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The Oomtnon itself is a glorious place, its size is only to be spoken of in 

 miles ; its position, high and dry ; its surface undulated ; and its air so pure, 

 that as you admire the mountain ranges of Radnorshire before you, you find 

 yourself involuntarily stretching your chest to fill it to the utmost. It has all 

 the freshness of a mountain breezi without giving you the trouble of climbing to 

 get it. It makes breathing a positive enjoyment. It is well to give all this in 

 detail, for the spirit of change, alas ! has invaded the Common. The city of 

 Llandrindod, that is to be, is on paper, with the elevation of its crescents, its 

 villas, its new church, its grand hotels and boarding-houses, &c., &c. ; and 

 there, unmistakably in the turf, are the lines newly cut for the allotment of 

 considerable portions of it. 



And what shall we say of Ihe Mineral Springs ? The lecturer ably 

 gave \is their scientific character ; but what of their real utility ? To laud 

 them, would be in bad taste and suspicious ; to decry them, worse. Take a 

 walk there with some old habitue of Llandrindod, — specimens are always to 

 be found plentifully in fine weather — and judge for yourself. Take your regular 

 visitor by the arm (there is ample time, between the glasses!) and, having 

 listened with interest, through the usual raptures on the wonders effected by 

 "the waters," which you hear from every one, keep him to the point, and you 

 ■will get all the anecdotes and all the floating gossip of the place. You will hear 

 such a series of boyish freaks, learn such merry tricks, and see such proofs of 

 practical joking, that if you have a philosophical turn of mind you will begin to 

 think there is some truth after all in the language of an imaginary guide- 

 book. " Truly blessed indeed to mankind is the possession of these health-giving 

 waters. They strengthen youth, they invigorate old age, they heal the sick. 

 Gently, and yet effectively, they purge the vile humours from the blood, restore 

 to the body its proper powers, and leave the natural elasticity of spirits to 

 develope themselves in all their pristine vigour and cheerfulness." You will be 

 shown for example that pool in the Ithon where the poor old salmon was left by 

 the too-rapidly receeding waters. There it was, clear at all times to be seen, and 

 as the secret spread itself, every rod in the neighbourhood was put in requisition. 

 Never pool was so continuously whipped ! never salmon so tempted before with 

 such a variety of flies and minnows, true and false ! It availed nothing, 

 however, for the cautious old salmon, though in a "fix," was "wide awake," 

 and he became at length " the lion " of the day. Visitor after visitor was set 

 to catch it, with due secresy and care ; and each after the other, with his 

 favourite apparatus, went out in high spirits to secure the prize, only to 

 return back again crest-fallen to meet as best he could, the laugh of the 

 company. The fish would not be caught. At length a well-known ironmaster 

 appeared upon the scene, and all the Pump House visitors chuckled with glee ; 

 "We'll set him at the salmon" was theory. The fresh arrival, nothing loth, 

 with the fish in sight, resolved on its capture. The man took the bait readily, 

 but not for an instant would the salmon look at the flies of the skilful ironmaster. 

 Great was the quiet quizzing that went on at the table d'hote, too great for its 



