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------THE CENTRAL WELSH EDUCATION…
THE CENTRAL WELSH EDUCATION BOAKD. ^BE sooner Wales realizes that the Central -^°ard is utterly and completely wrong the bptter it will be for intermediate edUcation. The Carmarthenshire Governing y have had to deal with a claim of | ^or ^)e examination of the | 8c"ools, This charge i3 made in accord- i &nce with a system that offers a premium I> tj the manufacture of examination Papers. Some time ago Cardigan-1 lre was helpless in a similar case, We are not at liberty to use language I t, r, that would in our estimation adequately ^scribe that body, but Wales is awakening to e stupidity of the officials, and the charge t v a§ainsfc Carmarthenshire will help o bring all Wales into line with a view Putting an end to what is already jjRite intolerable. The way papers have ^en Ret and the charges made in Gonse- H ence have practically resulted in a financial tim w^ich may be ignored for the ab G W1^ sooner or later bring n one^ reorgan'zation. We will give v e ,Case just to show what sort of Boa (TneSS Cxi8tS at the Central Welsh | exnp • ^ne examiners, an man in hia 8uhJect and a gentle- offpr I °? great educalional experience, by letter to send in a Cent statement to this precious through any channel that expe • indicated to him, based on his P°intlei\Ce *n teaching and examining, of improvJn ^i-°h the PaPera mighfc be have -j • examiner, who as we great 8 is an expe>t and a man of the fr.tiC^>e.r'ence' received a letter of which following ;a a co Central Welsh Board, Os westi-y. DEAR SIR, November 23rd, 1S97. Re the proposed report upon papers set. I 3-m not avrarp r\f peivicg such a report Provision for re- ln your letter. Vou crjntemplate Believe me, dear sir, Yours faithfully, I RPI PERCY E. WATKINS. i ne examination« • Clerk. 8a«sfacto me in many ways un- ?ake SURgesliol e.xam'"er offered co l0Meg0in8 letter shows V?proveme,nt. The 1 6uSgest:on his valu- L observed that he Ic wil1 be was not even thanked for it. Anybody would naturally think that an offer to make suggestions for the improve- ment of the examinations by an expert examiner would have been thankfully re- ceived with alacrity, but the central Board, bless it, did not know of any provision for receiving a report of this kind! After all, is it intermediate education that Wales requires, or ib 111, as this letter would indicate, the most rudi- mentary forms of elementary education The time has come when the people who believe in more than a hundred intermedi- ate schools for Wales should at any rate see that the whole thing is not brought into ridicule by unfitness and the sort of crttssness that would not be expected even from the pretentious academy" or "seminary" of the old days. We have never been in favour of the Welsh inter- mediate education system, and it seems that our judgment is going to be vindi- cated in ways we little expected and to an extent that means disaster to the whole L system. It is to be hoped that Carmar- thenshire will not be left to protest alonf. The examination paper story is one that ought to be told in full. If nobody else will tell it we will tell it and it is not a nice stcry either, or one that reflects credit 1 upon those who are responsible. Wales has had about enough of the Central Board, and the sooner the fact is made clear the better,
OF INTEREST TO WOMEN.
OF INTEREST TO WOMEN. (No. 3.) (The former articles appeared on February ISth and April 8th.) WE desire above all things in dealing with this important subject to treat Mrs JACOB BRIGHT with the respect due to one who has given her life to the promotion of the higher interests of women. At the same time, it is necessary to deal quite plainly with the great issues which have been raised, and we will not shirk those issues in order to save ourselves, or her, or any- body else from pain. What can the pain of any individual weigh in the balance against the age-old suffering of women from ancient times till now? We contend that women have always possessed and have always availed themselves of the al- ternative of legal or non-legal prostitution to avoid face-to-face and hand-to-hand con- flict with death, and with those ills of life that obviously and directly lead to death. This contention is strongly objected to by Mrs BRIGHT who, it seems to UP, utterly misses the point of our position. She says The very fact of their (women) being willing to accept such iriserable wiges as they get for many of these "'dangerous' trades shows how much they, "hate the alternative which they are sup- posed, in the gross imagination of this article, to prefer." Do women hate legal marriage1? In the foregoing ex- tract, and it seems to us all through her letters, Mrs BRIGHT altogether fails to see what we thought was perfectly obvioup, that the alternative which we say women possess and. have availed. themselves of is legal prostitution—marriage—as well as non- legal prostitution which the legal prosti- tutes loftily look down upon with so much pity and so much scorn. Mrs BRIGHT would surely not venture to say that women are generally willing to accept miserable wages for dangerous employ- ments and to face the roughness of life rather ohan enter into legal marriage in order to secure maintenance? No, what she does say is that marriages for con- venience—for maintenanoe-differ in some way we fail to understand from other forms of prostitution. We are well aware that women shrink from the shame and degradation which women have forced upon those of their sex who have from any cause ben driven into the lowest forms of the ancient, business which, in all its forms, we contend has had more to do with the deterioration of women than they will admit. Is not Mrs BRIGHT as well aware as we are that women in legal marriage enter into life- long physical relations with men without love, without respect, and for no other reason than to obtain maintenance 1 What are these women! These are the vilest sort of prostitutes. They drag Z!1 down the relations of the sexes into shamefalness that is indescribable. They convert wifehood into slavery and motherhood into visible emblems of disgust. We hold no brief for the defence of men. They are to blame in all sorts of ways, but they pay for their wrong in terrible suffering. What is of interest to us in this article is the belief of Mrs BRIGHT that business marriages on the part of women do not entail what is an equivalent to prostitution in so far as they entail the bartering away of the body for material considerations. Mrs BRIGHT and other women who have attempted to deal with questions affecting their political and economic freedom have blamed men for oppressing women and have presumed, we think, most erroneously, that there is no other base for the subjection of women than the tyranny of men. n They themselves are largely to blame -if there is blame at all- for the unsatisfactory position which they hold. According to Mrs BRIGHT, men keep women in thraldom men make laws against them men drive them out of lucrative businesses; men use them for pleasure men drive them to prosti- tution men refuse them the rights of citizenship) men force them to live in unhealthy dwellings. In short, men are the masters and tyrants and superiors of women, and they have nothing to expect except from the mercy and clemency and generosity of men. We do not believe in this pcpular view of women. We have never believed in it. if Mrs BRIGHT believes that women are so made as to be unable to contend with men in the lifs struggle, then it is high time that she and those who agree with her should openly say so and should tinally abandon women to be the creatures—it may be the pets or it may be the drudges—of men. We contend that women are com- petent to claim and to enforce just treatment trom men. We assert that they are the equivalents of men, and that where men have the advantage on one side women have it on the other, and that when the balance is struck it is equal. If women were to declare henceforth that they would not enter into marriage, legal or non-legal, except on certain terms they could obtain their terms. It is for women to say on what terms they will accept motherhood, and if the grand function of motherhood is degraded-and we agree that it is degraded—then it is women and not men who have in the main degraded it. Women have taken into the market places of the world their mysterious faculties and powers and have bartered them for material comfort. The results of the barter have been utter degradation and humiliation. We do not care whether the bargains are ratified in churches by priests, or in drinking bars by lascivious men and shameless women, they are equally bargains that entail prostitution, and to us the Church bargains are the more degrading of the two. We do not believe that women will ever obtain justice by the grace of men. However much men may improve, and there is pbnty of room for improvement, men will never force legis- litive, or judicial, or commercial functions upon women. Even if men were willing that women should enter into depart- ments ot life which they did not them- selves seek to enter, no progress would be made. Life has not reached its ultimate points of development on any side, perhaps, and unless women themselves strive to take higher place, men will always believe that they are only fitted by nature for the lower place. It is not a question of men's justice or injustice, therefore, but of women's determination, in the face of death and disaster, to stand by the aide of men as their equivalents. We do not believe either in the mental or physical inferiority of women, but they have allowed themselves to be pushed into degradation in order to save their lives and the lives of their children, and because their children have been a cause of loss and sorrow and humiliation they have unwisely repudiated maternity and have scorned and decried their womanhood. The difficulty of getting women generally to see what they have to do to win freedom must long remain incalculably great seeing that even women like Mrs JACOB BRIGHT do not realizp, as far as we can judge, where the real causes of their subjection lie. The plain truth is that women, with comparatively rare exceptions, are willing, nay, eager, to accept, legal marriage in order to escape from the hard- ships of life. Our contention, and we do not shrink from it, is that marriages of this kind are only a kind of legal prostitution not far removed from the so-called State-regulated "vice" which women so vehemently object to in the army.
LLANAFAN.
LLANAFAN. FUNERAL.—The funeral of the late Mr Evan Edwards, excise officer, London, brother of Mr Richard Edwards, Glanrhos, Llanfarian, who died suddenly at London on March 30th, took place at Llanafan Churchyard on April 6th. Deceased was aged sixty-three. The remains were brought by train from Euston to Aberystwyth and thenee by hearse for a distance of ten miles to Llanafan Churchyard. There was a large attendance of friends aud relatives.
ABEKAYKON.
ABEKAYKON. APRIL FAIR.—There was a large attendauce of buyers and sellers at this fair, but brisker business has been seen. The finest beast on the ground was a cow reared by Mrs Hannah Evans, Ffynonddewi, Henfynyw. which was sold for sixteen guineas. EASTER.—The usual services were held at Trinity Church on Good Friday. There were no other public assemblies. On Easter Monday, eight Church Sunday schools gathered together at Trinity Church. The catechising was of the order which was greatly in vogue and which is now speedily decaying in the Nonconformist com- munities. The choral singing was energetic. The apse of the Church has been removed to make room for a handsome chancel. THE AERON C.C. Divisio-.T.-A vacancy oc- curred in the representation of the above district in the County Council by the elevation of Mr John M. Howell to an aldermamc chair. At a meeting held at Tanybryn Chapel, it was resolved by the Liberals of the district to offer the seat, for the time being, as a Liberal seat. to Major Pryse Lewes in a spirit of magnanimity and of a recognition of the minority. A deputation was appointed to wait on Major Lewes. Major Lewes grateful:y accepted the offer as a graceful compliment. Sub- sequently the Major was allowed a walk-over.
PORTMADOC.
PORTMADOC. TREMADOC FAIR.—This fair, which is the largest of the year, was held on Wednesday, but was the smallest which can be remembered. Only a few cattle changed hands. Of the horses brought to the fair only one was sold. THE EASTER HOLIDAYS.—The weather on Good Friday held out hopes that the Easter holiday would be one of exceptional brightness. With grand sunshine and a slight breeze the weather was all that could be desired. Saturday and Sunday. however, were cloudy and colder and on Monday rain fell with perseverance worthy of a better cause. Large numbers of people left the town for the day, but all returned with the same story of melancholy disappointment at the weather. The churches of Portmadoc and Tremadoc were prettily decorated, and the afternoon service at St. John's church was fully choral and very effective. SUDDEN DEATH.—A young boy, fifteen years of agf, Johnnie Jones, the son of Capttin Jones, Netherton House, High-street, fell dead in the street. It seems that he was walking from the direction of the Railway Station, and was near the Ambrose Memorial Cbapcd, when he fell. He was seen by Mr Morris Evans, signal box, and Mr Richard Humphreys, who immediately hurried to the spot. A messenger was at once despatched for a doctor, but life was extinct before he could reach the place. Deceased suffered fr. m heart disease and had been under Dr Griffith's bauds. General SyMpAthy is felt with the stricken family.—At the inquest on Wednesday -reek, before Dr Hunter Hughea, Mr Ebenezer Roherts being foreman of the jury, a verdict was found to the effect that death was due to disease of the heart. CRICKET CLUB.—On Wednesday evening the annual general meeting of this Club was held at the rooms of Mr G. J. Barnard, that gentleman occupying the chair. The treasurer, Mr Davin Morris, read the report and balance sheet for the past year which showed that the affairs of the Club were in a satisfactory sttte. The following were elected the officers for the ensuing year President, Mr G. J. Barnard; captain, Mr David Breese; sub-captain, Mr L. FMden treasurer, Mr David Morris secretary, Mr I. Wynne Parry, and a working committee of srvl n. It was announced that eight matches had already been arranged for the ensuing session and the S- cretary was in- structed to arrange fixtures for the remaining dates with a view to a programme being printed as early as possibly. Play is to commence on the 30th April.
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IREGARON.
IREGARON. A POPULAP.APPOINTMENT.-TregaronC.M.Charch for the first time has elected Mra Elizabeth Wil- liams, Brenig View, to be one of the two school superintendents for the ensuing year. The ap- pointment is a very popular one. Mrs Williams commenced duties last Sunday in conjunction with her fellow superintendent, Mr T. Jones, Post Office. Office.
ICORWEN
CORWEN EASTER MONDAY MEETINGS. -The annual literary meetings in connection with the Welsh Congrega- tional Church and held on Monday at the Assembly Rooms were in every way a decided success. The attendance at the afternoon meeting was large. In the evening hundreds had to be turned away from the doors, not even standing space being available. The afternoon meeting was presided over by Mr R. R. Roberts, The Terrace, Corwen, and the evening meeting by Mr L. J. Davies, Post Office, Llanuwchllyn. Mr Thomas Hughes, Gwyddelwern, ably discharged the duties of con- ductor for both meetings The music was adjudi- cated by Mr G. W. Hughes, G.T.S.C., Cefnmawr, and Miss Humphreys, Corwen, acted as accom- panist. The subjects were very numerous and although the prizes were small they were eagerly competed for. The principal attraction, however, was the chief choral competition, the test piece being "0, Deuwch i'r Dyfroedd (Tom Price), for a prize of f4 and an oak carved chair for the con- ductor. The following choirs competed (1) Cor- wen Choir, conducted br Mr J. Davies Hnches (2) Llandrillo Choir, conducted by Mr John Evans, Llechwedd (3) Cynwyd Choir, conducted by Mr E. Williams, schoolmaster; (4) Gwyddelwern Choir, conducted by Mr E. Hannam, and (5) G!yn- dyfrdwy Choir, conducted by Mr W. C. Williams. All the choirs went through the piece remarkably well, the competition being very keen, and the prize was awarded, amidst hearty cheers, to the Cynwyd Choir. The ceremony of chairing the successful conductor was thoroughly enjoyed by the large congregation. At the close, a vote ot thanks was accorded all who had in any way helped to make the annual meeting a success.
CHARGES OF LARCENIES AT ABERYSTWYTH.
CHARGES OF LARCENIES AT ABERYSTWYTH. ALLEGED THEFT OF WATCHES.—At the B rou,h Police Court on Monday morning before Thomas Griffiths a»jd John Lewis, Esqrs., Robert Hum- phreys, S James' square, Aberystwyth, labourer, was charged byW. R Jones, Great Darkgate-street, watchmaker, with having obtained under false pre- tences five watches, valued at LIO, from prosecutor on April 5th. Accused was arretted at Llanelly by the Llanelly polics on Thursday and was brought to Aberystwyth on Sa'urday evening. Hundreds of people had congregated at the Station, and on his way to the Police Station accused was continually hooted.-P.S. Phillips said on Satur- day evening when accused was brought to the lock-up he said It was Mr Jones, the watch- maker's fault. He gave me the watches when I was under the influence of drink."—Superintendent Phillips then applied for the remand of prisoner to Friday for the production of witnesses.—Accused was remanded in custody until Friday as applied for. ALLEGED THEFT OF A PURSE.—At the Borough Police Court on Monday morning, before Thomas Griffiths and John Lewis, Esqrs.. a pedlar named Jane Regan of Leeds was charged by David Jones, Penparkau, Aberystwyth, labourer, with having stolen a purse containing;El 12s from his person on April 9th.—David Jones said on Saturday last he went to the Three Horse Shoes Inn, Aberystwyth, bhtween six and seven in the evening. He went into the bar parlour at the back of the house. He sat down and asked for a glass of beer. The accused was in the room when he entered. He sat by the fire and the accused sat on the opposite side of the room. She asked him to buy a pair of laces to enable her to pay for her lodging and he got up from where he was sitting and went to examine the laces. He bought one pair at a penny. Whilst still standing and examining the other laces, accused put her hand into his left trouser's pocket. He thereupon pushed her away from him and sat down in the same place as before. Some time later put his hand into his pocket aad immediately in- formed the accused that he had lost his purse of money. He was certain that he had his purse in his pocket when he entered the room. He charged accused with having stolen the purse and walked towards her with the intention of examiniog her pocket, but she put up her fiots and he did not do o. Accused then left the house and he followed her. He again attempted to take hold of her, but she prevented him doing so. Whilst talking to Mr Hopkins, the innkeeper, about the matter, the accused ran away and he lost sight of her. He then gave information to the police. He identified the purse produced as his property.—Accused said she was quite innocent of the charge.—Owing to the illness of a witness, accused was remanded in custody until Wednesday.—At the Petty Sessions on Wednesday accused cross-examined prosecutor at length, and in reply to questions, prosecutor said when he felt accused's hands in his pocket he did not believe she had had sufficient time to take the purse. On examination, however, he found the purse was gone.—A medical certificate was received from Dr Rowlands in regard to Mary Thomas, a witness for the prosecution, who, he certified, was in an unfit state to leave her room.—P.S. Phillips stated, in answer to the Bench, that Mary Thomas was a servant girl at Three Horse Shoes Ina, who would give evidence as to finding the purse pro- duced under a chair in one of the rooms of the Three Horse Shoes. The purpe was devoid of money except a half-farthing piece.—Prosecutor I have had that piece in the purse for many years.-P.S. Phillips afterward gave evidence and said that on Saturday evening prosecutor came to him and said a woman had stolen his purse containing £1 12s. He found the accused in one ot the houes in Penglaise-road, and in reply to his enquiries as to whether she had had a dispute with a man at Three Horse Sho -s Iun, she said Yes, but I don't know what he m'-ant." He asked her to produce the money she had in her pocket and she brought out 6d, remarking that that was all she had. There was a man in the room who, he understood, was her husband. He obtained permission to scarch him and found Is 2d in copper on h:s person. Sub- sequently, at his (witne;s's) request, the eight- year-old son of defendant went in quest of his eister. Hardly had he left the house than witness heard the tinkling of money on the pavement. Witness went out and found in possession of the little boy a purse containing 2s 5d, whilst he found 4s on tl a pavement. Accused was then brought to the Police Station at her own request to be examined. She was searched, but no money was found on her, and she protested her innocbuce throughout.— Accused said she was subject to fits and as a result she let the children take charge of her money. The money found in possession of her son was her own money.—P.S. Phillips said in justice to accused he must say that she was subject to fits, as she had a fit on the previous day in the cell.-The, Bench dis- missed the case.
THE WAR IN THE SOUDAN.
THE WAR IN THE SOUDAN. A battle was fought in the Soudan on Good Friday. The British and Egyptian forces marched out of camp at six o'clock on Thursday night and, having proceeded in the direction of Mahmud's en- trenched position, bivouacked until one on Friday morning. The attack began at dawn, the main fighting being undertaken by General Gatacre's British and General Macdonald and General Max- well's Soudanese Brigades. The enemy made no response to the artillery, but when the cannonade ceased and the infantry advanced to attack the zariba, they opened a sustained rifle-fire. In an in- credibly short space of time thezariba was torn down and a stockade backed by entrenchments stormed. The British and Egyptian troops drove their way through the Dervish camp, and those who were not killed were scattered across the river and into the Southern Desert. The Dervish force was prac- tically destroyed. Four thousand prisoners were taken, including Mahmud, who was found hiding beneath some litter. Osman Digna escaped, but all the important Dervish emirs are among the dead. Congratulatory telegrams upon the British victory have been received by the Sirdar from the Queen, from Mr Balfour, on behalf of the British Government, and from the Khedive. These were rea 1 to the troops on Sunday morning amid a scene of great enthut-iasm.
'( Earrtsponbtttrt.
( Earrtsponbtttrt. COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTION. AERON DIVISION. SIR,-On the 7th April Major Price Lewes, Tyglyn Aeron, a staunch Conservative, was re- turned to represent the Liberal parishes of Hen- fynyw.Llanerchayron, Ciliaa Aeron, and Llanddewi Abcrarth on the Cardiganshire County Council, Captain Lloyd, Crossway, Ffosyffin, an old Liberal warrior, having for special reasons-personaland public—withdrawn his candidature. Early in March a meeting WS8 held at Llan- ddewi Aberarth to select a candidate. The only business done was to ask a certain individual to convene a meeting at Tanyhryn C.M. Chapel and to issue invitations to all Liberals. Would you, air, believe that the Liberals of Renfvnyw were completely ignored ? The meeting was held, but nothing definitely was settled. The Major's name and the names of two other persons (one a Tory and the other doubtful) were put before the meeting, but the Liberals present were not yet ready to swallow the Tory dose and their convictions. But time works wonders. The two persons to whom allusion has been made promised to retire in favour of the Major. People began to find out what a good man the Major was what he had done for the town in the past and what he would do in the future, and that he would interest himself in the ra.ilway proposed to be constructed between Aber- ystwyth and Aberayron. But it came to pass that when all this became known to Henfynyw, it was announced that in the absence of a Liberal candidate, Captain Lloyd would be nominated. Be was duly nominated, but not before the whilom Liberals of Aberayron, with their meddling, had had the Major's paper filled and handed to the Returning Officer. It is not an easy matter to get the Captain's back up, but he was thoroughly roused'upon this occasion, and I almost believe it will be long before he becomes himself again. But to his honour be it said that fearing a split in the Liberal party (such as it is) he at the last minute withdrew. Having given you, sir, and, by the aid of your paper the country at large, a brief and true version of how the parishes (Llanddewi, so ably represented by that true Liberal John Morgan Howell for nine years, excepteel) have wedded the Conservative Major, will now conclude by hoping we may be glad of our member and Major Pryce Lewes will be good to the town." Protesting against and disclaiming any share in cr sympathy with the election of Major Pryce Lewes, I am, etc., ELECTOR. OF INTEREST TO WOMEN. Si-R,-To my way of thinking, it would have been better to have aldressed your leaders to men. They are told that since the dim days of antiquity masculine nature has striven to free itselt by laborious toil and the ready acceptance of danger, while women have always preferred a life of ease and prostitution. Mr Gibson carefully refrains from showing the use men have always made of their superior strength in forcing wemen to submit to them, ncr does he point out that until a high state of civilization is reached, men compel the females to become wives long before they are fitted to take such duties upon themselves. Reverse the situation for a hundred years only and during that period compel boys of fourteen to marry with women more than double their years and the con- dition of the sexes will be altered. Dominion gives strength. Perhaps you will say that men never would sub- mit, but I beg to differ. Men have submitted not for years, but for generations. Leaviog out of mind the nations reduced to slavery by adverse wars, in how many countries and for how many years have men submitted to laws which made them slaves for inability to pay their debts? How is it that serfs existed till late in English history? In the first place, their party was physically weaker than that of their conquerors who made haste to rob them of their possessions and place them under special stringent laws before they had strength to rally their strength. Much the same thing has taken place with women. Savage nations are almost invariably selfish and lazy and the women being weaker collectively are therefore compelled by sheer physical force to take a subordinate position. As civilisation advances, the men are jealous to find the women whom they despised exhibiting traits of character which they had thought peculiarly masculine and thtrcfore hedged them round with laws and customs. Women have submitted in the past to men for exactly the same reason that men have done them selves, first through force of arms and afterwards to lack of privilege. When all money is confiscated and education rigidly denied, men or women, even though they may desire freedom, cannot compass it. They may know their wrongs, but till they obtain money to furnish weapons and education sufficient to overcome the superstition of the ignorant, they cannot make war. To say that women marry now-a-days for a living is untrue. My experience is almost entirely among the working middle classes, who would consider themselves insulted at such an unfounded charge. Here husband and wife are good comrades" taking their pleasure together, their Jove based upon that firmest of all foundations—mutual respect. He knows that she has always earned her liviug and can do it again if necessary and she knows very well he gains nothing by marriage except herself. Women of this class are far too keen witted to enter upon marriage merely for subsistence as the pay for acting as mis- tress, mother, and housekeeper (consisting as it generally does of board and lodgings) contrasts un- favourably with her chance of earning a living. I venture to say, however, that in refusing this easier way at the time when work is scarce, women do what many men would not consider necessary. Worticii have their sexual passions more under control and do not tempt men in this manner, but men prostiaite their morals quite as often as women do their bodies. Even prostitutes do not always sin for a living in the first instance. How many are there deceived by men under solemn promise of marriage and how many ars brought up to it from babyhood ? Women are getting stronger industrially they have thrown or are throwing off the paralysing religious doctrines imposed upon them for many years. History always shows women as living lives of greater purity and endeavour than men, and if permitted tne privilege of fighting men monuly and intellectually without laws which per- mit ttie stronger to punish the weaker, future generations will hear less of sex problems than we of this have atiswere(i. -Yours truly, B. H. B. [The article was written for all, but was headed "Of Interest to Women." Are women weaker than men? If so, then it is no use coptcnding that they are men's equals or equivalents. "B.H.B." does not deal with the subject in hand. The question is not what some men do or some women, but whether women have possessed and do possess an alternative that saves them from extreme conflict with men and with nature for the means of subsistence. We can agree with all that "B.H.B." says and still it might be true that women as a sex have in times. past evaded the direst consequences of conflict for means of subsistence—ED. C.N.] EQUAL OPPORTUNITY. SIR,-I have been reading a Socialist paper and it pokes a good deal ot fun at the idea that there are equal opportunities for all." But the more I observe the ups and downs of life, the more I be- lieve opportunities are far more equal than Socialists are willing to admit. That some men rise and others do not is plain enough, but the cause is not, as a rule, want of opportunity. Look at a hen with half-a-dozen chicks. She gives them all equal opportunities to snap what she scratches up. But the sharp chicks get the biggest share simply and solely because they seize opportunities which are open to all and the others don't. r I believe there was once a plough bry in Scot- land who earned his livelihood by work, but at night he got some teaching from a schoolmaster in the district. Afterwards, he went to college on his own idea, tried theology with the intention of becoming a minister found that would not suit him then turned his attention to medicine and eventually became a distinguished doctor. That ploughboy had Dot a single opportunity that was not equally open to the other ploughboys, but he marched upwards and the others did not. There was no law, no social custom to keep the others down; they just did not take the trouble to scramble out of the rut they were in. Possibly the. pioughooy who became a doctor kept a trap and drove about in the exercise of his profession. Possibly he had a good house. Possibly the other ploughmen were envious, as they still plodded about in their muddy boots. Possibly they said, Truly there^13 one law for the rich and another for tne poor. But, as a matter of fact, no law kept them down. There is no law in England to keep any man down if he is determined to rise. \Vas not a weil known M.P. once an office boy and a ragc- ? Was not one of the great calliery proprietors once a working collier? Was not a celebrated traveller the inmate of a workhouse in hi" younger years ? But I need not multiply ex- amples. I believe opportunities are far more equal than Socialists wish to admit. And what is more, no man of British pluck would allow any one to say he had been kept down by anybody, or by any lav, or by any other social obstacle. He would regard it as an insult if anyone dared to suppose he was weak enough to g've in to anything. If there is to be blame, the wise man will blame himself (on the quiet to himself). He may indeed keenly regret missed opportunities or misappre- hended opportunities, but he will never eay the opportunities were not there. The genuine artist never blackguards his brushes. The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the p,ith. &c., No SURRENDER. j Aberystwyth, 11th April, 1898.
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cmectings, (Entertainment*, &c- ABERYSTWYTH. GRAND ASOIREE THIS WEEK AO be held ia the MARKET HALL on Friday, April 15th. An interesting programme including adies Choir, Toy Symphony, Bagpipes, &c. Re- reshments at intervals. Chair to be taken by an Evans, E-q., at 7 30 p.m., prompt. u237 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF WALES MUSICAL SOCIETY. THE ANNUAL CONCERT WILL BE HELD ON FRIDAY, APRIL 22nd, 1898, AT THE PIER PAVILION. MOZART'S TWELFTH MASS," MENDELSSOHN'S "HYMN OF PRAISE." i ARTISTES MADAME MEDORA HENSON MISS LILY MORGAN MISS LALLA PARRY, R.A.M. MR. GWILYM RICHARDS, R.A.M. 1R. R. C. JENKINS. CHORUS & ORCHESTRA (230 Performers). Doors open at 7-30. To commence at 8. Tickets—Reserved, 3s; Unreserved, 2s and Is, ^ay be obtained from members of the Choir, Misses Jenkins, North-parade Mr Edwards, and Mr W. enkins, Great Darkgate-street; Messrs Wheatley, lerrace-road, where a plan of the Pavilion may be seen and seats booked on and after April 14th. B. G. GRIFFITHS, l Hon. See D. J. THOMAS, j College. PORTMADOC. PORTMADOC IIORE, DOG, & POULTRY SHOW I MAY 14-th, 1 8 9 8, All particulars from R. G. HUMPHREYS, I Secretary, j P.S.-Entries close May 7th. "84 i TOWYN A LADDO A 0 IESU NA'D.GAM- LEflDIR. WAITH. EISTEDDFOD GADEIRIOL TOWYN. j TOWYN CHAIR EISTEDDFOD. THE ABOVE ANNUAL EISTEDDFOD I WILL BE HELD AT THE ASSEMBLY ROOMS, TOW^N, On FRIDA Y, APRIL 22nd, 1898. PftESIDENTS-E. W. KIRKBY, Esq., EDWARD HEES, Esq., J.P., M. ROBERTS, Esq., J.P. T^SICAL ADJUDICATOR—EMLYN EVANS, Esq. rTISTE—Miss FLORENCE THEODORE, • R.A.M., London. ACCOMPANIST—Miss MAY ROBERTS, Sen. Cert., >- R.A.M. TTARPL8T_MR I.LOYD ROBERTS. DUCTOR—C A L> VAN. TEE ANNUAL GORSEDD Will be opened on MORFA CADVAN FIELD 10 a.m. according to the Ancient Rites and Customs of the Bards of the Isle of Britain. CHAIRING OF THE SUCCESSFUL BARD. WELSH PENILLION SINGING COMPETI- TION. accompanied bv Harp. GRAND CHORAL AND BAND CONTESTS. On THURSDAY EVES RIO, APRIL 21st, A nPAXT) EVENING CONCERT "'ill be given by Mi.-s THEODORE, assisted by liIeveralLadifs and Gentlemen cf the Ne ghbourhood. Official Programmes, with full particulars, will issued in a few days and may be had of the Secretaries. A.ll information will bo given by the Secretaries. JOHN 1LAR DAVIES, Arfor-terrace, Towyn. JOHN LEWIS JONES, Athelstan-row, Towyn.
LIGFLR KAILWAYS AND LANDOWNERS.
LIGFLR KAILWAYS AND LANDOWNERS. IN reading the proceedings in reference to the proposed Rheidol Railway and the Aberayron extension, it is impossible not to be struck by the unreasonable and short-sighted policy of some land- owners. Their property would unques- tionably be increased in value by the proposed railways and it would pay them to give their land twice or thrice over in order to secure the existence of a railway, and yet they stand in the way and demand more than its agricultural value for their land to their own injury and loss. Forty years ago, when rail- ways were made by speculators, it was possible for landowners to demand a large price for land, but now when the only chances of obtaining a railway are that it will either pay interest on the outlay, or that it will be so great a local convenience that the capital is found by those who hope to benefit, landowners cannot obtain exorbitant prices for land. In regard to the two railways now under notice, they will not be proceeded with unless the necesssiry land can be procured at low rates, and it the landowners were only selfishly wise they would not only part with their land at reasonable rates, but they would, in addition, take shares in the undertakings. The nearer the railways run to any given point the more valuable the houses I anl land at and near that given point. A railway means increased possibility on the part of a district to bear population, and every increase in population tends to add something to the present value of land. Notwithstanding these quite elementary facts there are landowners on the route of the proposed railways who seem to think that it is wise on their part to extort, if possible, a fancy price for their land. They seem to say to themselves that if forty-nine people are willing to make sacrifices in order to obtain a common advantage, the fiftieth person may demand what is unreason- able and get it and also be made free of the common advantage. We admit that the selfish individual is able some- times to act in this way, but he is at best a contemptible creature, and it is not often that he will own up to his character. In reference to the Rheidol Railway and the Aberayron Extension, it is certain that unless the land is procurable on quite reasonable terms the railways will not be made, and it will be the landowners and nobody else who will suffer. Farmers, labourers, and others can go elsewhere and they do go elsewhere, but the landowners must stand by their land. They cannot remove. We may be asked why the promoters of these railways should be anxious to make them if landowners are the only people to be benefited. We do not say that landowners are the only people to be benefited. Capitalists are anxious to find profitable investments for their money, and if they can see even a sure three per cent. they are willing to make railways or anything else. Our point is that if local land- owners render it impossible to earn this minimum three per cent. then the capitalists turn away and do not make the railways, which would surely benefit landowners as well as other people in the district. This paper, for instance, would be benefited in some remote way if the facilities for reaching Aberayron and Devil's Bridge were improved, but we could not express that benefit in pounds, shillings, ard pence. Landowners I will be benefited, and if they get agri- cultural value for their land-the only value they get at present or have any chance of ever getting-then we say that in their own interests they ought to sell their land. what we want to point out with all the force we can command is that the making or marring of these railway schemes lies in the hands of the landowners. If they stand out for high prices for land and make routes difficult and easements onerous, then the railways will not be made and the duller sorts of landlords will have only themselves to blame when the chance of obtaining increased facilities of transport have been lost for their life- time. We are glad to see that some of the landowners b have acted wisely in their own best interests, but in this as in so many other cases one or two really crass individuals may make a scheme impossible which, if carried out, would be generally beneficial.
EDITORIAL NOTES.
EDITORIAL NOTES. The Calvinistic Methodists at Tregaron have appointed a woman in the person of Mrs ELIZA- BETH WILLIAMS, Brenig View, to be Sunday school superintendent for the coming year. The appointment is a popular one. There are many offices that women could fill as efficiently as men. We think Tregaron Board of Guardians would be distinctly improved by the presence of women. If the streets of Machynlleth were fairly clean and free from obstructions, something might be said in favour of not lighting the public lamps, but when pedestrians are liable to walk knee- deep in liquid mud and knock up against boxes and other obstructions warehoused in the streets by tradesmen, absence of light is a very serious matter, especially when, as Mr HENRY LEWIS said, "it was so dark that one could not see his hand." The SURVEYOR said he had followed the usual custom of not lighting lamps at this time of the year. Law and order take a back seat at Machynlleth while custom rules the way. At a meeting of the Finance Committee of Aberystwyth Council held on Tuesday afternoon, attention was called to the fact that though Plas I Crug House had been let with the express stipulation that no hoardings were to be allowed thereon, the hoardings were still up and the advertisements had recently been renewed. The SURVEYOR was directed to serve the tenant with a notice requiring immediate compliance with the terms of the letting. Alderman PETF.R JONES thought the SURVEYOR should give notice in such cases without waiting for special instruc- tions. He did not care to relieve the SURVEYOR "from the responsibility of seeing to such things." The CHAIRMAN "supposed the SURVEYOR was not aware that the conditions had not been "complied with," but Alderman PETER JONES said 11 he ought to take a walk in that direction sometimes." The CHAIRMAN replied. 11 Lhat the "SURVEYOR had to take many walks in other "directions." We hope Mr REES JONES, the surveyor, will profit by Mr PETER JONES'S re- marks. They were no doubt a bit of a revelation to the SURVEYOR, teeing whence he has taken many of his orders in the past. The fact is being made more and more clear that the offices of surveyor and inspector should be divided, in order that detail work may be carried out. « • The ratepayers of Dyffryn in Merioneth last week elected two members on the Rural Dis- trict Council who were opposed to providing the village with an adequate supply of pure water. At a meeting of Dolgelley Rural District Council held on Tuesday, Dr LLOYD, medical officer fcr the Llanaber district, in reference to this matter, reported as follows For five years since 1893 "he had reported the bad and ecauty supply of "water at Dyffryn. There was drought then "and the people of the village suffered consider- ably. He and Mr WILLIAM JONES, the in- "spector, specially reported pointing out the "necessity of a fresh supply. They also took "the evidence of several of the inhabitants in November, 1893, who said they had to go about "half a mile for water fit to drink. Most of the wells failed altogether and the others had a very "scanty supply. In the face of all these reports "nothing had been done to obtain a fresh supply "of water. He was afraid unless some outside pressure was brought to bear on that question the Parish Council would not move. They "stcod in their own light and their action must "ultimately do injury to the place. The Maid- stone epidemic of typhoid fever would long remain in the memory of all; and those in search of health would avoid places which had "not a good water supply." What is to be said for people who prefer to perpetuate this sort of thing than pay a few shilling in rates ? One thing is certain. Dyffryn must have the work of providing a water supply done for it by the District Council without further delay. At Aberystwyth Board of Guardians held last Monday, the fact transpired in the course of a discussion which took place with reference to the proposed appointment of an industrial trainer, that there were thirteen children in the House who were looked after by an imbecile. Nobody seemed very shocked that this was so, and in the end it was decided to re-consider the matter in a month. That young children should be tenied by and made to associate with im- beciles is almost tco horrible to contemplate. Comparatively few men elected on boards of guardians ever give the responsible duties which they take upon themselves a thought. It has taken Aberystwyth Board of Guardians over two years to adopt a scheme and board out two children. We ask the ratepayers to read the re- port pertaining to the industrial trainer which we publish in another part of the paper and to say whether they are satisfied with the state of things that exists. Mr E. J. EVANS may take nur word for it that sooner or later the public will see through his dog-in-the-manger attitude with reference to the children inmat-?s of the Work- house and other matters discussed from time to time. There is little wonder at the horror and repugnance of the people to entering work- houses when the fact is remembered that the deserving poor and children are tended by and forced to live with imbeciles and other objec- tionable people. We shall he interested to see what action the new Board will take in the matter. Last week, before the Royal Commission which is inquiring into the licensing laws, District Inspector BALL, in charge of the Royal Irish Constabulary at Tralee, gave evidence. Among other things he said that upon the occasion of a large fair held in a certain town, which was made the occasion of a holiday and attended by all the people of the surrounding districts, the owner of a public-house in the place was in gaol awaiting his trial on a charge of man- slaughter, and the son, who was a farmer in the neighbourhood, came to see his father in gaol for the express purpose of getting the rtcipe for preparing the whukey ready for the "fair. The recipe was :—'Two gallons of new whiskey, one gallon of rum, half a gallon of methylated spirits, known aa 'finish,' four gallons of water, and one drachm of sulphate 'of copper.' He did not know what would be the effect of drinking that composition—es- pecially of the sulphate of copper. At any rate, he would not like to drink it himself. In the course of further evidence, the witness spoke of an instance in which another publican had been overheard to say, If you mix a little scap and water with flat porter you can easily work it up and put a head on it.' The local magistrates showed a bias in favour of the publicans, and canvas&ing and Bench packing were of common occurrence. Some of the magistrates were impecunious, and others were in the habit of getting drunk blind drunk '—whenever they get the chance." Dear, dear Things are much the same all the world over. Even in Wales magistrates get drunk-blind drunk—and Bench packing when licences have to be dealt with is very common. • The landowners on the routes of the Rheidol and Aberayron Extension Railways will be inter- ested in the fallowing extract from a memoir of the late Marquis of EXETER, lately published in the columns of the Daily Telegraph It is in- structive to note the result of the battle be- A tween 'new men and old acres which was waged during the lifetime of the second Mar- quis of EXETER, with disastrous results to his family. We are so accustomed to express trains, steamers, motor cars, telegraphs, tele- phones, and other conveniences that it becomes hard to appreciate the bitter opposition to, and the unalterable distrust of the iron horse' shown by our forefathers. The antipathy of that seat of learning, Cambridge, to the ap- proximate approach of the railway is historical. Lord EXETER, when the Great Northern line was being projected, did his utmost to prevent it from coming near the Burghley Estate. He was punished-like the doomed CLAUDIAN-by. having his wishes gratified. The Great Northern left him and his estate severely alone. It was not long before he, in common with many other repentant landowners, discovered that railways were no foolish phantoms. They had come to stay. Their influences in the betterment' of property and the increase of trade were manifest and Lord EXETER had to pay dearly for his premature prejudices by constructing at his own expense a branch line from Stamford to Essendine on the Great Northern system at a cost of a quarter of a million of money. Such an expenditure, added to turf losses, constituted a heavy burden, and after the MARQUIS'S death much of his London property came into the market, the site on which the Gaiety Theatre now stands being knocked down on 'Black Friday' for a sum representing much less than its value. The PEER now deceased, during his sojourn in the House of Commons, never committed the mis- take of offering factious opposition to railway bills and other measures of public benefit." Those landlords who are refusing to meet the promoters of the Rheidol and Aberayron Exten- sion Railways would perhaps be wise to benefit by the experience of others. Their opposition to the construction of railways which will tend to their own and the public benefit is hard to understand. The pleasure and comfort of both inhabitants and visitors at Aberystwyth on Good Friday were considerably marred owing to the blinding clouds of dust which swept the streets from end to end throughout the day. If the streets had been well watered much of the inconvenience experi- enced would have been saved. This is one of those small defects which, in the aggregate, make the difference between a well-managed and a badly-managed town. Is it necessary that a distinct resolution, necessitating a column of discussion in the Council Chamber, should be passed every time the streets require watering in order to lay the dust? We think it is quite time the offices of inspector and surveyor were divided to enable necessary but detail work to be attended to. The property owners of Llwyngwril have been given two months time in which to present a scheme for providing that village with an adequate supply of pure water. If the work is not done the Council will, it is stated, carry it out themselves. As far as next summer is con- cerned, Llwyngwril will be no better off than before. The inhabitants at present drink water which is little better than liquid sewage. The re-ult is the perpetual presence of scarlet fever, diphtheria, and other diseases. We hope Dol- gelley Rural District Council in the cases of both Llwyngwril and Dyffryn will take strong measures with reference to the provision of adequate water supplies. The property owners would be wise to treat with the Council while they are in the way with them. Lampeter is a collegiate and assize town and thinks no small beer of itself, but the sum of its public life is by no means large. A fortnight ago the members of the Town Council adjourned their meeting in order that they might attend some races. On Wednesday, another meeting of the Council was held. The whole business occupied less than fifteen minutes, and if our readers will look cirefully t'ey may find the full report of the proceedings which we publish in another part of the paper. There are many things that should be seen to in Lampeter without delay. Suppose, for instauce, the Town Council, by means of an extra sitting, passed a resolution to deal with the hideous urinal erected mar the Foun- tain and saw that the Streets Committee carried the resolution out. The Council might also deal in an intelligent way with the Comrron which is a disgrace to the town. When will the wise men of Lampeter see that the rusty urinal they have erected in the most prominent part of the town is an eye sore ? There was no flaw in the resolution to adjourn a meeting for races, but resolutions to deal with the urinal and Common go helplEssly astray. Several months have elapsed since it was decided to borrow money for the purpose of erecting workmen's dwellings in Aberystwyth. but no further step has yet been taken. We suppose this scheme has gone the way of that for extending the parade in front of the College and round the Castle grounds. List November more than one candidate obtained a seat on the Town Council on the strength of promises made to provide the working classes with houses. We remember how Mr MARKS at a meeting held in the Town Hall expressed horror at the condi- tions under which the poor were forced to live. The conditions now are even worse than they were last November, and the poor are helpless. It would be unreasonable to expect progress to be made with schemes of the magnitude of those for the erection of workmen's dwellings and the exten- sion of the Promenade in face of the inability of those concerned to see to small matters like troughings and downpipes, the watering of the streets, the abatement of the town manure heap nuisance, and the carrying out of conditions attached to leases and other tenancies. Mr WILLIAM THOMAS and Mr R. PEAKE are not in favour of workmen's dwellings. This is a fact that will be iememberei perhaps when the time comes.
LLANOK
LLANOK REHEARSAL.—There was a magnificent atten- dance at the annual rehearsal of the nine C.M. Churches comprised within the Aberayron and LhlDoD musical district at Llanon on Tuesday, the 12th April. The spacious callery was fairly occupied. Alderman J. M. Howell, Aberayron, conducted, and addresses were delivered by the Re<r E. Davies and Mr J. James, J.P. The meet- ing was an unusually eujoyable and edifying one and augurs well for the nineteenth annnal gymanfa under the baton of Mr D. Jenkins, Mus. Bac.
fkrcal attb gbtrict.
fkrcal attb gbtrict. We understand that the cause of Mr W. R. M. Wynne's inability to attend Quarter Sessions held at Bala on April 5th was a very severe at- tack of bronchitis following influenza. RAILWAY ACCOMMODATION -Second-class tickets will be issued at a very small addition to third- ciass fares between Cambrian stations and certain stations oa the London and North-Western and Great Western Railways, and second-class book- ings will shortly be extended to and from London and North-Western and Great \Vestern Railway stations and other companies' lines. CAMBRIAN RAILWAYS.—Approximate return of traffic receipts for the week ending April 10th, 1898: Miles open, 250. Passengers, parcels, foe., £ 2,429 merchandise, minerals, and live stock. E3,007 total for the week, £5,436 aggregate from commencement of half-year, i'64,032. Actual traffic receipts for the corresponding week iaat year Miles open, 250 passengers, parcels. &c., £2,060; merchandise, minerals, and live stook, 93,082 total for the week, E5,142 aggregate from commencement of half-year, £ 62,760. In- crease for the week :—Passengers, parcels, &c,, £ 369 merhaudise, minerals, and live stock, £ — total for the week, L291 aggregate from com. mencementof half-year, £ —. Decrease for the week Passengers, parcels, ke, £-; merchandise, minerals, and live stock, JE75 total for the week, ;C-, aggregate from commencement of half-year, £ —. Aggregate increase Passengers, parcels, &c., £ 322; merchandise, minerals, and live stock, £ 950; total for the week, £ —; aggregate from commence- ment of half-year. 9.1,272. Aggregate decrease, Passengers, parcels, &c ;C-; merchandise, minerals, and live stock, £- tot"1 for week. C— aggregate from commencementf ) aU-year, £ —.