The London Welshman

Notes from South Wales. (From our Special Correspondent). A Popular Minister. In the last issue of the LONDON WELSHMAN I reproduced a picture of the Welsh Tabernacle Baptist Church at Cardiff, where so many stirring revival meetings have been held lately. The further courtesy of the editor of the Christian Herald-a paper which has been devoting con- siderable space to the Welsh Revival—enables me to also reproduce in these notes an admirable portrait of the pastor of the Tabeinacle in question, the Rev. Charles Davies. Mr. Davies, who is a thorough Welshman, and eloquent preacher, and a popular pastor, has taken a very prominent part in these wonderful Revival meetings. A Cosmopolitan Gathering. Last Saturday night I attended one of the meetings at the Tabernacle, and I can honestly state that a more cosmopolitan gathering could not be seen in any part of the world. The Tabernacle is situated in a direct line with Cardiff Docks, and is, therefore, accessible to the thousands of British and foreign seamen to be always found in that district. Almost every nationality was represented in that sea of faces. There were Welshmen, Englishmen, Scotsmen, and Irishmen, several Frenchmen, a number of Germans, Norwegians, and Swedes. Here and there could be seen a dusky native of the West Indies, and a Spaniard or two. I noticed a Chinaman near the door, and there were several Lascars who looked on the proceedings with a great deal of interest. Madame Kate Llewellyn thrilled the audience with her beautiful singing, and there was no disputing the deep impression she made. It was an instructive scene, and it struck me that nothing is better calculated to bring home to the mind of all nationalities the great principle of universal brotherhood than D such gatherings as these. The Swansea Football Team. Last Saturday the Swansea Football Club succeeded in defeating the Cardiff team by 16 points to 3. It now looks as if the Swansea team will go through the season without a single defeat, as the Cardiffians were considered the only team likely to challenge the All Whites' supremacy. There is no doubt that the Swansea team is the finest Rugby combination in the world, and it is quite probable that Swansea could beat the English, Scottish, and Irish International Fifteens, or, in fact, any combina- tion of British footballers. By the way, a Swansea firm of tailors presented each member of the Swansea Club with a suit of clothes last season, because they were not beaten once on their own ground, and it is understood that the firm will do likewise at the end of the present season, if the ground record will be still intact. The Right Spirit. Cymro Pybyr" in the last week's issue of Tarian y Gweithiwr—the recognised organ of the Welsh colliers and tinplate workers-struck the right key when he wrote Llongyfarchwn Mr. Llewelyn Williams yn galonog ar ei ddewisiad i fod yn gynrychiolydd Seneddol Rhanbarth Caerfyrddin a Llanelli yn y dyfodol. Canmolwn y pwyllgor am ddetholiad mor dda. Gallat Alfred Davies, T. Terrell, a Major Jones fod yn foneddwyr da, ac yn gynrychiolwyr cym- meradwy i'r rhanbarth hwn yn ac allan o'r Senedd, ond nis credwn y gallent dreiddio mor ddwfn i deimlad ac angen y Cymry fel Llewelyn Williams. Dyma Gymro gwaed coch. Nis gellir ei wrando yn siarad, na darllen ei gyn- yrchion llenyddol, heb deimlo i'r byw fod rhywun gwir wladgarol a thyner ei galon yn ein hymyl ac yn cynrychioli ein teimladau a'n daliadau gwleid- yddol, llenyddol, achrefyddol. Da y gwnaethost yn wir, Llanelli a Chaerfyrddin. Dyma Lloyd- George gwir Gymreigiwr arall i St. Stephen. Pwy bynnag anturia ei wrthwynebu yn yr Etholiad Cyffredinol, rhoddir iddo y fath gurfa na anghofia byth ac yn dragywydd law drom y Cymro pan darawa." Bravo Cymro Pybyr." South Wales Trade. The absurd and ridiculous assertions of Mr. Chamberlain that British trade is going are being continually proved to be false. There are business gentlemen in South Wales whose views on British trade prospects are infinitely more weighty than those of Mr. Chamberlain, and their views may be accepted as genuine. The other day, for example, Mr. J. B. Ferrier, of Cardiff, the General Manager of the great firm of Messrs. Burnyeat, Brown & Co., Limited, speaking of the condition of the South Wales market said that although business had not been very good during 1904 there were now signs of revival in the iron and steel industries, which meant that better times were coming for the coal trade. "I do not anticipate," he added, that there will be much im- provement in the coal industry in 1905. It will remain very much the same as in 1904; but with 1906 there will be an improvement, for the coal trade faithfully follows the move- ment of the iron and steel industries up and down, but at an interval of a year." According to Mr. Ferrier's calculations, the fluctuations in the coal and iron trades have occurred at regular intervals for many years past. Mr. Ferrier's just-quoted references as to the years imme- diately ahead affords an approximately accurate indication of what we may expect in the near future. Echoes of the Revival. South Wales tradesmen are trying to make money out of the Revival. Numbers of drapers are selling pocket-handkerchiefs with portraits of Evan Roberts, and a verse from the well- known Revival hymn, Throw out the life line," printed thereon. A wax figure of the Revivalist is a leading attraction at a Waxworks Exhibition. Many toy sellers in South Wales towns are also selling medallions containing portraits of Evan Roberts, and during a recent visit to one of the colliery districts, I noticed many young men wearing them proudly on the lapels of their coats. Picture postcards of the Revivalist and his co- workers are also features of the majority of booksellers and stationers' shops. I may add than an Abercarn infant was lately christened Evan Roberts John, in honour of the Welsh Revivalist. The baptism took place over the mother's coffin at her funeral, in accordance with a desire she expressed on her death bed. Musical Items. Mr. Ben Davies and Mr. David Hughes were the principal artistes at a splendid performance of The Messiah," by St. Paul's Choir, Swansea, on Monday. Both of these famous singers are natives of Abertawe. Mr. Ben Davies' mother is still living at Belle Vue Street in the town, and the famous vocalist has been spending a 'few days with her lately. Mr. Davies, who was interviewed by the inevitable pressman, spoke in terms of enthusiasm in reference to his tour in South Africa. He was everywhere accorded most enthusiastic receptions by Welsh people, and was quite surprised to see so many natives of Gwalia in that far off country. Welsh choirs met him at the different railway stations, and rendered Welsh songs to his (Mr. Davies') great delight. Chamber concerts are getting popular in South Wales. Several have been held at Mer- thyr and Aberdare within the last couple of years, and the large and rapt audiences show that the masses of the industrial districts can thoroughly appreciate high class music. A Chamber concert is to be held at Tonypandy next week. Wales to the Front. 0 Never since the days of Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, has Wales occupied so prominent a place in the eyes of the nation." Thus, truly remarks the Pall Mall Gazette, This fact is principally due to the energy of men like Mr. Lloyd-George, the late Tom Ellis, M.P., and other members of the Welsh Parliamentary Party. In fact, the services rendered to Wales by Mr. Lloyd-George are immense. And it need hardly be stated that every patriotic Welshman is fully cognisant of the fact. The day may not be very distant ere we shall have Home Rule for Wales. Our Intermediate Schools and Colleges are giving birth to a strong Young Wales Party, and the next ten or fifteen years will witness yet a greater advance in patriotism. National Library and Museum. A great amount of interest has been aroused in reference to the decision of the Government to make a Treasury grant for a Welsh National Library and Museum. As to the location of the same, it is very probable that Aberystwyth and Cardiff will be the towns that will make the principal claims. Personally, I think that the National Library ought to be located at Aber- ystwyth. Aberystwyth has already a priceless collection of books to serve as a nucleus, and, although there is a magnificent collection of books at the Cardiff Free Library, it is not likely that the ratepayers of the town would consent to their being transferred to a National Library. Aberystwyth has the leading college, and lends itself better as a seat of learning than Cardiff, which is a commercial town, pure and simple. The site that Aberystwyth can offer for a National Library is also a beautiful one, being located in a bracing atmosphere which is far better for students than the relaxing atmosphere of Cardiff. I know every inch of the great Welsh port, and can gauge local public opinion as well as anybody, and I unhesitatingly say that beyond the well-meant and commendable efforts of a small band of Welsh patriots in the town, the great bulk of Cardiffians have no enthusiasm whatsoever for the location of the National Library in their midst. It is true that .the population of Cardiff is about 180,000, but only some five per cent. of that number are sufficiently Welsh to welcome the location of a National Library in their midst.