Welsh Journals

CARDIFF NATURALISTS' SOCIETY. Hon. Assistant Sec.-Mr. Gilbert D. Shepherd, Gresham Chambers, Kingsway, Cardiff. This very progressive and successful Society reports a membership of over 500 and is doing useful work in its Biological and Geological, Archaeo- logical and Photographic Sections. Frequent meet- ings and lectures are arranged at which a variety of subjects is discussed. In addition the Society undertakes from time to time original research work of various kinds, and in the course of the forty-six years of its existence has done a considerable amount of archaeological explora- tion, of which possibly the most interesting parts of its work is the complete excavation of the Roman fort of Gelligaer. This has been fully reported on, and the plan of the Fort is regarded as about the most complete of any Fort that has been excavated in Europe.. The Society has also undertaken the compilation and publication of works connected with the district, including the books dealing with The Flora of Glamorgan," The Birds of Glam- organ," &c. Its Transactions also invariably contain original work, and are constantly being referred to by the Geological Survey, various Archaeological Societies and others. A complete set of the Society's transactions is now practically unobtainable, and a high price can always be obtained for a full set of volumes. Anyone interested in this work who does not live in Cardiff or in the neighbourhood can join as a non-resident member at a reduced subscription. COMPETITIONS. THE Editor will goffer prizes monthly for the best work done by readers of The Welsh Outlook in competition. For this number (1) A guinea will reward the reader who sends in the best critical examination (not exceeding 1500 words) of Mr. E. T. John's "Home Rule for Wales (Jarvis & Foster, Bangor, 6d.) (2) Half a guinea will be paid to the County School boy or girl who sends to the Editor the best translation of the following passage into Welsh But, when we think what human life really is-what men need of one another, what they can do for one another what has been, what may be done by human insight and human courage--what will never be done, if there is not the heart and brain, goodness and wisdom and sympathy to do it -what mischiefs still haunt the world, to which our eyes are yet hardly open -what tragedies lie hid beneath the most brilliant society; what miserable and hopeless masses of life are covered by the roofs of a great city how in dumb and silent anguish hearts are looking out every morning for good that never comes, and arms are stretched in vain for help that no one knows how to give,-how in the highest prosperity doubt and suffering, barbarism, untameable and unconquered, never cease to cross its path and affront its pride how the brightest life, the keenest intellectual power, is at the mercy of the irreparable stroke-the catastrophe, the bereavement, the lifelong madness or palsy, the pang that cannot be charmed -it is strange to be content to be spectators only. As long as the world's evils last -while there are diseases which cannot be cured, and sorrows which cannot be comforted ;-as long as the poet's words are true, that our sin- cerest laughter is fraught with pain, and our sweetest songs are those that tell of saddest thought "as long as, in the moralist's sad confession, "there are chastisements which do not chasten, trials that do not purify, and sorrows that do not elevate pains and priva- tions that harden the tender heart without softening the stubborn will; light that leads astray, and virtues that dig their own grave"; as brag as sin reigns in the world, and death is so cruel; as long as this is so, we must feel that merely to be lookers-on, observers, judges, however blameless, however com- passionate, cannot be all that life was meant for. The Editor would like his readers to observe care- ully the following conditions 1. The first competition is open the second is limited to County School Students, who must mention the name of the school they are attending, and state that they have received no outside help. 2. All envelopes should be addressed Competition 1 (or 2)" The Welsh Outlook, CARDIFF. and must reach the Editor not later than 31st, January 1914. 3. The name and address of the competitor must be written on the MSS. itself. 4. The Editor reserves the right of printing in The Welsh Outlook any matter sent in for competition. 5. Unsuccessful MSS. cannot be returned. 6. The Editor's decision is final in all cases.