The Rhondda Leader

Brilliant Treorchy I Musician. Miss Blodwen Miles, the daughter I of Mr Benjamin Miles, 2 Windsor- st., Treorchy, is fast making a name for herself in the Welsh musical 1 world. A successful recordf bids fair to bring her to the front rank at an early age. She passed her A.L.C.M. before attaining 14 years of age and last year, competing at 40 eistedd- fodau, she won 32 first prizes and 2 second prizes. Continuing her studies this year she won the Lord Mayor's silver medal at the London College of Music.

11*, I //II1/1, Ten Years' Forgotten. I On 15th April, 1919, Mr W. Hilleard, of 14 Brooklyn Rd., Larkhall, Bath, said « Itt 3 pleases me to state that, foT ten years past, my lumbago pains have all been for- gotten. I have had excellent health since Doan's Pills made me well." Over ten years ago, on 21st February, lo fA ^v/ HuiTll,eard gave thi,s experience :— 1910, Mr gave this experience — Kidney weakness started my lumbago- all the evidence proved this fact. Bladder troubles, bouts of rheumatic pain, and dizzy sensations, had troubled me a loilg I while. Then, sudden attacks of lumbago began. Day and night, I suffered. My work had to go for days together. Many ti-s I could only move upon my hands and knees. The attacks quite took my breath away-they ruined my necves ,inId kept me from sleep. They used, in fact, to cripple me. "Pounds and pounds I spent on unavail- ing treatment, until my wife got me to try Dorm's Backache Kidney Pills. These Pills have given me a new existence. They did me good from the very start,-cop-rected the action of the kidneys and bladder assured me rest and sleep, and in a Htl(' while they rid me of lumbago absolutely. I recommend Doan's Pills, because there surely never was a better kidnev medic ne (Signed) W. Hi Heard." Von't ask for kidney pills or had -^r prlLi. Insist upon DOAN'S Backache K-d. ney Pills-the kidtoey medicine Mr Hil)e.rd recommends. All dealers, or 9a Od. a, box from Post,-r-ReClellan Co., 8, Wells Street, Oxford St., London. W.1. Recommended By the People For the People.

I The WofTiarj's Part. I BT AGNETA BROWN. "Peace on earth and goodwill to- wards all women" is perhaps a mod- ernized but appropriate greeting at this season of the year. The "good- will towards all men," always an ac- cepted theory amongst Christian peoples, has been ratified this year by the Peace Treaties of Europe, and is likely to be fortified in the future by the League ofonations. But "goodwill towards all women" is a newer creed born in the nineteenth century and confirmed by Englishmen only in 1919 by the ad- mission of a woman into the Holy of Holies of political life. It but re- mains that this new gospel sffall per- meate the national life, when its vivyfying influence will affect not only the women but the men and children of the empire. "Goodwill towards all women"- firstly perhaps, towards those women who have helped to win the war by risking their all on the battlefield so that they might tend the sick and wounded. Some 30,000 of these women were mobilised for the nursing services during the war. Many renounced good positions at home as sisters in hospitals, matrons and nurses to serve within the earshot of the guns in France, Italy, Serbia, Egypt, or Mesopotamia. Others o:ffered their services on hospital ships under per- petual menace from submarine and mine. The call came to these women as to Joan of Arc or to Florence Nightingale: "Give! Give!" and they gave willingly all that they had; technical skill, health, peace of mind, sympath, an dlove. They suffered all the horrors and distresses of war and no matter the torment of the hour w herever there was a wounded Tommy there was a woman a war nurse. Thankfully the worst of this work is over and numbers of these women to whom we all owe an incalculable debt are home again, oomn at this season of re-union within the shelter of family nomes and others, whom the war has robbed of relatives, patiently awaiting—war-wrecked or war weary as numbers are-for the fresh service that the New Year may reveal. There is no doubt of the goodwill towards these noble worneii uii the part of the men in our citizen army; there is no doubt of the recognition of their claims by the representatives of the people in the Government, and yet there is much, very much to do, to crystallize this just apprecia- tion into acts of justice or of mercy. The Ministry of Labour from the outset has recognised the nation's obligation in this connection and soon after the Armistice, established the Nurses' Demobilisation and Re- settlement Committee to bridge the gap between war service and reinstate ment in civilian work. It is good news that over 2,000 of these returning nurses have been re-absorbed into suitable work through the medium of this clearing house. Some have been appointed sis- ters or matrons in hospitals, others have been re-settled as matrons in hospitals, others have been re-settled as matrons in children's schools, whilst one, I late ly heard of, was dovetailed into a position in Guernsey and was pro- vided with a passport and a permit for hostel accommodation within 24 hours of the notification of the vacancy to the committee. Another j war nurse was fitted with a matron- ship fo a Railway Servants' Orphan- I age within 48 hours of its notifica- tion, and five others have been placed j as prison nurses in Holloway, to substitute the wardresses' services for the sick. Such re-settlement, it must be re- membered, is being accomplished in the teeth of the wind of difficulties and obstacles. War nurses were only Ar ni-irses were oii l v accepted for service at the front A absolutely "fit, and they have added valua ble experience to their previous knowledge. Many have held positions of great responsibility during the war, being in charge of everything from a pin to a coffin, in military hospitals containing up to 1,800 beds others have shown extraordin- ary powers of resource and courage and endurance and are covered with decorations from foreign States. They have come home to find their previous positions filled and no suit- able vacancies available. They justly-j seek senior posts to which good sal j aries are attached, and the demand at present is mainly for junior nurses, who are remunerated at a low rate. There are still 1,000 to 1,500 war nurses to return to this country, here to seek a livelihood. On their be- half, as well as on that of those al- ready awaiting re-employment, an appeal is made for "goodwill." Em- ployers and employing authorities are, therefore, asked to notify vacan- cies for hospital nurses, school nurses, nurse organisers, or nurse administrators, to the Nurses' De- mobilisation and Resettlement Com- mittee, 16 Curzon st., Mayfair, W.I.

CHARACTER BY THE HAIR. I Character, it is said, can be told by means of many physical features* such as the bumps on the head and the lines on the handa. According to folklore, a heavy head of hair indioates little, if any, virtues. The Turks claim that women witl short intellect have long hair. The Albanians say, with more finality, "Long hair, little brains." Very quaint indeed, and also amusing, are some of the other character delineattona which the hair-prophets have set down. Kinky hair is a sign of a variable and hasty disposition; while smooth, plain hair denotes that the owner is peace-loving and cour- teous. A long and peaceful life ie promised the owner of hair that grows low on the forehead and retreats up the head afcova the temples. It is said that the darker the hair the more powerful the physical organisation. Chestnut or dark brown hair demotes fair- ness in dealings, generosity, absence of de- ceit, but unhappiness in domestic lifQ, Thick, straight, and glossy brown hair indi- cates a robust constitution, energy, and eagerness in the pursuit of life; thick, coarse, and wiry brown hair, great deter- mination of character; curly brown hair, a weak character, but natural ingenuity and ability.

SUBMARINE MINES. I Wonderful are the submarine galleries running for miles under the sea bottom. In Cornwall the Levant Mine is not the only Cornish mine whose galleries extend below the ocean bed. Only a mile or so south of it is the even more famous Botallack Mine, which is one of the most wonderful examples in the world of man's audacity in searching after wealth. A trip through these tortu- ous underground workings used to be fre- quently undertaken by people in seami uf a new experience; but some little time back the mine was definitely closed to tourists, owing to the danger of their be- coming lost in the maze of submarine gal- leries. Men who work in these Cornish tin mines are a class by themselves, and all their dif- ferences are adjusted by the Stannary Courts, as they are called, from the Latin word "stannum," meaning tin. These curious courts have existed in their present form since the middle of the 13th century, and, in a simpler form, much earlier; and the miners claim to be free from all other jurisdiction, "except in matters concerning land, life, or limb."

THE TRAVELLER RAT. Needless to say, the commonest rat in the I Bwtish Isles is the brown or Hanoverian rat, a detestable Hunnish animal which reached England about the year 1730. There are still black rats of the old kind in some parts of the country. We have also a third rat. This is the black Alexandrine rat, a more recent arrival than the brown, and a near relative of the old English rat. The upper part of the black Alexandrine rat is glossy black, with a greenish sheen. It is a native of the Black Sea ports, but a great traveller. This rat is rather larger than its cousin, the old black rat, and seems better able to hold its own against the brown beast. All rats are bad neighbours, but the Alexandrine has several advantages over the brown. It has none of its repulsive smell or mangy appear- ance, nor is it, like the Hanoverian, a can- nibal. It can be tamed without much 1 trouble, and it is said that it makes a most I interesting pet.

OLD BOW STREET. I The history of Bow-street, London, is one of the most romantic of our notorious thoroughfares. It is nearly 300 years old, while the police court, which at one time was the only one of its kind in London, was established 170 years ago. u The first paid magistrate was Henry Field. ing, author of "Tom Jones," and his brother, Sir John Fielding, also acted in a similar capacity. Bow-street in those days was the home of the elite, poets, painters, actors and phy.-icians having their homes there. The street and court will always be associated with the "Bow Street Runners," or the "Robin Redbreasts." as they were called, from their red waistcoats, the fore- runners of the Metropolitan Police. There were less than a hundred "Runners," the re- mainder of the metropolitan area being guarded by a nondescript Watch, assisted by the citizens. To-d.iy the City Police an d the W.?tro p oli. Force totals over 1,202, and the MLetropoh- tan force 23,017.

TALKS ON HEALTH. I By A FAMILY DOCTOR. I UO AND BEGULABITY. Jtomerober the two R'g—Rest and Bega. iarity. Best is a cure for many ills. Try, d you have a hard day's work, to get a. quiet rest for an hour after lunch. It is difficult for men to do this, but for women who are in their own homes and not at a- .Ala" of baainesa, it ought to be practic- able. Rest for the back. rest for the head, rest for aches and pains, rest for sprains and injuries, rest for inflammation, and rest to give you time to £ ei over your fit of tem- per. Regularity will save you time and monsy and doctor's bills. Regularity "in. meals, regularity in sleep, regularity in ex. ercise, regularity in your habits. Even little ohildren will learn regularity in their habits, and you cannot begin too early to teach them. If you have your meals at all sorts of odd hours and go to bed at any time, you will suffer for it sooner or later. n SEEK THE FRESH AIR. Now that locomotion is so easy by train or tram, there is no excuse for your staying in the towns on Saturdays and Sundays. You must get out in the fresh air. Walk up the hill that overlooks the town you live in; first sniff the pure air and be gnateful for it, and then look down at your town shrouded in the pall of thick smoke and be ashamed of it. You must have fresh air: there is nothing that will do instead; there- is no substitute. Make a fuss; got someone hanged for the smoky atmosphere; bully th-a mayor and corposation. -:0:- WHY THE WIND SICAM! A meaas will certainly be found some day- for purifying the air of towns,. and the happy day will be hastened if you will be- stir yourselves. At present you are con- tent—or shall we say you are too busy?—to bother about smokeless coal or the methods of reducing the output of smoke. Your lunga and your blood pine for fresh air, and you give them smoke and a smell of fried fish. The fresh breeeee blow, and ask permiMion to vivify your blood with their health-giving fresnaees; but you towns- people always reply: "No fresh air this morning, thank you." No wonder the wind, sighs in tat keeíJ! WATCH INFECTION. Cases are reported from time to time of consumption being carried from one man to another through the practice of drinking from the same mug. This is a habit which cannot be too strongly condemned. It is a* matter in which doctors can only suggest improvement: they must leave it to the- people to oarry out. The crusade against spitting attracted the public attention at once, and notices are now put up every- where enjoining tho public to refrain from spitting. Now we want notices put up pointing out the danger of drinking out of the same mug. Personally, I would never drink from a public drinking-fountain—us- ing the same cup as all the dirty tramps- and I do not think it is wise for children to use the drinking-cups provided in their play- ground. The water is pure enough, and a child might well drink it provided a clean glass were used. Many diseases are essen- tially "mouth disease"—for example, diph- theria, scarlet fever, tou-dlitis, thrush, and some of the graver kinds of blood-poisoning, -:0:- A GERM'S HEAVEN. Keep your telephone mouth-pieces clean, [f Mr. Brown, who ought not to have come to business because he felt feverish, has a four minutes conversation with a trouble- some customer, loses his temper, and shouts into the mouth-piece, there will be a mag- nificent collection of influenza germs on the instrament. Everyone who uses the tele- phone after him will most certainly be in- fected. I do not think the strongest of us could put our mouths to a germ-trap tele- phone and breathe hard, in and out, for fifty breaths, without catching the germs. We have to breathe twenty times a minute. It is bad enough to have a man cough across a 'biis into your face, but the germs- do scatter a bit; in the concentrated mouth- piece the germs can get nowhere. If, the telephone is in a telephone-box, the germs fairlv chortle in their glee. What germs- hate is fresh air. But shew a germ a stuffy room, and in that room a stuffier telephone- box. and in that box a still stuffier instru- ment. and the germ feels that he is in the seventh heaven of delight. KNIFE OR DEATH? Great relief is felt when an abscess burst?- and the matter that was imprisoned under the skin and causing a high temperature and great pain is let out. Doctors, having learned this from much experience, try to open the abscess as early as possible with a knife-the earlier the operation the earlier the relief. But the sick man makes » terrible fuss. Why open the abscess, he whines, why not try a bread poultice or an onion poultice; why let the matter out and throw it on the fire, when if you leave it in- I Bide my hand it may spread and destroy the tendons of my fingers and give me ? withered hand? The tendency of the surgeon is to lose patience with human folly; in twenty years the surgeon hi, seen exactly one hundred cases of poisoned hands leaving life-lone defects behind; he has seen thirteen people die from blood-poisoning, he has seen ni-tic arms removed for poisoning. And when he brings his knowledge and experience to the case in hand, all the patient can say is, "Oh, I do hate the knife." So do I hate the knife, but I hate- writing death certificates more. • o ACTING IN TIME. The attempt of the patient to keep away from the doctor as long as he can in order to avoid having an abscess lanced is foolish and cowardly. He is the sort of man who; if his house was on fire, would implore the firemen not to attack the fire at once, but to tome back to-morrow and see how the fere- is o-etting on. The fireman will say: "The lire1 has only started now, and I could put it out with a hose; if you ivait until to- morrow the tire will have spread and burnt more of your furniture and belongings." Of course the man would reply: "Oh, I do hate t he hose." If you are a rich uncle you can hug your abscess until it kills you; everyone viil be very well pleased. But if you are a man or a woman with litUe lives dependent on you, it is a crime not to seek advice early when you have an abscess. DON'T WORRY! Many of mv patients are made worse and their recovery delayed because they are worried about finaiLCcs. They require all l heir strength and courage to tight the disease; mental worry on top of the physi- cal complaint plays havoc with the patient's. resources and doubles the doctor's anxiety. it is useless to say "Don't worry." Many of 1 hern are very thoughtless and improvident in neglecting to join a club or friendly scie?y, which would help them in time of sickness, A poor man with a family may i be compelled to return to work before he is really well, and a fiirthet, breakdown may ba the result. If something is comkig from i he club he can afford to stay a.t home for another week to convalesce. Be sure you jaoose your club wisely, and so save worry and shorten your illness.

I Rvo OYAL "IGINEMAY TONYPANDY THE HOMB OE SHRIAM.———————" Monday, Dec. 2MI, and during tke week. MONDAY. TUUDIT WZDNSBDJLT. Jeøe L. Lasky presents the facinating star star Ethel Clayton as THE MYSTERY GIRL. A magnificient five reel production, which you will enjoy. BLMO THB MIGHTY. featuring A* wwupm streagest man, Mae Lincoln. I il3i> Episode 2 of the masterpiece serial- THE FOUR SHADOWS. Featuring the world-renowned Fantomas. f Also a screaming Winkle coniedy.IMS THVBSDAT, FRIDAY A fliTUBBil. The Triangle Film Ce. presents the famous stars Gloria SwnaRon aud J. Barney Skeny in THB SECRET CODE. ? An aMorbinr Md btniin? 'P1 drama!. An absorbing and Italffing spj;-drerae. :j?tlte'. ten<Mt?en&I xen<? of adventwo- I -JV.v *■ —*• 1HB LIGHTNING EAlDflB, featuring Miag Pout White. that fllMua Mt«rtaiaa«ti an not lvx* riM, ibey 8ft Mtioul mmmMm isd lkwp III jwhtrin tiu MMtel beam of tk* oraa try, irhitfc fit tIN 6 am" is st HM 1' Workmen sitall,Ton Pentre 6-30 TWICE NIGHTLY 8-30 Monday, Dec, 20th, and during the week. MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, William Fox presents r- SWAT THE SPY. R featuring Jane and Katharine Lee.. Smiling BiH Parsons in a two part Capitol Comedy, THE SILENT MTSTERP. Episode 13-Tricked Yon Rerg's gang and captured Betty—she is placed in Princess Kail's room, and gas is pumped into the room to suffocate her-she is again saved. PATHETB GAZETTE. ORHURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, William Fox presents the great Theda Bara in UNDER THE YOKE. STINGAREE. No. 13, at the Sign of the Karaboo, at the hotel Stingaree is forced to hide uuder some blankets when the police arrive on the scene, Gaumont presents Bobby Vernon and Dorothy Dane in HERE COMES THE GROOM. Please Notice the Alteration of Prices: Pit 6d; Balcony 9d. Half-price: Pit 3d; Balcony 5d. Inclusive Government Enter. taiament Tax.

Empire, Tonypandy. I The Popular Services at the Em- pire, Tonypandy, continue to draw enormous crowds. On Sunday even- ing last, December 21st, the building was taxed to its utmost capacity and still there were large numbers who could not gain admission. The service, commenced with the singing of "While Shepherds watch- ed their flocks by night," and judg- ing from the tone and volume of song the audience seemed to have imbibed the true spirit of Christmas. After a short prayer and the singing of "Eternal Father strong to save," the Rev. W. Kitching substituted for the Lesson, a story of intense in- terest which held the listeners spell- bound. There was profound silence as the speaker proceeded and it was clear that those present were con- scious of an appeal to all that was Doblest and highest in their beings. Mrs. Israel gave a rendering of "Lead KinHly Light" with such re- markable power that the audience demanded an encore. After the collection, Mr. Davies sang "Friend of Mine," an item that was deeply appreciated. The Rev. W. Kitching's address on "The Great Birth Day" will long be remembered not only for the mas- terly way in which it was delivered, but also for its simplicity and re- markable moral and spiritual value. Mr Kitching dealt with the indebted- ness of the world to Christ, and the civilising effect of the spreading of His Kingdom. The power of Christ, said the rev. gentleman, was not a myth or a fairy, but was something which worked mightily in the lives of His followers, and men like James Russell Lowell acknowledged the reality of the Christ. "Christ is not against the pleasures tkat are not against you," said the speaker. This sentence contains a profound truth, and if the congrega- tion remembered nothing but these words last Sunday's service would be of inestimable value. The service ended with the singing of "It came upon the midnight clear" and the pronouncisg of the Benediction. The Rev. W. Kitching does not hfesitate to visit public houses and have a heart-to-heart talk with men concerning their attitude towards the Christ. Men who are seemingly too hardened by sin to have any spark of goodness left in them, have ex- pressed to Mr Kitching a desire to live a better life. and these men can only live this life with the aid of those who profess to follow and serve the Saviour. "What is needed is not correctness of creed but an expression of kindness and goodwill towards our fellow man," said Mr Kitching in an interview. "Criticisms and unkindness and spite among church i i n li? members have driven manv a man into the public house, and I have met manv men, during my Saturday nigTit visits to public houses, who ought never to have left the church ii a little more kindness had bean shown towards them." It would be interesting to give an account of his various types of men whom Mr. Kitching has met during his visits. This is the kind of work which after all is of real value, and men like Mr Kitching and Mr Meadowcroft should be supported by all who are anxious to see the extension of Christ's Kingdom.

I TOFFEE AND PROFITS. Manj are the fortunes that have bees made In aweet-makingr. In the early ctagm of aweet-making, the old "hardbako." or treacle toffee, was the only luxury on wfetch the children could spend their pennies, but many fortunes have since been made by in- ventions or improvements upon this humble reoipe. A simple addition to an already well- known formula, which, judging by ita popu- larity, must have made several fortunes, produced the American sweet known as "Oandy Creams." The fact that no cream entcrea into their composition did not affect the name. They looked and tasted creamy, so the public were satisfied The charm of this sweetmeat waa due to an invention in toffee making; the addition of honey and maple sugar to the usual ingredients, which produced a novelty in the way of flavours. The mixture whilst hot was pulled by machines electrically driven, until it as- sumed a creamy tint. Then it passed through another machine, which pressed the plastic toffee into the bullet-sheped "creams." Chocolate in its early stages was a far from luxurious sweet. It was composed of ooooa. and sugar, and being sold in very large bars for one penny, at onoe become popular. This was almost simultaneo; »ly improved by firms who conceived the idea of adding milk to the existing formula. The result was the confection now generally known as "milk chocolate." After the big penny bar of ordinary chocolate, the penny milk bar seemed absurdly small and thin; but the flavour caught on.

WATER THAT TALKS. I Most of us have heard of "Minetata," the Indian equivalent to "Laughing Water," but few, one thinks, are acquainted with "Katie," which is one of the most wonder- ful inventions of recent origin. It is said that it will prove most valuable to sea captains, inasmuch tha-t it makes water talk. "Katie," is an automatic float, with a sen- sitive depth-finding mechanism connected telephonically, and is placed on the surface of the water. Anolher delicate instrument rests on the bettom, with a wire connection. When an engineer wants to know the depth of water at a particular spot he rings up "Katie on the 'phone, and she tells him the exact depth. She speaks in soft, jerky buzzes in the manner of the Morse code, and when she geLs out of her depth she stutters. If the current is too strong she becomes speechles. Another wonderful invention is the float- ins ship's "afe. This automatically casts it- seli adrift from a sinking ship, and will send up a distress signal every hour for 12 hours, a sound signal is given, and u light at mgnt will burn for three months.