The London Welshman

Notes from South Wales. (From our Special Correspondent.) Prince of Wales at Cardiff. In regard to our last week's reference to the visit of the Prince of Wales, it -should be ex- plained that H.R.H. simply laid the foundation stone of the new University College, whilst at Cathay's Park. At the same time there was an unofficial recognition of Cardiff's enterprise in erecting such a magnificent new Town Hall and Law Courts, which are adjacent to the site of the new College, and whose surprising beauty attracted the keen eye of the Prince as the Royal procession passed in front of them. Aiming High. That the Cardiff Corporation have very ambitious ideas is evidenced by the erection of these new Town Hall and Law Court Buildings. The special correspondent of the London Daily Telegraph, in reporting the Royal visit, said they reminded him of the American State Buildings at Washington. Certain it is that they have cost the Cardiff ratepayers a pretty penny, and there is much dissatisfaction felt in the town at what is described as the gross extravagance of the City fathers in erecting municipal buildings far in excess of the requirements of the town. Imperial Language. The Swansea Daily Post, commenting on the Meeting recently held in that town by the local ehurchpeople, in defence of the Educational Act, at which Bishop Owen spoke, said "If any unusually discerning member of the Corph had been present at the Albert Hall, he must have gone outside and scratched his head reflectively, and asked himself: Is this the Underdog, or am I being diddled ?' This is very funny, no doubt, but I am convinced that no "unusually discerning member of the Corph Would have used such expressions. Under- dog and diddled are only used by the great Imperial thinkers and the habitues of Con- stitutional Club taprooms. "Odessa Witticisms." One of the most sarcastic weeklies in Wales is the Aberystwyth Cambrian News. This great seaside oracle is invariably holding everything and everybody up to ridicule. When the Western Mail, for example, makes a typo- graphical error in its columns, the seaside cynic Pounces upon it like a hawk upon its prey, and in the next issue there is the usual sarcastic comment. But, even the great Aberystwyth oracle makes errors. As, for instance, in the *ast issue, viz. "It is believed that several ships in which Aberystwyth people are interested are at Odessa witticisms." What a pity this did not appear in the Western Mail? If it had, yve should hear a lot about Odessa Witticisms in the next Up and down the Coast."

The Agents for The London Welshman" In North and South Wales are- Messrs. DAWSON & SONS, Ltd., and Messrs. W. H. SMITH & SONS. b Copies can be obtained at any railway C ookstaIl if a standing Order is given to the Ierk in charge. WELSH ADVERTISEMENTS. OOKs purchased for Cash.—JAMES GFORGE, 23 and 24, Queen Street Arcade, Cardiff. 10,000 ^lrnes always in Stock. New additions daily, RJCHARD JENKINS, Art Tailor, 3 and 5, Custom f House Street, Cardiff, has earned a great reputa- °r his excellent fit and finish.

A WELSH GUIDE. ROBIN BACH-or, to give him his correct name Robert Edwards -was a well known guide at Dolgellau in the early part of the last century. Every path and crevice on Cader ldris were known to him, and his quaint appearance, small stature, and pleasant humour were well known to the tourists of those days. But the one thing that Robin prided himself upon was his princely ancestors, and his pedigree and qualifications as a guide were well stated in his business card," which read as follows "ROBERT EDWARDS," Second son of that celebrated tawer (tanner) William Edwards ap Griffith, ap Morgan, ap David, ap Owen, ap Llewelyn, ap Cadwalader, great, great, great grandson of an illegitimate daughter of that illustrious hero, Rice ap Thomas -no less famed for his irresistible prowess, when mildly approaching under the velvet standards of -ni 1 the lovely Venus, than when sternly advancing with the terrible banner of the bloody Mars-by Anne alias Catherine, daughter of Howell ap Jenkyn, of Ynys-y-Maengwyn, who was the thir- teenth in descent from Cadwgan, a lineal descendant from Bleddyn ap Cymin, Prince of Powys. Since his nativity full four and eighty times hath the sun rolled to his summer solstice. Fifty years was he host of the Hen and Chickens, Penypont, Dolgellau; twenty of which he was, apparitor to the late Right Reverend Father in God, John, Bishop of Bangor and his prede- cessors. By chance made a glover, by genius and choice a fly dresser and angler, is now, by the All-divine assistance conductor to and over the most tremendous mountain Cader Idris, to the stupendous cataracts of Cain and Mawddach, and to the enchanting cascades of Dol-y- Melynthyn, with all its beautifully romantic scenery. Guide General, and magnificent ex- pounder of all the natural and artificial curiosities of North Wales, professor of grand and bombastic lexicographical words, knight of the most anomalous whimsical, yet perhaps happy, order of hair-brained mexplicables." It is little wonder that with such qualifications Robin was deemed a common favourite, and had he lived to the present age he would have made a fortune in the art of writing advertisements. Robin lived till he was 88 years old, and to the last was able to guide parties over that tremendous mountain Cader Idris."

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