The Aberdare Leader

YR ADRAN GYMREIG. Qirahoddir cyfraniadau i'r Adran hon yn y tfurf o ohebiaeth bwrpaaol, adroddiadau lleol, a barddoniaeth deilwng. -Nis gellir cyhoeddi cyn- yrchion raeithion.

Nodion a Newyddion. Wele ddau o feirdd gwych y Gogledd wedi gadael swn y rhyfel am dawelwch priddellau'r dyffryn. Yr oedd Alafon yn fardd & phregethwr ac Isaled yn fardd a chyfreithiwr. Lie anaddas i feithrin yr awen ydyw swyddfa cyfreithiwr. Darganfyddodd Moelwyn hyny flynyddau yn ol pan oedd yn swyddfa Lloyd George yn ceisio englynu a phlymio i ddirgeledigaethau y gyfr&ith yr un pryd. Nid oes gyf- athrach rhwng rheolau Jjafvdd ap Emwnt ag eiddo Sion Bwl. Nid all cynghanedd flodeuo yn awyrgylch y gyfraith, nod angen pa un yw ymryson. Teimlai Moelwyn fod crindir eras y gyfraith yn sychu gwlith ei gerdd ac ym&dawodd am loewach nen yr athrofa a'r pwlpud. Ond glynodd Isaled yn ffyddlon i'r gyfraith hyd y diwedd. Beth yw effaith y rhyfel ar fater sobrwydd? Dywedir fod llai o feddwi yn mysg dynion yn gyffredinol, ond ysywaeth fod mwy o yfed yn mysg y rhyw fenywaidd. Os drwg cynt gwaeth yn awr. A ddylai eglwysi ymyryd pan fyddo ychydig ffrae rhwng ynadon? A ydyw yn iawn cymeryd ochr unrhyw bl&id, fel y gwnaed yn ddiweddar yn Aberdar gan rai eglwysi ar anogaeth Cynghor Celf a Llafur? Credwn mai y goreu ydyw gadael hwn yn gwestiwn agored.

Clywedion Dyffryn Dar. Fod sopyn yn gwed ar hyd y pentra fod mwy o ladies yn shopan nawr nag ariod, a thicyn o style X5 yr wthnos yn rhai o nhw ed, a wasted yn cario ymbrel neu barisol s'ai mor sych a'r desart, ond nag i ni ddim yn diall y nacks! Dyna gownt, onte fa? Mynywod yn jelws o ladies! Fel petasa isha passo act o barliment i stopo nhw i wishgo- nace, cario parisol neu ymbrela. Wel, bysa nithir yr ola yn well na ercyd t potal gwart ar ol cario pwn i'r pawn! Fod yn haws ddicon i hignaramws i ddemskin ar gorn ysgolheigyn balchderus o genius, fel nath un pwy noswath yn y Corn Exchange, pan wetws a wrth un o freed y college y dylsa ni ymladd makers a ridwrs y Zamppallins yn yr un ffordd a nhwnta-Iladd nondi-combatants (fel gwetws a, ta beth yw rheiny), babies, gwracadd a merched, yn lie ymladd "dynon," ymhlith yr Huns. no na, mydda Syr Llifir Swllt, "gadewch i ni ymladd a nhw fel Cristionogion, i ddangos gwers i'r byd, ac i ymladd yn deg I" Wel, wetin, fe ath yn Storm Tiberias, a odd rhai yn gwaeddi "0, catw ni!" a gorffod i'r riportar gilo i ddala'r last post o ganol y ffroth a'r ffrwgwd! Fod y dyn gollws i ymbrel wth ddod mas o'r ddarlith yn wath off na'r dyn gollws i gap yn shop y barbwr, achoa odd gwaniath o 5s. 6d. yn mhrish y ddou, a fel gwetws un non-Christian, fod hyny 3Ih profi. fod gwath caritors yn entro drws y capal na entrans y barbwr. Oes, a dylai pob copa walltog sy'n gallu gweld ymhellach na'i drwyn wpod hyny ed. Rhaid talu bob tro yn shop y bar- bwr, achos di nhw ddim yn perthyn (y barbwrs) i'r Packmen's Brigade Fed- eration, ond ma llawar yn mynd a dod i'r capal heb dalu, mydda'r riportar. (Passed by Censor). Fod yr armlets iddi gweld nawr yn britho'r cwm fel gwyped, a phob un yn gofyn i'r llall, "Ble ma dy armlet di?" hyd y nod sa dim ond un goes gyta'r pwr dab, neu un fraich, trwyn fflat, dim danadd, gwallt eiraog, crwmpyn, coesa main, un llycad, trad clwt, gwddwg byr, dim bola, a lan i wddwg mwn hen gownt ar i ffordd i'r resarved seats yn y Goldidrome! Fod pawb, fel arfar, yn rhytag y tywydd a'r Kaisar i lawr, yn enwetig. oddar ma'r dwetha wedi gwella o'r can- ser, a rhai yn ffeili cysgu'r nos yn. ofni'r Zepps! Wara teg, ed, ma Shon Tarw yn dechra dihuno, a fe ddaw prish yr ham lawr yto, er gweitha Penderyn a Chicago; fod amser gwell i ddod; gwell tywydd; heddweh a llond cart o hen gownt gen y PACKMAN NEWYDD. 11.30 p.m. (CiY.—iClywad fod y Kaisar wedi cal anwd newydd, a phrish yr ham wedi cwmpo.—P.N.)

1 TO MAKE YOU FTr AND KEEP YOU FIT Dr. Bale's Wine, M-SANGUIS, ft RaWs Vin-Sanguis is a scientific dia- cl j*yy {■ value as a medicine and a PMC It differs from other tonic wines Ptjfc* w made with Old mellow wlm, » itself has higrh nutritive px^. pmdm To this old and perfectly ■■tared wine is added, by an exclusive feceM. fte Meat Juice extracted by Lie- and then Matt extracted h ¡ t I i i I i AN/EMIA, MERVOUS BREAKDOWN, INSOMNIA, INDIGESTION am quickly remedied by Dr. Vio-Sangui, whioa It •• • powerful tonic stimulant, up the system anA natotingyoa to full vigour of body and zmod. It k eble in CONVALESCENCE aud is in we in many Hospital* Medical Inotitiitiocna, mm Miming' Homes. SpecJafiy vafct- able «* th8 time to Jra&M lolSen and overworked Nurem Wap*tots: Dr. HALE'S VTN-SANQU1B C)». ^y. Bcrih Ltwnb«ai Road, &B. k Local Agents— Emrys Evans, Chemist, 9 and 10 Victoria Square, Aberdare.

Local Mems. BY MEMO. Newspapers are the only standardised articles that are now sold at the same price as before the war. The increased cost of production warrant a higher price, but half-penny papers cannot make a less increase than 100 per cent., and ltd. is an awkward price for penny newspapers. The price of paper for newspapers has gone up 50 per cent., and every other article used in pro- duction has advanced, and also labour. On top of all this trouble comes the restriction of pulp and paper from neutral countries, because the ships are required for importing food and other more essential things. The Board of Trade have decided to reduce the im- ports of paper and material from which paper is made, by about 45 per cent., with the result that newspaper works all over the country will get only slightly over a half of the quantity of paper they obtained in past years. To meet this restricted supply every newspaper will have to reduce its size considerably, and print only sufficient conies as are ordered. At present newspapers are for sale or return. What the newsagent does not sell are returned, and he gets full credit for them. The proposal in South Wales is to take back a maximum of 5 copies for every 100 supplied. It is hoped by reducing the size of newspapers and limiting the number of unsold copies, to meet in some degree the shortage of paper. So in order to avoid waste, our readers should give definite orders to the newsagents or newsagents' boys for their copies of the "Leader." The "Leader has not varied its size since the war began, but the paper problem will render this course necessary in two or three months' time. Already the London half-penny papers, with the ex- ception of the "Daily Chronicle," have agreed on an 8-page, instead of 10, 12, and often 14 pages. The penny papers will also reduce pro rata. There was a proposal to raise the price of the London ha-pennies to a penny, on condition that the penny dailies advanced to 2d., but the "Morning Post" and Daily Telegraph" opposed, and the scheme fell through. At a meeting of South Wales news- papers owners, held at Cardiff the other day, the necessity of economy in the use of paper was discussed. With the re- duced size of newspapers will come the need of increased charges for advertise- ments, and the deletion of much unre- munerative matter. Several represen- tatives pointed out the growing habit among committees and organisers of charitable movements to expect lists of subscribers inserted free of charge in newspapers. The daily papers, it was stated, charged a high rate for publish- ing such lists, and there was sore need of uniform action among the weekly papers.

Cwmdare Notes. BY RAFFLES. Sunday cycling is no good; generally ends with sticking plaster and a dis- ordered liver. There is a man at Cwmdare who has such a bad memory that he jots down every item in a pocket-book. But then he forgets to look at the pocket-book. Poor chap. The torn cat is improving. He is al- lowed out at nights now. Don't have words with the minister, John, especially when you are in drink. The singing lessons are going well. Mary Elizabeth Ann can reach B flat. The neighbours wish she would practise on the Darren. He is busy painting the perambulator. What has happened? I Gaffer Nos has lost a pawn ticket. Too bad; he'll have to stay in on Sunday now.

Children's Coughs. Wonderful Efficacy of VENO'S LIGHTNING COUCH CURE. Those terrible coughs and colds in children, so frequent just now, respond with amazing quickness to treatment with Veno's Lightning Cough Cure—the tearing, hacking cough ceasing almost ht once, while the general health is re- stored at the same tima. ,,i- Mrs. Weston, 4 Neotsburv Road, Ampthill, Bedfordshire, writes Poor little baby used to cough and cough, and would turn almost black in the face. He went sick with coughing, and would bring up his food. My husband had, used Veno's with good effect and it had also cured both my little girls, so 1 gave it to baby. It was wonderful how quickly it acted. Baby got relief almost at once, and the sickness stopped. Soon he was quite cured and ever so well again." But only VENO'S Lightning Cough Cure will effect such cures. Of all chemists, prizes llid., Is. 3d., and 3s. —the 3s. size being the most economical. Suitable for old or young.

Mountain Ash Education Committee. On Tuesday, Mr Griffith Evans. J.P., in the cliair. The other members pres- ent were: Mrs. W. G. Williams, Mrs. T. W. Millar, Messrs. Wm. Davies, W. Lamburn, J.P., G. H. Hall, James Evans, Noah Bowles; Rev. Geo. Neigh- bour, Dd. Rogers, T. W. Jones W. Millar, Bruce Jones, Dr. R. D. Morgan, .1 P with Messrs. Alfred Morgan (director), D. H. Thomas (director's assistant), Dr. H. Davies Jones (schools mc<lical officer) and Nurse Lewis. Mcdic Officer's Report. — Children Begging in Streets. Dr. H. Davies Jones presented his quarterly report, from Oct. 1st to Dec. 31st, 1915, in which he stated that 640 children who had completed their eiglith Year, had been examined. The follow- I ing are a few of the items in the report: Clothing and Footgear.—13 children with footgear bad, and 9 children in- sufficiently clad. Nose and Throat.—16 cases of en- larged tonsils; 10 slightly enlarged ton- sils ancl 3 of adenoids. Teeth.—37.75 per cent. good; 33.40 p.c. medium; and 27.85 p.c. bad. I Condition of Skin.-17 cases badly flea-bitten, 36 girls with nits in their hair, and 587 children clean. Then followed a description of the complaints from which children in var- ious schools suffered, with the in- structions given to parents. Under Ynvsboeth Mixed School the following appeared: Met boy oil the roaa m a filthy condition, and poorly clad, also found him begging at a door." Rev. Geo. Neighbour remarked that street begging by children of school age was becoming very prevalent. He had seen children, about 8 or 9 years of age, in the streets begging, and when they were asked their names they would give false names and addresses. Mr. T. W. Jones asked Nurse Lewis whether the case above referred to was due to neglect on the part of the par- ents or due to real poverty. Nurse Lewis said it was neglect. She had seen boys twice in the act of beg- ging. Mr. G. H. Hall It is done right through the district. One came to my door at 10.30 p.m.—a child 8 or 9 years of age. Something ought to be done to put a stop to children going about in all sorts of weather and all times at night. Mr. W. Millar remarked that he had witnessed three boys begging. They had a bag full of Mr. Bruce Jones: Ferrets? (Laugh- ter.) Mr. Millar No, they were not poach- ing. It was full of food-pieces of bread and butter. They refused to give me their names at first, but I obtained them later. Mr. Millar handed th6 names to the Director, and added they were from Tyntetown. The Chairman said that some children begged for articles and afterwards sold them. Mr. Hall said he did not blame the children so much as the parents. School children were partly under the control of the Education Committee, and he was of opinion that the committee should take steps to prosecute or re- port the cases to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Mr. Rogers suggested that the Council prosecute and have the children sent to a Truant School. Mr. Noah Bowles said he had come across a similar case from Abercynon. The boy said he was one of 7 children, and the family obtained only 10s. per week. That was hardly true. Mr. Bowles handed the name to Mr. T. W. Jones, who said the case was from Ynysboeth. Mr. T. W. Jones suggested that the attendance officers report on the cases. Rev. Geo. Neighbour thought it would be very effectual if publicity were given to these cases. That might make the parents more careful. Mr. T. W. Jones's motion was agreed to. Ignorant Parents. Mr. W. Lamburn asked Dr. Jones a question concerning the procedure in cases of enlarged tonsils. Dr. Jones said he usually referred the parents to their own doctor, but in severe cases he advised operation. Mr. Lamburn: Do the parents real- ise that it is a great hindrance to the children to have enlarged tonsils? Dr. Jones Some of them are very ob- stinate, and refuse to permit operation. You have no power to compel operation, and that is a great pity. I know of one pitiful case where the parents are dead set against operation. Mr. Lamburn: There is no danger attached to it at all. Rev. Geo. Neighbour said it might help if a parent who had proved the value of operation, would speak to the obstinate parents. Dr. Jones: That is a very good idea. Mr. W. Davies: Yes, a great deal of gpod might be done that way. Rev. Q. Neighbour: My child has greatly benefited by operation. Director: And so has mine. It is ignorance on the part of parents, crass ignorance, and the bigger the ignorance the—perhaps I better not say more. í Mr. Bruce Jones: Nuff sed. (Laugh- ter.) Nurse Lewis thought that some harm was done by outside doctors telling the parents that their children would grow J out of it. Mr. Bruce Jones: Dr. Davies Jones won't agree with that. Director: You have put the doctor in a tight corner there. The report was adopted. Miscellaneous. The Director's report upon the award of a scholarship. to E.'M. Bath at the Mountain Ash County School was adopted. A number of schools had won the at- tendance half-holiday, and on the sug gestion of Mr. Bruce Jones it was re- solved to let them arrange the holiday on any fine afternoon. The return of teachers' absences for January was adopted. Soidiers' Children in Prosecution List. The Director submitted a long list of names for prosecutions, for non-attend- ance at school. Mr. Bruce Jones observed that sever- al soldiers' children were among the list, and he did not think the com- mittee should prosecute in those cases. Some of the boys whose fathers were away, were uncontrolable. 1 Director: In that case they ought to be sent to a Truant School. Mr. Bruce Jones That is not a nice thing-father fighting abroad and his child in a Truant School. Director: That is better than to see children pilfering or begging about the streets. Dr. Morgan said he would like to have the attendance officers' reports on those cases. Mr. W. Lamburn said he was in sympathy with Mr. Bruce Jones, but at the same time there was a duty de- volving upon the committee. The chil- dren should be looked after, and their education should not be neglected while the fathers were away. Dr. Morgan strongly opposed issuing summonses in cases where the fathers were serving their country, and Mr. Rogers characterised such leniency as false patriotism, because to allow chil- dren to run about the streets would create hooligans, and so much the worse for the Army of the future. Dr. Morgan We have no hooligans in the Army. Mr. Rogers: I don't say so. Mr. Rogers was proceeding to speak when he was interrupted by the doctor. Mr. Rogers: Half a minute, doctor. Dr. Morgan: But you are so slow. (Laughter.) Mr. Rogers proposed and Mr. Lam- burn seconded, that proceedings be taken against all the persons on the list, and this was finally carried, Dr. Mor- gan dissenting. Fire at Duffryn School. The headmaster of Duffryn School, Mr. Hughes, reported that a slight fire had occurred underneath one of the fire-places, and that the joists had been burnt. They succeeded in extinguish- ing it by means of buckets of water. (. ü

Letters to the Editor. THE SCUM OF THE EARTH. Sir,—Ail article appeared in one of the North Wales- papers a short time ago, the substance of which was that it was a crying shame that the men of Lord Derby's Scheme should have to mix up with the scum of the earth who are at present encamped at Kinmel Park. As one of those encamped in the Park I resent that title. I admit most of us are soldiers, or anyhow we have tried to be. Hundreds of us are in the Convalescent Camp in the Park, suffering from wounds received whilst trying to do our share in the gigantic European struggle. We return to our homes broken in health, many suffering from painful wounds, ,some disabled for life. Then when here in this camp trying to regain health and strength we are astounded to read that we are classed as the scum of the earth. Are the men of the Derby Scheme afraid of us? If so, why? Scum of the earth indeed! Whatever a man's character was before the war broke out, if he joined voluntarily he proved himself a man; he did not wait to be fetched. How many appeals have been made to these men of the scheme, asking them to join? The appeals of the boys in the trenches were very often sneered at. Yet when their sneerers come up, hun- dreds of them not of their own free will, the boys are called scum. Yes, many of those brave fellows, who have gone through the terrible hardship of the present campaign contentedly, were regarded by their fellow-men when they were at home in civilian life as wasters. Yet when the call came for men, they answered it, and proved themselves men. The shirkers were quite willing for them to go and fight; they were quite good enough for that. Perhaps a member of the Not-Wanted Class has died a hero's death on the field of battle. Does the writer of that article class that fellow with the scum? The hardships these so-called scum of the earth had to endure when first they joined are not borne by the Derby men. There were no huts with comfortable stoves in those days. We had to rough it under canvas at midwinter. I over- heard one say that there was a better class of fellows presenting themselves for enlistment at the present time than before. Well if the waster, the scum of the earth, had waited to be practically sent into the Army, the same as hun- dreds of these have done, where would our Empire have been to-day. Who has proved to be the better man of the two-the scum or the so-called man who waited ? I am proud to be one of the scum, proud of the wound I have, and proud of my comrades who compose the scum of the earth.—I am, sir, A TOMMY. THE HOLDING V. REES CASE. Sir,—Allow me to thank the churches and various working-men's organisa- tions for the support they have given in the above case. The churches have at any rate proved that they are concerned with the moral right of the people to the first principles of justice. Since the petition to the Lord Chan- cellor was issued, the magistrates and some of their friends have been busy trying to prove that they were actuated by the best motives in this case. The Stipendiary has written a letter to the press with the object of toning down the feeling against his colleagues, but in spite of his magnanimous effort a sting is still left in the following words: —"I attached much importance to the evi- dence of the three boys, whereas my colleagues were more impressed by the defendant's version." We may never be able to prove that the Bench was packed, but does any person think for a moment that if it had been a case between two colliers or two navvies there would have been this strong division of opinion, and this tre- mendous leaning in favour of the defend- ant's story as against that of the only independent witnesses called in the case I leave the public to judge. But some gentleman who is not the possessor of a name contributed an article to this paper criticising both the petition and myself. After pointing out that I am wrong- he makes, or endeavours to make, four points, two of which are quibbles as to whether the magistrates retired for 15 minutes or for 5. Or, did they sit for 15 or 30 minutes after the hearing of the case. A third point is by way of an. apology for the general exodus of the seven after the hearing of the case. There is only one point in his article which calls for a reply, viz., "Mr. Stonelake said there was an unpre- cedented attendance of magistrates. There was an equal if not larger number of ma cistrates three and four weeks ago." It would be well if your corres- ppndeiYt took more care when reading and more pains when writing to ascer- tain the facts. My statement was that there was an unprecedented number of local magistrates present. I have taken the trouble to go into the records of attendance generally, and I am pre- pared to substantiate my statement. "Three or four weeks ago there were six present (and the Stipendiary), three of whom were magistrates from Moun- tain Ash. "Three and four weeks ago," 29th and 22nd of January, there were three and two respectively of these gentlemen present. But I have gone further, and since your correspondent has raised the question of the attendance of these gentlemen you may as well have it. I have gone over 20 weeks from September 11th to February 5th in- clusive, omitting only November 6th, which I failed to discover, with the following result:—The record breaker attended 14; two attended 13 each; another 9; one 8 and one 7, and the other did not turn up once in 20 weeks, but they were all present on February 5th. Was it a coincidence? Whatever may be said or written, whether the Bench was packed or not, the facts re- main. The independent evidence was all against the defendant, and it was never shaken. The Stipendiary, who has been trained in the art of sifting evidence, and who is not a local man, was strongly in favour of a decision in accordance with evidence. The seven who are local men "preferred the defendant's story."— Yours faithfully, E. STONELAKE.

Holding v. Rees Case. At an extraordinary meeting of the Aberdare (English) Evangelical Free Churches Council on Friday, the follow- ing motion was put:—"That on the ground of the Stipendiary Magistrate's public statement in court re the Rees v. Holding Case, and the public feeling pre- vailing with reference to the matter we, the Council of the Aberdare and District (English) Evangelical Free Churches, without associating ourselves with any other body, desire to appeal for a Government enquiry." On voting the motion was defeated by 12 votes to 11.

Objected to Working Clothes. Judge Bryn Roberts very Particular. Sitting at the new County Court at Aberdare on Monday Judge Bryn Roberts expressed himself emphatically on the question of the attire of those attending before him. A defendant in a judgment summons appeared m his working clothes, and it was apparent the man was employed at one of the collieries. Defendant's appearance was in strange contrast with the surround- ings in the new building, and the Judge asked, What do you mean by coming to the Court in such an attire?" De- fendant: I am working to-day, Sir, and I can't afford to lose a turn.—His Honour: Then you had better, go out. —Defendant: I am clean enough, sir. It is only my coat. I am only in my working clothes.—The Judge: This is not a working place, you know. De- fendant But I don't dirty anything.— The Judge: I don't say you do; but you should not have come here in that condition.Defendant: I can't afford to be idle to-day, sir-His Honour:. Nonsense. You are trying to make out vou are poorer than you are. There are plenty of other working men coming before me, who are dressed properly. Defendant was proceeding to say something further, when the Judge re- marked to the plaintiff, Give me his earnings." The earnings were £ 1 9s od per week.—An order for 9s. per month was made.

a——W [MiiaWBWBWWWMMMW* MINNOW- You should buy your FORD from us BECAUSE 8— We know how to keep it running at its best There is not one part of it that we do not thoroughly understand. We have made a special Study of it and our staff knows every nut and bolt of it. We run them ourselves and they are giving us real good service. We carry a large Stock of all Spare Parts. LIM Hough's Garage Co, I Automobile House, I Tel. 22 •• MOUNTAIN ASH. I PURITY QUALITY RELIABILITY. ONS B c!ass THE CREAMERY VICTORIA SQUARE, ABERDARE. a S MILK DEPOT: Carmarthen Dairy, Seymouip St. Tel. 111. W T. EVANS, Proprietor Mountain Ash Cottage Hospital. The Twentysecond ANNUMTETSTEODFOD Will be held on EASTER MONDAY, April 24, 1916. CHIEF ITEMS. In prizes. J In prize*. Chiet Choral, We never will bow down JEW Male Voice-Own Choice £ 2.3 Second Choral, "Dvddiau dyn Juvenile ChoraJ-Own Choice £ 10 svdd fel glaswelltvn €15 Action Song-Own Choice :E f I Ladies' Chora 1—Own Choice Musical Drill-Own Choice ;Cfi Recitations, Vocal and Instrumental Solos, &2 2s., 21 Is., and 10s. 6d. each. For full particulars see Programmes, now ready, 2id. post free. T. HUGHES, D. T. EVANS, Secretary. WM. J. GRIFFITHS, Assistant Sees. r ¿: JOHN DAVIES, THE PICTURE SHOP 11 CARDIFF ST., ABERDARE (opposite the Cinema). 20 YEARS REPUTATION for FIRST CLASS WORK