ty, he has, from a humble sphere in early life, attained to a high position of wealth, honor and influence in business and political affairs.

Mr. Howells was born April 6th, 1832, in Dowlais, Glamorganshire, South Wales. His father's name was Howell Howells, and his mother's maiden name was Rachel Evans. Very little is known of the family history on either side, except that both branches of the family were well-todo and respected farmers, and had lived for many generations in the parish of Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, South Wales. Mr. Howells' parents, however, had moved from the latter place to Dowlais before he was born. His father, Howell Howells, at an early age became a miner, and afterward a superintendent of mines. He was a man of great decision of character and noted for his sterling integrity. Mr. Howells, Jr., received his early education at the Dowlais Free School, which he attended until he was 12 years of age; and, after an interval of one year which he spent working in the coal mines, he was sent a private school for a year at Cross Inn, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire-the old home of his father. Not satisfied, however, with the rudiments of education acquired in these schools, and prompted by a natural fondness for study and reading, Mr. Howells has through life in various ways, in night schools and in private, continued his studies, and has found pleas ant recreation in devoting his leisure time to improve his mind and to acquire practical proficiency in mathematics and book-keeping, and a general knowledge of the various

sciences.

After leaving school in the following year when only fourteen years of age, he had to begin life for himself. His first choice of occupation was that of machinist. But his father

being mine superintendent, he naturally drifted to the mines, and for nearly four years he pursued his wonted subterranean work in Wales. In May, 1850, he emigrated to America and came to Youngstown, Ohio, where he resumed his old occupation in the coal mines of David Tod-afterward Governor Tod of Ohio. Leaving for California in the spring of 1853, he returned again to Youngstown in the spring of 1854 and resumed work in the coal mines until the fall of 1855. Having become tired, however, of being "a hewer of wood and drawer of water," and having, through economy, saved a little money, Mr. Howells now decided to commence business for himself at Youngstown, in the grocery and provision line. This was the first grocery business established by a Welshman in Youngstown, and it proved fairly prosperous and successful. In 1865, however, having engaged in the business of coal mining for himself at Duquoin, Ill., he lived there one year. But disposing of his interest in these coal mines, he returned to Youngstown and resumed his former business as merchant, which he continued until his retirement in April, 1869.

Late in the same year he was offered an interest together with the management of two coal mines in the Massillon District. This offer was accepted and he removed to Massilon in 1870, where he has since made his home. For a short time in addition to his coal mines he became engaged in the Iron business which proved very disastrous to him, as it did to thousands of others in the panic of 1873. During this period, however, Mr. Howells has been continually in the coal business and his operations have been uniformly successful. He has opened up eight coal mines, three of which are now in operation and

owned by the well-known corporation -The Howells. Coal Co.-which employs from five to six hundred men, and of which Mr. Howells is president and manager. Being an experienced miner and a most successful coal operator, Mr. Howells is properly considered one of the best and highest authorities on the coal mining industry in the State of Ohio.

In politics Mr. Howells is a Democrat, and the public offices he has filled show that he enjoys the respect and confidence of the party. In 1866 Mr. Howells became a candidate for County Treasurer of Mahoning County, and also in 1868 a candidate for State Senator in the Mahoning and Trumbull District, but the district being largely Republican, he was defeated both times, although in each case he ran greatly ahead of his ticket. In 1875 he was a candidate for State Treasurer, but failed to secure the nomination. Two years later, however, in 1877, he received the nomination and was elected, leading all the candidates except Hon. R. M. Bishop, who was elected Governor. His record as Treasurer of State is honorable in every respect and equal to any of those that have filled that responsible position. Mr. Howells again in 1879 was unanimously nominated by his party for the same position, with Gen. Thomas Ewing heading the ticket for Governor, but at the polls the entire ticket was defeated.

Mr. Howells was appointed Postmaster of Massillon in May, 1886, but finding that his private affairs required most of his time and attention, he resigned in April, 1888. Mr. Howells. was also nominated Presidential Elector in the State Democratic Convention in 1888. The ticket, however, was defeated. At the Stark-Carroll Senatorial Convention held at Carrollton in September, 1889, Mr. Howells

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was nominated by exclamation, and in November following was elected Senator by a large majority, notwithstanding that the district is largely Republican. At the organization of the Senate in January, 1890, although detained at home by sickness, he was appointed on some of the most prominent and responsible committees -chairman of the committee on "Benevolent Institutions," "Mines and Mining," "Public Expenditures," and second on the committee on "Finance." And at the Senatorial Convention held last September at Canton, O., Mr. Howells was again nominated by acclamation, but though he had a majority in his county (Stark), he was defeated in the district, as was the balance of the ticket.

Mr. Howells holds several other prominent and honorary positions in the community. He is now serving his second term as President of the "Ohio Institute of Mining Engineers." He is also serving his second term as President of "The Massillon Board of Trade."

In appearance Mr. Howells is rather below the medium height, is compactly built and as straight as an arrow. His character in public and private life is above reproach. Although not a member of any religious denomination, Mr. Howells is associated chiefly with the Baptists, but he has always been liberal in his views and benefactions in aid of worthy objects in other Christian churches. He is also a member of several charitable societies, having become an Odd Fellow in 1887, a Knight of Pythias in 1878, and also a member of the Welsh Ivorite Lodge at Youngstown, Ohio. A patron of the Eisteddfod and other national Institutions, Mr. Howells takes an active intesest in all matters which tend to advance the welfare of his own nationality.

Mr. Howells was married in 1854 to Miss Elizabeth James and has four children, three sons and one daughter, who, together with their honored parents, form a happy social circle, and are highly esteemed and respected by the community at large.

SIR WILLIAM JONES, THE
GREAT ORIENTAL
SCHOLAR.

An Inaugural Address delivered at Bangor University College, Oct. 2, 1891, by Prof. E. V. Arnold, M. A.

He said: I have the honor of calling your attention this afternoon to the career and achievements of a man who deserves your regard as a good citizen, a learned lawyer, and an eminent man of letters. A hundred years since, as many of you know, Sir William Jones was known and honored over two continents alike for his great talents and his high principles. The English world of letters counted him as their champion in all wordy contests with the foreigner, whilst the people respected him as the outspoken defender of their liberties against the aggressions of the King's ministers. To the natives of India the man was an hero amongst judges who promised to establish their cherished laws in the courts of the last of their conquerors; yet they loved him still better as the familiar friend of their pundits, and the translator of their choicest literature. I feel that no faults of the lecturer can altogether deprive such a subject of interest, before an audience including many who are accustomed to take part in public affairs, and where all are united by attachment to those higher studies which this College exists to promote. But I should not be doing justice if I did not claim your sympathy for William Jones as a man of Welsh extraction, and as

one of those who helped again to bring the Welsh name into honor after a period of depression and lifelessness. I know that some may object that William Jones was forgetful of his birth, and knew little either of the history or the literature of his forefathers. This cannot be altogether denied, but on the other hand it should be remembered that he lived in stirring times, and that he was frequently called upon to exert his energies on matters of high state importance. When any country produces a man of the character of Sir William Jones, it must in fairness allow him a free judgement as to the matters that have most claim on his attention; and that country has the more right to be proud of her son's achievements, if they have been dedicated to the service of the world without. But Sir William was not unthoughtful of Wales. It is true that he could have had but little knowledge of the Welsh language: for in a memorandum he names eight languages studied critically-English, Latin, French, Italian, Greek, Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit; eight studied less perfectly, but all intelligible with a dictionary; twelve studied least perfectly, but all attainable-Tibetian, Pali, Pahlavi, Derri, Russian, Syriac, Ethiopic, Coptic, Welsh, Swedish, Dutch, Chinese-but if this position be a doubtful compliment to Wales, there are others more decided. William Jones played on the Welsh harp, which he learnt from a countryman named Evans, in whose house he lived for some time. "I prefer his harp," he says, "to the Theban lyre, as much as I prefer Wales to ancient or modern Egypt." He was a member of the Society of the Cymmrodorion, and declares himself as such "warmly interested in British antiquities and literature." Again, when on circuit as barrister on the banks of