prayer for the souls of his wicked progenitors. His holiness and learning was so famed that Brychan Brycheinog entrusted his sons to Gastayn's care. Following in the footsteps of their pious tutor, they became renowned for the purity and sanctity of their lives, some of them, indeed, even obtaining the glorious crown of martyrdom. Gastayn at his death was buried in his hermitage, where, in after years, a church was built, which to this day bears the name of Llan Sant Gastayn, or Llan Gasty.

Such is the legend told by the simple country folk in the neighbourhood, who will gravely tell you that on a calm summer's day it is possible to see the church tower through the waters of the lake, and even to hear the bells ring!

W. H. P., (OXFORD.)

GOSSIP FROM THE WELSH COLLEGES

JESUS COLLEGE, OXFORD.

Term commenced on January 21st, and most of the men were true to time, many forced to it by a curiosity, probably to see the effects of the fire in the Vac, which resulted in the destruction of three sets of rooms. Owing to the inefficient supply of water on the premises, some time elapsed before the firemen were able to gain the mastery over the flames. The College authorities, therefore, determined to guard against similar delay in the future, and in consequence, for the first fortnight of Term both "quads" were rendered unsightly by huge dykes and mounds of earth preparatory to laying on the water supply.

Our new Vice-Principal (Rev. J. R. Illingworth, M.A.,) commenced duties, but ill-health again compelled him to leave Oxford much to everyone's regret. His place is temporarily taken by the Dean.

March 1st was St. David's Day, and in accordance with ancient custom, all members of the College attended morning chapel with huge leeks attached to the tassels of their "squares." I always fancy that on these occasions the chapel possesses the appearance and odour of a greengrocer's shop. After chapel the men usually pelt one another with these savoury emblems of their nationality. It is a strange, quaint custom, and, since the discontinuance of our bi-weekly Welsh service in chapel last term, the only link which now binds us to our country.

On March 3rd (Friday) a sad accident happened. Mr. William Morris-Jones, a scholar of the College, elected last June, was boating on the Isis in a whiff, and imprudently passed the "danger-post" at Iffley. He was thrown out of the boat and carried down the "Locker" with terrific force; the life-buoy was twice thrown out to him, but he was unable to reach it. The body was recovered next morning and brought up to College, where an inquest was held the same evening by Dr. Darbishire, the University coroner, and a verdict of "Accidental death by drowning" returned. On the following Monday Mr. Jones' remains were removed to Carnarvonshire for burial. A special service was accordingly held in the College

chapel, after which all the resident members of the College followed the hearse to the station, where the scene was affecting in the extreme. Mr. Jones was within a fortnight of his twenty-first birthday. His death creates another vacancy in the ranks of the scholars here, so that six scholarships and four exhibitions will now be open to competition in June.

Dr. Evan Evans (Master of Pembroke College), the ViceChancellor is at present suffering from very bad health. He is a Carmarthenshire man, and has, I believe, gone into his native county to recruit his strength. His official duties are temporarily filled by the Dean of Christchurch.

Welshmen are shining in athletic circles here. Last week Mr. Saunders Jones won the stranger's hurdle race at the Christchurch athletic sports, and on the following day his brother won the 120 yards flat race against some well known men at the Hertford College athletic sports.

On March 23rd, the examination for the two vacant fellowships here commences. Last term the vacancy was filled up by Professor Rhys' election. We hope that we shall be equally fortunate in securing Welshmen again this term, so that there is some anxiety regarding the result. We hope to get one, a priest, for at present we have only one resident Fellow in Holy Orders, and his limited knowledge of the language prevents his taking the now abandoned Welsh services in the College chapel.

Term ends on the 18th, and a vacation of nearly five weeks commences, at the close of which I trust to be able to tell you something more about the Cymru and their College.

Jesus College, March 7th, 1882.

LLYFR COCH.

A good anecdote is told of the two oldest coalowners of Wales; Powell, father of the unfortunate aeronaut, and Coffin, of the Rhondda. They were travelling to Cardiff together in one of those early and old-fashioned gigs which are now obselete, and for miles the conversation of Powell was so entirely upon coal that Coffin became wearied. Turning around at length he said, "I say Powell, I should like to get into Heaven a quarter of an hour before you!" "And why?" inquired Powell, wonderingly. "Because," was the rejoinder, "the moment you put your head in you would say, looking all around you, "Is there any coal land about here?"

Welsh visitors to London are surprised not unfrequently to find as at Lake's, Cheapside, the kitchen on the top storey. One advantage found is that the smell of cooking instead of pervading the whole house is carried up into the air and lost. Would they be surprised to learn that a-quarter of a century ago Mr. Francis Crawshay, of Treforest, built some houses that also had the kitchen on the top storey. The houses too are still standing, and the curious arrangement is to be seen to this day. Mr. Crawshay's idea evidently, was that the temptation of a dinner was quite enough stimulus to take a man up stairs; but that, at night, being wearied, the less difficulty in getting to bed the better.

"Cervantes smiled Spain's chivalry away" by holding up to ridicule in his Don Quixote the highflown chivalric sentiment of his time. Some have fancied that Cadwalader Griffiths is attempting the same iconoclastic task in his series of papers

on

"How we floated on Eisteddfod." But we can assure the reader that Cadwalader is one of the most enthusiastic supporters of Eisteddfodau. He only detests the sham article, the Brummagem counterfeit. In pointing out the weak points and dark spots, he hopes to make the National Institution more perfect. His second paper appears this month.

It has long been noticed that Zinc Paint is influenced by the sun's rays, and becomes more or less blackened during bright sunlight, regaining its white appearance after the sun's action has ceased. Various reasons have been assigned for this phenomenon which have given rise to some discussion in scientific circles. Dr. Phipson, who tried to investigate the matter, turned his attention to the possibility of isolating some new metallic compound, and he ultimately communicated to the British Association last year that he had succeeded in obtaining compounds of a metal other than Zine from commercial Zinc-white. In his more recent communications to the scientific press he claims to have obtained a new metal from these compounds, and proposes to call it actinum. The sulphide of this metal, he says, is peculiarly acted upon by the sun's rays-hence the name actinum. It remains to be seen whether this discovery will prove to be of any practical importance.

"The Coal Riches of South Wales" will form the subject of a series of articles in the Red Dragon from the pen of Mr. Thomas Joseph, Treherbert. The first part will appear in the May number, and will form a most valuable contribution to our literature.