what brought about lira astounding change. Oh, well, if you press me to tell you, I will Lk rut the secret._ It was all due to Stick-in-t-'ie-Mud's Sticky Stuff for Sickly Poitiers; y?. buy it in .?:L'? crown boti!ps fcr ten and sixp'nM,. brt it is twelve and Rixpsncc for scid?era in n'n?crr: ? It contains sloshphates for the,blood, h,\T?:- slosh rlwks fOJ? th" noncs, hipposlcshphiues fir the brain, honposhishphates f'r th, for the bra,li, is a wri-.dc??? twelve and sixperinyworfh. Yon can get n dozen half-guinea bottler for the reduced j price of s,?n'n ponnds four shillings and j -:0:- THE BENEFITS OF REGULARITY. Th:T.?ow, I hare told ycn; he S0cyd. You need not bother aheut fresh air or good focd or suns h l?o or any nonsense like that; it will be all right if you S! eu'cl your month, in a damp ce'hl instead of at the seaside if only vcu wiU ddl'k thi"e uozcu of the hopposloshptnto soht?n. Ii.' you happen to mectTnypntknt v?,I]o in ;a month spent at the seast-ae ir""u a wer.Kij- creature t? a strong man .-?-: d ;!?k J?mii'! say is ti-,?-it?, 'e ii,.ay fie pay !iQ tf-(,,Ii: medicine at jj ,I' sl,y lie robed en walking, ou | going to bed early, on regular rac ds we'il- eoa h aa ond a I en slow l y, C!l sea- b ai h an g ir f!" It .t ,y,c]? whoa iie felt st:ouger, on c' ccrlVI company, on strict- moderation in awa k i' :s and \c. l 1 ran d on an inbe]'i- •aent '•a'i "a ■ a:i of PIl the sensible ruh-y of h:g i er.-?' <' -I he had learnt by re ding c-'u m ia • :r y soy nil the- but -ran t yea K a- ve hi a I teii yon his luo was sa\r.i by hippo- and koppcsloshpm&tes. v. ?*- -1 A N HRVO e S ClTLD. I 11. nervous child shauld be allowed to in •: with other children. It is imp- s-aile to keep a little b-'y vT:app.d up ia cola; word uarar 8" g'aaa- case. If 11<\ plays w-ih hoys -of i-.i-j b'va. ago, be will soon iind irs own level; vTiih tn,a>ara.g nnent firm a vise ??.r??thcY'iiI lc.?<j his nervousness. It ;?: wrong b ind-??. f nervous cfa,iU rud ?.'?? him away fru? t '? ."> rc-agh c\? -ren ex ?Ii?)'Jra???:;)(:? 111?,? :,?. Ir:?"?11 r?\'ïY} I':??:à" r very useful for th? de'c?-"e:it of C"Il reeia-r: a why aa'i n.aeea; rr.u a r,- y owe his unfortunata L'{" .c, to dl1lüL d unwisely governed ??y ?vcr-mc"n. !i g b?t? i?:?}?'?11;? ??:?:??¡I?;??.11Y A we?1::?1?1; i:l?10t??:? will explain t?t ?-.T:? Is uot'?n?to?G! afraid of in going to. school, and mixing with boys and <rirls. Pome- day the hoy will have to go out in t'~o world and the cotton-wool ty?ef.ftr?.hn!!? is a v?ryponr w.-y of prcparit? him for battling with the I vor?d. J I  CHEERFUL READING, C,  11 1   D'" I   A nervous; child mti., t not be given ten or coffee; pic-idea and pcjjper are forbidden; wines, whether medicated or not, must never be given. He must go to bed eelrly, his beoks should be cheerful. Do not show him the pictures in "The Pilgrom's Pro- gress," which represent horrible mis-shapen d c, v, i i ili forms grinning from black corners j and aiming their cruel shafts at poor Chris- tian. Religious Instruction should consist only of simple and beautiful stories. If ro- ference is mude to the other world, the loveliness of heaven ra.ther than the horrors of hell should be the subject of the lecture. All mention of gnashing of teeth, casting into outer darkness, weeping and wailinf, hell-fire, and the like should be forbidden, ——————————————————.

=-=-=- For Your X M Aa r, d hJF. ->V YEA r,. CARDS go to EVANS & SH?T)T V P». "?r. ? \J" l" ?; rrinters and S1:atitH";et'¿", I' TONYPANDY.

? -?_ -?-?-?-?? n?-?- u- FUN AND FANCY. The cx-Ivaiser has told a newspaper ma* tliat the Peace terms have "set his brain r. a whirl." How that fellow does brag, to be sure. A few words mumbled by a minister con statute a marriage. A few words mumbled by a sleeping husband constitute a divorce. Agent: "This vacuum bottle will keep anything hot or cold for seventy-two hours." Mv. Tipples: "Don't want it. If I have anything worth drinkiug I don't want to keep 11 seveniy-two hours!" "'•'■'ell. how do you like being married?" ¡t" gr2;lt fUt], Arlhur,paÜÜs, and 1 e thoa we both guess what the things are un-ul für. Browning had lata ly taken to lecturing en the t:etotal platform. "So you want to I-v liv daughter, f,1r? What are your .-iples? Ara you temperate?" he asked a candHe.tc for the pos-itien of son-in-l-vw. a;/ JAwas the leply. Why, I am f) ict fe.a^rt pains me even to find my bo its tight." the pub liea t ion of the Peace treaty iho ev-Kaiser is said to be more convinced than ever that it i", iicne of his war. beasts a donkey that drinks Gusreaic-at Ale," says a morning paper. y must be an ass In great distress she burst into her bus- band's otrice and cried, "Oh, my dear, I oil, Tly diamond ring from my finger :?Y ? c.?n't und it anywhere." "That's :J1 ["?? t, )hriel," he pai I, soc-thingly. "It is r-uirc- safe. I found it in my trousers pocket fo".[],Ct it in iny Po-,?Izet "There is a foreign couple living in the flat; aex-t to us, and they are simply a tor- ment to my wife." "Why soF" "They r-uarrel ineasejanfy, and she oaut under- stan d :'1 word of it." school inspector in the north was once C'ie-m i''i? a R'?;?'¡'?P?:? cbies, and asked ta-- :— ■ i >• "What ? a Inke?" He was nva h a' -a -1 when a little fellow answered: lfc is a in a can, sir." "I Imvo Utile doubt," commenced the i!i-ii on L-.e'na l f o j'- 1- .s p c m:.ji'.t.{< m'n on behalf of l?E ca-w-a1 ';? s, that in?t of yen th i uk t1L: t in this co:n.mitt;e half of us do the work while the other half do nothing. On the cvitrery, g-antiemen, I can assure you that the reverse is the case." Nan: "Üicl you nctiec how dreadfully that piano needed tuning?" Fan: "Why, no, dear; I H?ught it harmonised perfectly with your v O'? c L?. He: "I suppose you wouldn't think of marrying a man unless ho could afford tc give you a yacht?" She: "Oh, I don't know. If I really loved him I would be satisfied with a little smack occasionally." She: "Wcukl you cheerfully walk three miles for the sake of seeing me?" He: Er—well-—of course, love." She: "I'm so glad, because I have just heard your last tram go." The fond husband was seeing his wife off with the children for the summer holidays. As she got into the train he said: "But, my dear, won't you take some fidiün to read'?" "Oh, no," she responded sweetly; I shall depend on your letters from komo. There i-3 a. danger that the rabies scare is upsetting people. Last week it was re- ported that a cheese had been seen foaming at the mouth. So vou have bought your wife another expensive ring. Isn't that a waste of illoiley", "On the contrary, it is true economy, for she won't require half so many pairs of gloves as formerly." There was a young fellow of Woking Who always was punning and joking; His friends got to hate him So had to cremate him, And all lent a hand at the stoking. Scotsman (seeing drummer in the band with his coat off): Auch, it's the first time I knew you had to take off your coat to play "Oh, is it? That i-.i the drum." Cockney: "Oh, is it? That is nothing. In Scotland they have to take off their trousers before they can play the bag- pipes." Jamie, a workman in a Lancashire mill, was sneaking out one morning in search of a quiet cornor in which to enjoy a whiff of tobacco. Turning a corner, he came full on the boss." "Were you looking for me?" asked the toss. "Aw wur that," re- plied Jamie, "but aw didna' weant to see thi. Client: "I want to sue for a divorce and an allowance of < £ 1,500 a year." Lawyer: 'What is your husband's income?" Client: "It's about that. I wouldn't ask for more than a man makes. I'm not that kind "Who is at the 'phone?" "Your wife, sir." "What does she want?" "The only word I can understand is idiot/ sir." "Let me come there. She probably wants to talk with me." For a long time he had worshipped a fair girl at a distance, but his shyness prevented him proposing. Then one evening a charity performance took place in which his fair one wa.s leading la-ay, and was more charm- ing than ever. Afterwards he drew near, his love overcoming his shyness. "You are the Star of the Evening!" he exclaimed. You are the first to tell me so," she said, with a happy blush. "Then may I claim my reward as an astronomer?" he asked. She looked puzzled. "What reward?" she asked. "The right to give my name to the star I have discovered," he replied. Miss Gusliington: "I admit, Arthur, that this is not the first time I have been en- gaged, but I'm sure your noble, generous heart Little Brother Sis, the baby'a got hold of your bunch of engagement rings." "Did you see that lovely young girl wait. ing there in the lobby, with the pretty brown dr-ess and furs 1" asked hubby as Efe I entered their taxi. "What! That frowsy thing with the false puffs, enamelled face, gold teeth, home-made dress, imitation mink furs, and torn gloves? No, I didn't notice her at all." They had just been introduced to each other at the reception. Presently the younger girl, glancing at a man who had I recently entered, remarked: "I can't think j what's the matter with that tall, dark mav over there. Just before you came he wa» j staring hard at me, and looked as though i he wanted to be introduced. Now he? turned his back on me. I wonder whyt"" ) "Perhaps," said the other, "it's because Àf faw me come in. i1',m his wife )

I Ton should forgive many things in oth«rs but wot in yourself. Our life is precious to us for the activity that we are capable of, and still more Le- cause that activity may be so adjusted as to give us the consciousness of acting in harmony with the Divine mind.—Arch- bishop Thomson. We do not know what important interests may depend in some critical hour, years from now, on the piece of work we are I doing to-day.—J. R. Miller. I A holy life spent in the service of God, and in communion with Him, is, without I doubt, the most pleasant and comfortable life that any man can live in this world.— Melancthon. I

THE VALUE OF MACHINERY. I We are producing cheaper to-day, and better, under an eight-hours day system, than our forefathers ever produced under a twelve-hours system. The reason is ob- vious every reduction of hours is only made possible by means of machinery, and that machinery can produce more in the fewer hours than men, without machinery, could have produced in the longer hours. Any reduction of hours that will not be attended with increased output is an impos- sibility. The workers consume 95 per cent. 1 of the bulk of the articles produced in the country. Therefore, if they produce less, the prices will be dearer, and wages have less purchasing power.—Lord Leverhulme. — Opportunity knocks at the door-trouble! breaks it open.

ALWAYS THE BEST. We should fill the hours with the sweetest things If we had but a day; We should drink alone at the purest springs In our upward way We should love with a lifetime's love in an hour If the hours were few; We should rest not for dreams, but for fresher power To be and to do. We should waste no moments in weak regret, If the day were but one; If what we remember and what we regret Went out with the sun; We should be from our clamorous selves set free To work and to pray, And to be what the Father would have us to be, If we had but a day. —Mary Lowe Dickinson. Co-partnership gives to the workers an absolutely direct share in profits and management, and my view is that that is absolutely essential.—Right Hon. Lord Robert Cecil, M.P.

A BETTER ENGLAND. I We have got to get it recognised that religious sentiment is part of our daily life. We must not be pessimistic, dull, or de- pressing. We have got to teach men to live. Everyone can die; it is not everyone who can live to- advantage. The times are very critical. We cannot be content to sit still and do nothing. We must make a better England, a better Empire, a better world, or this terrible war will have been in vain and our. comrades will have given their lives for nothing.—General Sir H. S. Home, R.C.B.

LOOK TO THE HEART. As the virtue of a strong spiritous liquor evaporates by degrees in a vial which is not closely stopped, in like manner the life and power of the spirit insensibly vanish away, if the heart be not kept with all diligence. —Bogatzkys. Life loveth life and good; then trust What most the spirit would, it must; Deep wishes in the heart that be Are blossoms of necessity. —David A. Wasson. Whenever a sincere soul shines forth., men will gather round and follow as the sheep follow the shepherd.

THE SURE SAFEGUARD. The peace which is approaching, as we all believe and expect, i will be a peace tha* will last for the centuries to come. In that the co-operation of America and Grea. Britain must ever play a. leading part. The sacrifices that they have made to- gether, and the work that they have done together, will endure for all time. Con tinued intercourse between the American and British people is the surest safeguard for the closest co-operation in the future.— The Earl of Reading.

AMITY AMONG NATIONS. It is to my mind inconceivable that at this time there can be any man who does not hunger for good-will and amity among nations. I cannot believe that in Great Britain and America there are any thinking persons who do not desire, not atone the continued friendship of those countries, but their constant co-op-eraticn. If such there be, he is, in my opinion, not merely foolish and misguided, but a dangerous ltiiiat. c ho should be under restraint for the sake of the world.—Mr. J. W. Davis, American Ambassador.

RUNGS OF THE LADDER. Keep faith in humanity. A man becomes what he most desires to be. Keep your intellectual and spiritual life bright. Be energetic, wide awake, pushing, but be patient. The world wants men who are veil equipped and worthy. Honour womanhood if you would keep faith in humanity. Be true. Stand up and believe in your- self, then other people will believe in you. Life is made up, not of great sacrifice o* duties, but of little things, in which smiles kindness, and small obligations, giver habitually, are what win and preserve the heart, and secure comfort.

DANGER OF DESPAIR. Despair makes a despicable figure, and is descended from a mean original. It is tlit offspring of fear, laziness, and impatiencs It argues a defect of spirit and resolution, and oftentimes of honesty too. After all the exercise of this passion is so trouble- fiOMft, that nothing lut dint of evidence and demonstration should force it upon U?. Y wou!d not despair unless I knew the irre vocable decree was passed; saw my mi", for).)inH recorded in the book of fate, anc. sained and sealed by necessity.—Jeremy Collier.

A TOWN ON A ROOP. New York, the marvellous place of hnsfTe, whence comes all big things," is to have a motion picture city within two minutes of Broadway-a town of 5,000 inhabitants, where 20 companies of actors can work sim- ultaneously-a town of theatres, restau- rants, offices and houses. This tntire cinema town, whioh is to be under one roof, is now being constructed by William Fox at Fifty-fifth and Fifty-sixth streets on Tenth-avenue, New York, and is expected to be ready for occupancy by October next. The structure will be three storeys high, will cover almost an entire city block, and will cost approximately .2500,000. Work on the building is already well advanced. When it is completed it will be possible to see the wizards of the camera turn out romance, adventure, thrill, happiness—all the human passions—every hour. The new motion picture city will be so divided that the making of pictures will 00 in one part, the clerical offices in another, and the physical handling of films in a third. Each of these departments will be within easy reach of the administration offices. The ramps, extending to th* first and third floors, will be big enough and strong enough to permit fire engines to run directly into the building, and will provide means of egress which, it is claimed, will allow the building to be emptied within a minute after an alarm of fire. Conveniences for the employees include a large restaurant, a gymnasium, dressing- rooms with accommodation for 1,000 per- sons, greeen rooms, a library, and rest rooms on each floor.

MURDERER HYPNOTISTS. The serious and recent epidemic of crime naturally prompts one to marvel at the peculiar fascination which murderers and criminals of the worst type have for certain women. Neill Cream and Dr. Palmer, the arch-poisoners; Henry Wain wright, who was executed for the brutal murder of Har- riet Lane; George Joseph Smith, the "Blue- beard" of 1915—the "husband of seven wives and murderer of three; S. Klosow- ski, alias Chapman, the Wandsworth mur- derer; Dougall, of Moat Farm notoriety; the Rev." Hans Schmidt, the sham priest, who during the day performed marriage and funeral services, and at night became the hyena of the streets; Henri de Tourville, the French waiter and naturalised English- man, who made a business of the wholesale murder of women; and Franz von Vel- theim, who killed one millionaire, black- mailed another, and made a speciality of robbing women with nioitey-a-11 had an ex- traordinary fascination for the female sex. "The only explanation," says a well- known criminologist, seems to lie in the fact that such' men hypnotise women. Charles Peace always found women ready to help him. As one cynic says: 'If ten eligi- ble men, one of them a known blackguard, were placed in the marriage market, a pretty woman would invariably choose the blackguard.'

REAL LIVING PICTURES. The way a cinema picture producing com- pany is run, so far as the practical side goes, is interesting. Supposing the director wants an English butler," he looks for him in his elaborate card index cabinet. The player is then advised by telephone to appear the following morning. Now that the player is selected for the play the cha- racters look true to life. Again, one gentleman in demand for "rough house" parte is the person with cauliflower ears whilst the dope fiend capi- talises his craving, for he has the glassy eye and the uncertain tread, which makes him invaluable in such parts. The loco- motive-driver who figures in numerous rail- way pictures is usually a man who has retired from the cab, while the guard also knows his job from actual experience. For one photoplay it was necessary to take the interiors in a genuine New York department store, and during the two con- secutive days in which the establishment was occupied, 300 store assistants were used to "dress in" the scenes.

BETTER ROADS WANTED. Now that we arc returning to normal con- ditions, and affairs should progress both socially and commercially by leaps and bounds, it is to be noted that the roads of to-day will be quite unable to support the growing traffic about to be thrown on them. Mr. W. Rees Jeffreys, late secretary to the Road Board, is of the opinion that millions of money will be required to restore the roads to pre-war condition. It must be done with no niggardly policy. For a compara- tively trifling extra expenditure the life of roads can be vastly increased, and the exist- ing trials of country and suburban resi- dents reduced to a minimum. The present roads were not designed for fast motor traffic. The dust causcd by the poor con- struction not only increases the labour necessary for cleansing the homes that fringe them, but renders those homes unhy- gienic in the extreme. The poor roads are telling on the health and tempers of the people, and the health of a future genera- tion is the price that will be paid, unless the highways of to-day he properly re-made.

A GOLDEN MINERAL. Amber is most expensive. The price to- day for a pipe mouthpiece would run into pounds, if it could be obtained. T'le value of amber has roughly increased 2,DOO per cent., and, weight for weight, it is far more costly than gold. Amber cigarette-holders are prlc,-d at from C15 to £ 25, and cigar-holders of the same material cost from ,tu0 to £80. Be- fore the war similar articles could be bought for as many shillings as they now cost pounds. The reason for this is that all amber comes from enemy countries, and as none has been imported since the war, there are practically no unused stocks left in this country. Moreover, there is no sub. stitute- that is really satisfactory. Nor can amber be produced artificially, which is io,ssil res i ii. strange, seeing that it is merely fossil resin. Needless to say, a fortune awaits anyone lucky enough to hit upon the long-sought- for secret.

GOLDEN WALES. The discovery of a rich vein of gold in the Merionethshire mountains has raised the question whether Wales has solved the pro- blem of gold shortage. Gold has been mined in Wales and other parts of the United Kingdom on several occasions, al- though the profits, in several instances, nave scarcely warranted the outlay on work- ing expenses. Over half a oentury ago gold Was first found in Merionethshire, and from one mine alone £ 50,000 was extracted in a couple of years. An ether mine in the same county yielded 5,000. Carmarthen- shire, too, has its gr.1 mines, and there are gold reefs in the Forest of Dean, the Wye Valley, and in Sutaerlandehire. So small, however, is the output that all the gold mined in the United Kingdom during the last 20 years barely e^-cds half a million pounds in. value, 4