The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1890-11-21 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

NEATH NOTES.  [BY AP LLOLWYN].  FATE.  I believe a body who takes upon himself the writing of notes for a newspaper is supposed by his readers to be able to wield his pen upon any and every subject as occasion arises. Ido not know that I have occasion, especially to rummage after the meanings and usages of the word "Fate." There are many people I believe who will say they believe iii "Fate." I have been thinking a good deal on the subject from time to time, and have been diligent in my search after the truth with regard to "Fate." I am not much wiser now after all my re-search. I do not know what fate is. Can any of my readers enlighten me? In "Fate," as the word is popularly used and understood, I do not believe. When a Person meets with a series of misfortunes in country places about Wales, talk to the sage of the district or place about the circumstances and he will look at you w isely and gravely, inform you with'i mysterious air that "it is Fate." In the teachings of this sort of sage Ido not believe. Ask him what he means by "Fate," and he answers not. He cannot. The matter is a mystery even to him, but he will seldom admit it. I think the meaning of the word "Fate" is perverted, and has been perverted to cloak the ignorance of man about hims3lf. He does not know hiinelf— far less does he know the source and cause of many of his misfortunes. When I have heard of sad occurrences—for it is in conne3tion with sad occurrences that the word Fate is mostly made use of—and I have been told it was Fate that the misfortunes should have occurred. I have meditated upon the occurrence itself, and in the majority of cases am able to satisfy myself that it was not Fate at all. The cause of the occurrence can be traced, and as long as that can be done I don't think it should be attributed to some mysterious unknown agency.  A short time ago two lovers in Paris committed suicide. They were very fond of each ether and wanted to be married. The parents of both objected, and the objection being persisted in, the couple determined to die together sooner than be parted. Locked in each others arms, they threw themselves into the River Seine, and were hushed for ever. The dark waters closed around them, and, alas! in a few moments they were no more. The two young ardent human beings who, with sorrowful, the perchance, happy hearts, that stood but a moment ago on the banks, are lost for ever. IVho can realise their feelings as they just lost consciousness? I am afraid we cannot, but it was not fate that drove these young people to commit suicide. It was a cruel set of parents, cruel at least in the eight of the young people. The old people, for some wordly considerations, refused their sanction to the union. The young people sooner than be parted, resolved to die. This was reasonable enough. They would not part. I maintain that both were perfectly sane at the time, and undoubtedly knew what they were about. Who knows but that they are now in a world where they will always be happy with each other, and whei e there are no cruel parents with authority to part them.  But the country sage would tell you it was fated that they should have ended their lives thus! I don't believe it. Yet, another instance : The other day a poor widow in Pembrokeshi-e and her child were burned to death in their beds. The house got on fire, and when the fire had burned out, the widow and child were found in bed charred beyond recognition. The country sage says it was fate. No, air, it was not fate. It was a burning candle left carelessly near the bed that set the house on lire. Carelessness was the cause of the candle being left burning. The candle was the cause of the flue The fire caused the death of the poor widow and her child. Where does fate come in?  A young man meets a young woman, he likes her, and after a short courtship marries her. The woman turns out extravagant, a poor wife, a very bad mother. The family are continually in trouble. Was it fate? No, sir; it was want of perception on the part of the man. He should have ascertained the capabilities of his would-be helpmeet before he took her to be unto himself a wedded wife. Yet in such cases I have heard the sage say it is fate. I like the Welsh word for fatalist, it is given as " Coelgrediniwr," which means one who believes in a false doctrine. I believe the popular doctrine of fate to be false.  If predestination was believed in then I think the doctrine of faith from the same source as predestination could be reasonably believed also. But pat t the two and deny the interference of the Deity in Fate. I cannot believe in it. In ten cases out of every dozen the cause of the fatality can be traced. Where this can be done I am unwilling to believe it was fate. Let a man be careful and wide awake, let him seize upon his opportunities when they present themselves, and let him make the beet of all the time he has. I think he can defy fate. He will often make mistakes and blunders, which perchance may cause him trouble and sorrow. Let him carefully examine his past, and he will trace the cause of his misfortunes. It is because that the meditating is a disagreeable duty that I believe the popular doctrine of " Fate" is so much indulged in. Jam a sceptic with regard to "Fate." I cannot bring myself to believe in it. IWe have no doubt the cogent reasonings of " Ap Llolwyn " will be well read, but the local application does not seem to be forthcoming.—Eh. C.O.G.]