what high aspirations? A few noisy demagogues, marching along like the three tailors of Tooley Street, proclaim themselves the representatives of the whole Welsh race and cry "Wales for the Welsh." Wales for the Welsh indeed! Remember that means England for the English. When we have gathered the Welsh in from Canada, the United States, Africa, Australia and India, Wales will not be large enough to contain them. If the Welsh are, as I believe they are, holding their own in the increasing population of the British Empire, there should be reserved for us a proportionate share of that empire, a piece nearly as large as

all Europe. Wales for the Welsh indeed! A fair share of the world for Welshmen, say I. "Wide as the world the Briton's home!" What a motto for our flag. Let this University College investigate the question how much of the ancient British blood runs in the veins of the average Englishman. At any rate, we need not be ashamed to claim kinship with those who are known as the British race all over the world, and may feel the same proud security in being able to say, "I am a British subject," as did the ancient who could command respect by the simple statement, "I am a Roman citizen."

The reader will please read "theoretical" instead of "theatrical" near the close of the quotation from Harry Evans, page 533, in the last number of "The Cambrian."

The evening of "Servian Romances" referred to in the last number proved to be a delightful surprise and success. The exquisite vocal colorist and accompanist, George Henschell, used his opportunity like the true artist he is. Our reference to "Cambrian Romances" begins to bear fruit. Professor Bickner Young, one of the few true vocal

teachers in this city, wishes to construct a program of Welsh melodies, with English words, of course. We trust that this fine baritone will serve us a lesson in showing how much beauty and art lies in our well-known melodies. It would be a great satisfaction to all lovers of music to find such singers as James Sauvage, H. Evan Williams, Gwilym Miles, Harry Davies, David Davis, Miss Jennie Owen, Miss Blodwen Jones, Mrs. Woodward, and others, announcing evenings of "Cambriam Romances." Our "own" singers

should be the first to teach the artistic world what a wealth of melodic beauty we have.

It is not very well known that the present Speaker of the House of Representatives, Col. David B. Henderson, is much of a singer-possesses a tuneful soul. A writer remarks that we should not be surprised if the genial David would some day open the proceedings with the singing of a hymn, so fond is he of sacred music. Gen. Hawley, of Connecticut, is the acknowledged choir-master of the Senate, and so is Col. Henderson choir-master of the House, and now can wield a mallet-baton with effect, if need there be. "Thomas B. Reed," writes a Washington correspondent, "is no singer. He has no music in his soul, although it is not quite fair to quote what Shakespeare says of such men in this connection." Col. Henderson has in store all the war and campsongs, and many Scotch songs, and he sings them well in a rich tenor voice. But in the singing of "Onward, Christian Soldier," and "Hold the Fort," we are told that he cannot easily be excelled. We trust that a musical Speaker will have sufficient charm in speech and song to soothe the savage breast of many a Congressman.

The announcement by Maurice Grau in the Chicago papers, that it is useless to bring Grand Opera here, has caused much feeling, and many harsh comments. He asserts that he lost from $25,000 to $30,000 by his three week venture.

Ridiculous things will happen. A young lady organist in a Colorado church was somewhat in love with the young pastor of a church in the next street, and was delighted to hear that he was to exchange pulpits the next Sunday with her own pastor. The organ was pumped by a careless and characteristic old sexton, who would often stop pumping when he thought the organ voluntary had lasted long enough. This Sunday, the organist was anxious that all should go well; and, as the service was about to begin she wrote a note intended solely for the old sexton. He took it, and in spite of her agonizing beckonings, carried it straight to the preacher, thinking, naturally, that it was an "announcement." The preacher was much astonished and mystified to read: "Oblige me this morning, by blowing away till I give you a signal to stop. Miss

Allen."

The Chicago "Record" published a London cablegram December 9, stating that Sir Hubert Parry had been elected to the Oxford musical professorship made vacant by Dr. John Stainer. This is honor indeed. We trust Sir Hubert will accept, and add one more Welsh light to the already brilliant Welsh galaxy at the famous seat of learning.

What a fatal decade the fourth has been in the history of men of genius! What a strange picture of the workings of Fate. Who can explain why so many, with talents of an unusual order, have succumbed between the 30th and 40th year?

Henry Purcell died at 37; Byron at 36; Mozart at 35; Burns at 37; Mendelssohn at 37; Schubert at 31; Hermann Goetz at 36; Shelley at 30; Bellini at 34; Bizet at 37; Pergolesi was but 26 when the end came; Keats was the same age; Tausig, the pianist, was but 29. Many instances of the same workings of fate can be enumerated from among Welsh poets and musicians.

We have just gone through the ever-pleasing season of the everpopular oratorio-what has become a Christmas musical necessity Handel's "Messiah;" not the best production of his genius, but surely the most heart-responsive of all his fourteen oratorios. In this region, the first in the field was the Milwaukee Society, December 21, under its new and energetic conductor, Mr. Daniel Protheroe, Mus. Bac., of which we have written to the "Drych." Then followed the Chicago Apollo Club, December 25, with its "one," and not two performances

of the "Messiah," under the leadership of Mr. Harrison M. Wild, whose work has transformed the Apollos. into a very fine society. This last organization, gave us, December 11, Saint Saens' sacred opera--"Samson and Delilah" in a masterful manner, with three special artists in the leading roles. Sacred Opera? True enough. Better call it oratorio. The people, many of them, will feel better in the matter. There is no form of musical composition as dramatic as oratorio-too sacredly dramatic to be mimicked by any acting. The brightest and most intense "acting" is that of the mental; and the spiritual. Far away, and above all other causes, it is the oratorio that gives to the imagination its best and grandest flights and training. The inestimable value of these oratorio performances in the upliftment and betterment of the human heart, and of their value to the heart of art, cannot be written by pen, nor told by tongue.

Songs of Wales live in our ears,
Through the swiftly passing years;
Moaning storm-winds as they blow
Murmur songs of long ago;
Voices of our dead ones dear
In our country's airs we hear,

Whispering leaves in every grave Murmur low the songs we love; Sings the sea neath roaring gales Snatches of the songs of Wales; And to Kymric ears they sound Through creation all around,

Every human being is a centre of influence for good or for bad. God has seen fit to endow the mother with an influence, which far exceeds. all other influences. A mother's influence is silent, irresistible and permanent. In all ages and countries, the word "mother" has been sacred, and every one who occupies that holy state, has in her hands an unlimitable power of influence. Since the mother's influence is conceded by all to be far reaching, it is positively essential that true motherhood be synonymous with all that is noble, pure, cultured and good; then the sphere in which her influence is felt will be better for it.

She has in her hands the training of the men of this and future ages. To people the world with the best possible men and women of the coming ages, a mother should be a woman of much force of character. To motherhood has been given the privilege of impressing upon the pliable child mind, the first work of culture; she also imparts the first ideas of right and wrong; to her is given ample opportunity to watch the young mind developing. It has been said that a mother is a stranger to every feeling but love; how then can the child avoid imbibing a silent. influence from a being who is constantly loving, thinking of, and

planning for his future. During the years of infancy, with what vigilance does a mother care for her children? She lives and works for them, and unconsciously exerts the influence which will make her children a blessing or a detriment to the society in which they move. The mother may in after years have joined the silent majority, yet her child is then sowing the seeds of his early training and home environments.

During infancy the embryo mind is influenced by the home environments, of which the mother is the ruling power. Passing from infancy to youth, the child has imbibed the principles of his environment, which to a remarkably great degree is influenced by the mother. Advancing from youth to manhood, where he finds that life is a stern reality, he goes forth into the world. He begins to form friendships, and is thrown into the companionship of people raised among better or worse environments. All who associate with him either socially or professionally, will be influenced by the principles brought from his home environments. That influence may be the means of deteriorating or uplifting all or some of his associates. If the mother's training has been what it should be, then fortunate. are all who shall know and associate

with him. If the mother neglected the opportunity to instill sound principles into her child as God meant that she should when he entrusted a soul into her keeping, then the society her child moves in will to some degree suffer and be influenced wrongly. A child can never fully appreciate and be grateful enough for the influence of a good mother. Whatever success sons or daughters may achieve in life; whatever good they may have in them, is due greatly to her gentle teachings. America's noblest sons and daughters can justly attribute their nobility of purpose, their graces of heart and mind to the mother's teaching. To Christian motherhood can be attributed indirectly the success, progress and present condition of this grand Republic.

The benign influences of a good noble mother, can never be wholly lost on a depraved son or daughter. When other friends forsake, a mother's unseen influence still remains. Such men as Washington and Garfield have unhesitatingly attributed their success in life to maternal influences. Were it not for Washington's mother, how different would the history of our country have been. George Washington had an ardent. desire for sea-faring life, and when quite young, meeting with no apparent opposition, decided to enter the service. All preparations were made his personal belongings being on board ship, and then came the

inevitable parting scene. All went very well, until he saw his mother's suppressed grief when duty prompted him to give up the sea, and remain at home to comfort his dear mother. He obeyed his heart's promptings, and in after years, he it was who was called upon to direct the destinies of millions in this Republic. His mother's sorrow, her smile, her wish, her word always remained an inspiring force. History tells us that John Randolph, the famous infidel, never could shake off the restraining influence of a little prayer, his mother had taught him when a child. Thus the influence of a pious mother, was indirectly the means of at least his acknowledgment, that she was right, and hence his power was limited in wholly influencing others wrongly.

At one time, even the great Napoleon acknowledged the influence of a mother, when he said, "What France wants is good mothers, and you may be sure then that France will have good sons." A mother's sphere fortunately enables her to verify, if she will, the forcible words of Daniel Webster: "If we work upon marble it will perish; if we work upon brass, time will efface it; if we rear temples, they will crumble into dust; but if we work upon immortal minds, if we imbue them with principle-with the just fear of God and love of our fellow men—we engrave on those tablets something that will brighten to all eternity."