Papurau Newydd Cymru
Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru
22 erthygl ar y dudalen hon
Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau
22 erthygl ar y dudalen hon
Neu Wreichion Oddiar yr Eingion
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Neu Wreichion Oddiar yr Eingion By CADRAWD. A VISIT TO CARNHUANAWC'S GRAVE. (Continued from last week.) The Vaughans of Tretower have contributed many notabilities. Sir Roger Vaughan, who fell at Agincourt, was the first husband of Gwladys, daughter of Sir David Gam, and was the ancestor of Henry Vaughan, the Si/rist, tile" metaphysical" poet, and predecessor of Wordsworth. In recent times the family has been represented, by Dean Vaughan of LiandaH, Cardinal Vaughan, and his eloquent brother Father Bernard Vaughan. They arc also allied with the noble house of Beaufort and Pembroke through the illusttrious Her- berts. We now proceed to Cwmdu. The meadows slumlwe peacefully, and" all the air a solemn stillness holds. how the sacred calm that breathes around. Bids every tierce tumultuous passion cease In still smaii accents whispering from the ground, A grateful earnest of eternal peace." And yet, Carnhuanawf describes Celts, Romans, Saxons, Danes, and Normans fighting in this valley under the shadow of the everlast- ing hills with unexampled ferocity. These peaceful fields were once deluged with blood- shed, and given over to devastation. The Hon. Mabel Bailey writes that her father, the late Lord Glanusk, when shooting, found a curious plant, of which he knew not the name. A farmer promptly told him that the local tradition was that it only grew where Danes' blood had been shed. It is a known fact in history that when the Danes were defeated by Alfred' the Great in 896 they fled in large numbers to this secluded country. The parish of Cwmdu has always been noted for its nume- rous ruins of camps and military fortifications. The churchyard occupies one of the finest spots in the whole district. Tbe sacred edifice is being carefully restored on a large scale, and is a magnificent building, but not yet completed. Carnhuanawc took a great delight in trees and plants, and all the varied forms of vegetable life. To him also— Every flower that breathed Contained thoughts too deep for tears." He must have been extremely happy in this rural retreat, with the flowers for his com- panions. and nature's orchestra playing its full accompaniment throughout the year. natives protest against the name Cwm- tfttf black valley, and always repeat the old with great solemnity— Cam enw vw Cwmdu, Waeth cwm. gwyn yw'n cwm nr." (Black valley is wrong we say, For ours is white throughout the day). There is a large collection of yew trees in the churchyard, and the majority of the graves are well kept. Carnhuanawc's tomb is strong and solid, made of native stones. In shape it is a flat tomb on masonry, with solid, dressed stone courses, plain but well dressed. In gazing silently upon the tomb I remembered how Carnhuanawc had, many months before his death, chosen this spot for his grave. He directed that his remains should be buried in this beautiful earth the parochial graveyard. forbidding all unnecessary expense and ostena- tious display. His friends would have been glad to bury their beloved pastor inside the sacred edifice, but he had strictly forbidden this. It seems that so much of it had been done in previous centuries that the walls of the church otiad been undermined, so that extensive slips and fissures had given ample warning of a possible catastrophe if this practice was con- tinued much longer. Eminently sane in all things, it was also. no doubt, more in keeping with his simple tastes to be buried outside the church, amid the flowers and trees he loved so much. Besides, he frequently repeated an old Welsh saying "Yr eglwys i'r byw ar fonwent i'r meirw." (The church for the living, but the graveyard for the dead.) His funeral was announced to be private, but so many friends and neighbours arrived at an early hour, that the company amounted to about four hundred persons. As we stood bareheaded over Camhuanawc s tomb. our minds went back in meditation to that exqui- sitely pathetic November morning in 1848, when Cambria's great historian was laid in his lowly grave, with many a hill and valley between him and his native Buallt; and yet within thesacred borders of Brvchan p country, where he had lived and moved for so many years as a faithful shepherd of the tJ09k. With him that day were buried a multitude of remi- niscences of nun and movements—some of which, it is true, are perpetuated in his writings, but many also are irretrieveably lost, and will bo heard of no more. They appeared in his table talk and his public orations— Like snow flakes on the river, One moment white, then gone for ever." The day of his funeral was memorable in the annals of his district. The valley of Cwmdu was flooded with sunshine and beauty. The blue sky was cloudless, and the solemn still- ness was only broken by the heavy sound of a funeral peal from the muffled bells of the parish church. The mountain wind was fast asleep in his lonely cavern, and the sun shone brilliantly, although not in its full strength, for it was the parting glory of the autumn. The surrounding hills towered with an awe-inspiring haze of mystery into the regions of immensity —fit emblems of that communion with the invisible which the departed seer experienced all through life. The service was altogether in Welsh, the inspired accents of which Carnhuanawc had always heard when a child at his mother's knees, on the hearth of Pencaerelin, at Llanfi- hangel Bryn Pabuan-his native hamlet in Llanafan Fawr. When the mourners reached the grave the silence was so complete that nothing was heard but the bearers' tread, and the music of the birds from the adjoining groves—a proper requiem for the repose of this unsophisticated child of nature. When the officiating clergyman began the prayers the whole multitude knelt with him on the turf, and copious tears were shed by young and old. It was a sorrow which seemed hopeless, and they were quite indifferent to all things around. When the service was over, the silence continued, nobody turned away, but all re- mained with their heads uncovered, and tearful eyes gazed on the coffin, as if unwilling to yield up theic long and last farewell. It is some interest to note that the Rev. George Howells, Vicar of Llangattock. was the officiating minister. He claimed kinship with the famous Howell family, viz., James Howell, the courtier and historian and Dr. Thomas Howell, Bishop of Bristol in the reign of Charles I. Their father was curate of Llangammarch for some years, ana his son, the Bishop, was born there. The funeral sermon was preached by Mr Howells on the following Sunday from Deut. xxxiv., 5. He described how humility of disposition and supremacy of intellect were allied in his departed friend and brother. Carn- huanawc's interest in the peasantry was deep and undying, and yet. some of thc most learned and refined men in Europe courted his society. He \vas the happiest, because the most con- tented, of human beings. He envied no one, coveted nothing, expected nothing, but he cheerfully assisted all who asked him aS far as his money, time, and talents could avail to promote the best interest of Wales and Welsh- men. (To be concluded next week). -L-
Yachtmen's Rough Time. .
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Yachtmen's Rough Time. A PERILOUS CHANNEL CRUISE. Rough weather was encountered in the Channel on Friday night, as the result of which a number of Cardiffians were prevented being at Swansea on Saturday for tte regatta. Half- a dozefi yachts from Cardiff and several from Penarth left for Swansea about mid-day on Friday, but after a few hours' sail heavy seas were encountered, and towards midnight several of the yachts were in danger of being lost. When close in to the land to the east of the Nash an effort was made to anchor, but the attempt was futile, anchors were dragged, and the situation became extremely serious when the tide turned, and a strong westerly gale set in. There was nothing for it but to run back to Barry, which some of the yachtsmen hardly expected to rgach. One yacht was the Daunt- less, belonging to Mr Albert Harris, with whom four others were on board. Quite recently the owner had put in a motor, but owing to the rough weather the accumulator got wet and the motor was thus rendered useless. All on board were very ill, notwithstanding that they arc good sailors. it was not until the Dauntless reached Barry Harbour at 2 a.m. on Saturday that they were able to get any food, and all were more or less bruised from having been pitched about. Other craft reached Barry an hour or two later, and their experience had been similar, a more try- ing and anxious night never having been passed by them. It required several hours to put the yachts to right. One occupant of a boat sustained such a severe fall that he was partially stunned and had to be carried ashore. One or two who hoped to be present at the regatta returned home by rail from Barry rather than risk further experience at that time in the channel.
------FATH EW^TOLEN"SAVINGS.
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FATH EW^TOLEN"SAVINGS. The Bristol magistrates ordered on Satur- day that £85 i n the possession of the police should be handed over to an old collier named Notley. It was part of his life-savings, which were stolen by his ne cr-do-well son, who fled to Bournemouth, where he was arretted. He leaped from an express train, anl was killed last week after a struggle with the detective who was taking him hack to Bristol, and the miillny waa found on him.
GOLOFN GYMREIG. ..
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GOLOFN GYMREIG. Dyrmmir i'n gohebwyr Cymrei? gyfeirlo eu go'uebiaethau. llyfravi i'w hadolygu, etc., fe! vcanl vn:—" lij~A.NO. Oil Hedd, Bortliwia- lilrcet. CardiIT."
AT Y BEIRDD.
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AT Y BEIRDD. Hedd a hwyl i Ddewi Aur yn nghadair Eis- teddfod Pontardawe! Englvnion gJân eu saermafth, fel arfcr, yw'r eiddo Treforfab a W. Richards. Dvnol iawn nodyn pryderus yn englyn yr oiaf. Diau y sylwa'r darllenydd fod T. Jeremiah wedi llwyddo'n dda i weu svniadaeth bryd- ferth ar gvnghanedd ei driawd cnglynon ef. Da was. Y mae cryn dipyn o amser er pan ymddang- hosodd gwaith Gweledydd yn y Golofn ond yr wythnoshon, fodd bypnag, wele ef vnnillad ei ogoniant cynganeddol ei hun yn ei englyn- ion a'i fer-awdl arobryn i Wanwyn Bywyd. Isel yw ysbryd Celynydd gystuddiedig, fel y gellir darllen rhwng llinellau hocwon ei gerdd brudd-felus, Dymuniad y Bardd," ac oto, mor ieuanc y rhaid bod ei awen a hithau'n gaUu canu mor llawn ac mor angherddol. Ymhell y bo'r dyddy can ete am. dano mor Uithrig¡yn y gan hon
BARDDONIAETH.
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BARDDONIAETH. I MARI YN UN-AR-HUGAIN OED. Mari ber, ym merw byd—ti harddaist Wyrddion lwybrau mebyd; Oriau hàf, a hwyr hefyd, o! gwna'u gwau—a gwyn i gyd. Cilfynydd. Wm. Richards.
Y WENOL.
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Y WENOL. Y wenol chwim ei hanes,—gloew 'i nwyf, Glan ei hoes a'i neges; Wyleiddiol ymwelyddes, Lywia daith trwy Ii' o dds. Treforfab.
LLEW.
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LLEW. Melynwawr lew mileinig,—o anian Newynnog a ffyrnig; I'w rawd el, a'i ruad dig Ergydia fraw drwy'r gocdwig. Garth, Maes teg. T. Jeremiah.
PEDR APOSTOL.
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PEDR APOSTOL. Un o feib y daran fu,—ac enwog Dywysog Duw Iesu; A nerth ei gOeth araeth gu Yrrai annwn i grynnu. T. Jeremiah.
CAPEL.
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CAPEL. Ty y Sabath, ty seibiant,—ty gwahddd, Ty gweddi a moliant: Ty swydd er tywys nt A'i gwnnu i ogoniant. i T. Jeremiah.
Y LLYGAD.
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Y LLYGAD. (Englyn arobryn Blaenau Ffestiniog, Mawrth 27, a Phontardawe, Ebrill 24,1909.) Gloew awdwr y gwelediad-haul y corff A'i lyw cain. yw'r llygad; Arllwys hoen i roi lleshad Wna brwd wen ei bur d'wyniad. Abercraf. Gweledydd.
EIRA BORt CYNTAF MAI 1909.
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EIRA BORt CYNTAF MAI 1909. Mae yr eira man yn disgyn Ar foreuddydd cyntaf Mai,— nef ar fron y Gwanwyn Gan santeiddrwydd wedi'u gwau; _Lili'r nef a lilïr ddaear Ddeffry ymhob mynwes gan: 0 mor brydferth ac mor hawddgar Oedd y bore gwyn a glan. Gweledydd.
DYMUNIAD Y BARDD.
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DYMUNIAD Y BARDD. Claddwch fi yn mron y mynydd Wisga'r nefoedd am ei ben— Un o hen fynyddoedd Cymru, Hoffaf wfad o dan y nell: Byth na wnacd v brwnt enllibwr, Ffiaidd yn ei waith a'i wedd, Na'r celwyddog halog, droedio Santaidd dir fy nhawel Gwnaed fy anwyl gorff gymysgu A fangre glyd, Gan achlesu'r gwellt a'r blodau Dyfont ar fy medd o hyd Y no pored yr anifail, Prancied wyn yn 01 en chwant, Cysged defaid man y mynydd— Ar fy medd wrth tin y nant. Can y nant, y gog, 'hedydd, Awyr, blodau'r mynydd iach, Si yr awel, brefiad defaid, Cerddi swynol adar bach; Can y bugail, eco'r creigiau, Taran, 'stormydd, haul a. hedd; Cethrog greigiau, cribog fryniau, Fyddo imi'n garreg fedd. Rhodded Anian rTn gweddillion Ran o'i bywyd hi o Planned Anian anwyl flodam Ar fy medd drwy oesau'r byd; Er na fum dros tllwr, Rhodder i'm gweddillion fedd Ar y mynydd gyda 'i meibion Syrthiodd drwy'r elynollld. Cladder fi gan weithwyr anwyl; Wrth fy medd gwnaed pawb yn nghyd Ganmol Duw am fod mor dirion W rtbyf drwy fy oes i gyd Cyn fy marw, 'rwy'n tynghedu Nant y mynydd Ian ei gwedd I arafu ac addoli Wrth fyn'd heibio man fy medd. Y Barri. Celynydd Mason.
GWANWYN BYWYD.
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GWANWYN BYWYD. (Awdl Cadair Pontardawe, Ebrill 24,1909.) Awen! i Wanwyn Bywyd Gwefria dy gainc frwd i gyd Yn gerdd íyw, garuaidd, fwyn, 0 reddfol dymer addfwyn. Hyfryd fore di-farug, A'i Ihvgar wedd fel y grug Yn iraidd mewn hawddgarwch, A phob swynion drosto'n drwch. Mae beulwen ddigymyJan-yn aros I oreuro 'i lwybrau; Ymylon cysgodion gau Ni lwydant wrid ei flodan. Foreuddydd difyr addien! Nid oes ni wi yn dvtryshau 'i neni Ei wawr dyner a daena Ei llwch aur ar esgyll chwa. I fwynaf gyhwfanu Yn awyr gain ei awr gu. Fore difyr diofid,—a'i ddyddiau o addurn trybelid Yn arwyddion o rhyddid,—heb chwerw- der I ddarnio 'i hoender &'i ddwrn o wendid. Ennyn hwyl wna'i geinion hardd, I greu cainc a rhywiog gerdd o radlon, Mr delyn bardd, o dan bud ci Eden werdd. Nid yw rhagfyr un drygfyd—na chynnwrf Yng ngwych Wanwyn Bywyd; Telyn aur carolau'r cryd Ddaw i'w oedfa ddi-adfyd. Hyfrydwch yw cofio'r adeg—y bu Pob awr fel telyneg Yn canu dydd tywvdd teg, Hudai'r adar i 'hedeg— Hedeg uwchlaw pob adwyth—yn awyr Ieuanc, a byd esmwyth Castiog laslanciau ystwyth, 0 ddyfal aidd, o fyrj lwyth. Dcdwyddwch, heddweh a chm-yn drindod Ei randir digwynfan; A gesyd haul ei gusan Ar fri ei glir fore glan. Hyfryd hinon, hoff chwareuon, Mil o swynion ami eu seiniau,— Dyna wynfyd Gwanwyn Bywyd, xV dedwyddyd ei dueddau. Ei nodau seinber a dibryderon, Yn llanw'r "gwyliau," yn llonni'r galon; Miwsig o fel heb ormes gofalon, Tyner ei hwyliau, 'n tonni'r awelon; Ei froydd odiaeth llawn o freuddwydion, A'u gobebiaethau fel rhag-obeithion Am fywyd llawnach-am hat dillynion Rhyw adeg euraidd dan wridog goron; Dawel ennyd, o lawnion—bleserau, A sain carolau, heb swn cwerylon Hawddgar aelwyd ddigwerylon,—rhinwedd Rhieni cariadlon,— Yn null hardd y Gwanwyn lion Hawdd canu hedd-acenion. Ar ei flagur a'i 61 egin,—gwena Gwyneb haul dilychwin; Ni ddaw bias y dyddiau blin I abecoedd ei burwin. Addas gcidwad i ddysg ydyw,—col eg Caton i'r ddynolryw: Cariadus wawr cryd oes yw, Dyddorol dad y ddeuryw. Bur wanwyn bore einioes, o geinaf dwf gwyofyd oest Mae tlysni y lili l&n Yn ei wenau a'i anian; A gwrid ieuenctid sanctaidd Hob brudd-der a'i drymder, draidd Yn fflam o drydaniaeth fflwch Drwy'i ddi-gur, dfir hawddgarweh. Ond ar ei ol daw yr Haf—yn ei wrea I'w oroesi'n araf A i gnwd gwyn o'i had a gaf Acw'n niwedd cynhauaf. Abercraf. Gweledydd.
ADOLYGIAD Y WA86.
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ADOLYGIAD Y WA86. Y Wyddor, ynghyd a'r arwyddion Llawfer yn ol y cyfasaddiad Cymraeg o lawfer Pitiftan, atwasanaeth y dosbarth a'r aeiwyd. Gor- seinon, M. Griffiths. Pris 2g. Dyna bennawd ymgais newydd at helpu'r Cymro bach i ddysgu tlaw fer—un o'r pethau goreu y gall dyn ieuanc ei ddysgu yn yr oes brysur hon. Mae'r ymgais ar ffurf carden dros droedfedd o hyd wrth wyth o led, ac yn cynnwys llythyrenau'r wyddor Gymreig yn llawn eu Hun, a thanynt yr arwyddion llaw fer, fel y gallo'r plentyn, wrth ddysgu'r wyddor, ddysgu hefyd gyda llaw elfennau cyotaf cyfun- drefn Pitman. Diolchir i'r cyhoeddwr yn galonnog am feddwl am y peth, a chymerad- wvir ef yr un mor galonnog i sylw rhieni ac Iat'hawon fel peth hanfodol i baratoi plant y Cymvy i g^vstadlu'n l'wyddiannus a phlant y byd. t byd.
Welsh National Pageant: Character…
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Welsh National Pageant: Character Types. l.-Iklis-, CLinni-ngham in the costume 2.—Miss Hamblyn and Mr A. W. 3.-0lJe of the fairies impersonated by 4.—Mr Taylor, H.M. inspector of of a L.ady-in-Waiting in the train of Swash as a Welsh lady and gentleman Miss James, daughter of Mr W. V. schools, as a Welsh bowman. Llewelyn the Great. in ancient costume. James. Though the forthcoming National Pageant of Wales is not vaunting itself as a beauty show, or anything of the sort, there is' little reason to doubt that visitors to the function will not be permitted to depart therefrom in the conviction that its steam coal is the only ex- cellent product of the Principality. It is now some weeks since, under the direction of Mrs Perkins, the Pageant Mistress of the Robes, some hundreds of the maids and matrons of Cardiff and its vicinity started on the task of cutting out and sewing together in set shapes and quantities, the interminable miles of fancy tex- tiles that are to make the costumes for the 5,000 actors in the great show. A number of these costumes arc now complete, and have I been photographed for the South Wales Daily News by Mr H. J. B. Wills. It is not to be accepted that the ladies and genilttfnen portrayed in the costumes they are wearing in these photographs are to appear during the Pageant in the characters to which those costumes belong. With the exception of the charming little lady posing as a Welsh Fairy, it is not certain that any of them will figure in the precise characters they adorn in these photographs. In the, case of the hon. secretary of the pageant, for instance, it is unlikely that he will figure as a mere anonymous Welshman; even I though the alluring charms of such a fair daughter of Wales as that with whom he poses in Mr Wills's photograph might well beguile him from filling the role of some more cele- brated character in order to become her humble ca valier. The same statement applies to the alert- looking bowman of Mr Taylor, H.M.'s Inspector I of Schools for Penarth. It is open to doubt that Monmouth in its palmiest days ever pro- duced a more admirable specimen of the archer tribe than that presented by Sir Taylor in this photograph. Nevertheless, as a member of the Executive Committee of the pageant, and an historic artist of rare ability,it is unlikely that he will be permitted to retain a subordinate character any more than Mr Swash. The fact that Miss Cunningham is as pretty as paint in the charming robes of a lady-in- waiting on Gladys Ddu does not militate r against her appearing with equal charm in a loftier character. Still it seems hard to improve upon the attractiveness of such a lady-in- waiting as she here proves herself to be. As a matter of fact. however, when these ladies and gentlemen were hastily impressed into service as living lay figures to fill the dresses in which they here appear, it was regardless of their proper places in the pageant. The fact that I the costumes and their wearers become each other so thoroughly in these illustrations only demonstrates the charming adaptability of the material of which the pageant, in its 5,000 characters, is composed. Any way one takes it, the gathering runs to good looks, and that—so far as functions of a spectacular, kind are con- cerned—may be described as a fault on the right side.
, SNAPSHOTS AT. THE SWANSEA…
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SNAPSHOTS AT. THE SWANSEA REGATTA. < 1 (1) Subscribers' boat starting from Mumbles Pier. (2) Yachts in 15-mile race, Vanity, Ostra, and Movna. (.5) Shamrock passing winning: post. (4) White Heather rounding mark, fir.3t round.—Photos by H. A. Chapman, Swansea.
Rational Association Friendly…
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Rational Association Friendly Society.—Reception Committee. Hea^H^Dr^Cardiil), W.H. Carter (Ebbw V.lo), A. II. Drake (Cardiff), G. H- Pope (Newport). .M.j.L.u!)!!) 7!i!
THE " INCREASED BURDEN."
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THE INCREASED BURDEN." (The above notice is posted in many public-houses. It entirely omits to state the fact that the Trade is netting an additional profit of £ 16,000.000 a year out of the general increase in prices over and above the additional duties imposed by the Budget.)— By permission of the Editor of Morning Leader." < 4
.Ivor Bach. ¡.
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Ivor Bach. ¡ WHOWASHE? (By MORIEN.) It seems opportune to explain who Ivor Bach was, for people of all grades are these days ask- ing the question. To make matters clear it is necessary to give a brief account of the relation of parties in Glamorgan at the time he flour- ished. Now Sir Robert Fitzhamon, with his 12 Nor- man Knights, with 5,000 Norman soldiers, with the Welsh allies from Pembrokeshire and county Cardigan, numbering 3,000 strong, under West Wales Welsh Lords, instigated by Lord Einion Ap Collwyn, came into Glamorgan at the invitation of King Jestyn, son of the late King Gwrgan. to protect him against King Rhys ap Tudor, of Dunevor Castle, the King of West Wales, from the Tawc River to Cardigan Bay. The said Welsh Lords were in rebellion against their King. King Jestyn was very unpopular even in Glamorgan. King Rhys, aged 90, accompanied by his gallant sons. Lords Goronwy and Cynan, with their army marched across the Black Mountains and entered Glamorgan at Penderyn, co. Brecon. King Rhys took his quarters at a farmhouse above Hirwaun, still called Llety Rbys. or Rhvs's Abode. His army bivouacked on the rising ground at the top of Hirwaun Common, and the site of the camp is still called Twyn Rhys, or Rhys's Hill. Thus the King of West Wales had struck like a thunderbolt into the heart of Glamorgan. The Normans had landed- from transport ships from Bristol at Porth Ceri, near Barry Docks, where apparently they joined the con- tingent from West Wales and then marched into Cardiff. The excitement must have been intense, for Kins' Rhjte might at any moment dash down the Taff Valley upon Cardiff, the very seat of government. The Warlike Glamorgans. KingJeslvn sent trumpeters through the valleys summoning the warlike Glamorgans to his standard, but only 300 men obeyed, so ex- cessively unpopular was he among his own subjects, and yet none of those who held back joined Rhys. That was due to the loyal rever- ence for the old Royal Family whom Jestyn so much disgraced. In the midst of his escort of 300 Jestyn led the van of the allies, one-half of which, it appears, marched up through the Tall Valley and the other half up the Valley of the Rhym- ney by way ofCaerphiUyaaid Ystrad y Mynach, then known as Ystrfcd Vechan. The two divi- sions joined at Abercynon, at the entrance into the Aberdarc Valley, and marched np to Hirwaun Common The Normans were com- manded by Fitzhamon, who had 24 colonels under him. They marched towards the army of Rhys, and the battle commenced. The Welshmen elected to lead the van of attack with the Ncrmans in resci-ve. The action which endued was of a desperate character, and it appears Rhys rolled back his enemies to the sloping heights of Tre Cynon, to a ridge still called the Crimson Hillock (Twyn Coch), when Rhys's son and heir, Lord Goronwy; fell in the charge which, apparently, he led with unsurpassable valour His fall had a disastrous effect upon his (until then) victorious army, which was thrown into con- fusion, and it became a rout. The retreat was by way of Rhigoes and Neath, where, being e closely followed by the Normans, Lord Cynan and his staff sank in a morass and were drowned. The spot is still known as Cynan's Pit (Pwll Cynan). King Ithys escaped to the place now called Treherbert, and it appears, judging by the name of a hut on the south of the Rhondda river, he slept that night in a shepherd's arosfa, still called Rhys ap Tudor's "House." It was on the site of the yard of the present Lady Margaret Bute's Colliery. He was on the morrow captured and beheaded on the spot called Pen Rhys, between the Rhondda and Tyorstown-Rhondda Vach. Now without entering into what immedi- ately followed, I come to Ivor Bach Bren. The whole of the hilly parts of Glamorgan. from the Ely river to the Rhymney river, fell in the division of Glamorgan to the lot of Lord Einion ap Collwyn, as chief lord of those parts. His allies from West Wales had estates within his territory. General Gwrithfrw, one of the chiefs from West Wales, settled near Caerphilly, in the Manor of Cibbor. He had a son named Lord Cadivor, who was one of Oliver Cromwell's ancestors. Cadivor married Lady Myfanwy, daughter of Lord Gwrgan, son of Lord Ithet Brunette Bren, and they took up their residenc j at Castell Coch, Tongwynlais. They were,the parents of Ivor Bach, who bore the Royal title of Bren, a title inherited with the estate, and called Y Cantref Brenhinog." Now, in 1107 Fitzhamon died, leaving an only child, named Countes. Mably. Henry I., when Prince Henrv, had a son of the bar sinister by Lady Nrista, daughter of the late King Rhys. The son is known in history as Lord Robert Fitzroy, or Son of the King (Henry I.). He married Countess Mably, and thereby became Lord Paramount of Glamor- gan and first Ear! of Gloucester, created by his father on purpose to give him that title. He and his lady dwelt much at Llantrisant Castle, and the east of that-town is still called Mably's Ridge. Earl Robert was idolised by the Welsh. and called Yr IfrH." They had a son named Lord William. He married Countess Havisia. They had a son named Robert, who died in childhood, and was buried at Keynhaill Abbey, Bristol. Contemporary of Lord William. Ivor Bach was the contemporary of Lord William, and Ivor's son Gruffyth married Lord William's daughter. Ivor settled upon Gruffyth a large estate, extending from Berw Taav, Pontypridd, to Ystrad y Mnach, taking care to insert in the settlement that in case ofGruffyth's death leaving no son the said estate was to re- vert to himself. In those days a monastery flour- ished at Plas Draw, Aberdare. Robert Fitzrov (D. 1147) decided to transfer it to the old Royal residence, and called it Morgan Gam's Abbey. That became to be called Margam Abbey. But just after the abbey had been completed. and before it was endowed, Earl Robert died, leaving its completion to his son and successor Earl William. In those days a Wel3h monk, who was also a Welsh minstrel bard, roamed about the habi- taions among the hills, who was extremely busy in getting endowments for Margam Abbey. He was named Brother Meylor." One of his plans was to frighten Welsh land- lords on their deathbeds. To Capture Cardiff Castle. It became known that Lord Gruffyth. Earl William's son-in-law, was in a dying condition, and Brother Meylor went for him," and after he passed away it was discovered that at the instigation of the monk-bard he had executed a deed giving all his landed estates to Margam Abbey. That deed of settlement is still at Margam Abbey. Ivor Bach and all the Welshmen of Glamorgan were furious. Earl William ignored the marriage settlement! Ivor Bach decided to endeavour to capture Cardiff Castle by a coup de main. and one dark night Caste!! Coch became a great rendezvous of the stalwarts of Gwlad Morgan Mwynvawr. ,,r Soon a race was made for Cardiff with ladders by thousands carrying bucklers on their left arms and swords on their sides. Atthe moment Earl William and Countess H awisia were giving a banquet to a number of Norman squires. The walls were manned by 120 soldiers. But what cared Ivor Bach ? It appears than when the desert was on in the banquetting hall, the clash of arras fell on the ears, and the next minute the Welshmen, with Ivor Bach at their head, dropped like airships from above within the castle wards. Soon after Earl William was seen led out of the castle by the ear by Ivor Bach himself. The reader knows the rest. Hurrah, Ivor Bach The story w; penned in 1188 at Cardiff by the Archdeacon of Brecon (Giraldus Ca brelisis).
A BRITISH-AMERICAN CHORAL…
Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu
By D. EMLYN EVANS. A BRITISH-AMERICAN CHORAL COMPETITION. Some of our Welsh-American friends sti) continue to discuss and propose, off and (In. an International Eisteddfod, at which the choirs of Wales and America may have the opportunity to put their prowess to the test- and the latest proposition in connection the question is a communication from a W eS Virginian gentleman, W. Jenkins Jones, tha, appeared in a recent number of the Druid, in which the writer oilers five hundred lars towards the expenses of an internationaj srathering." It seems almost impossible, Mr Jones writes, to get a choir to go frotfl there to Wales to compete at the Nation* Eisteddfod for the chief prize in music, the main reason for it being that the prize is of too small a value for their people to go so far to compete. It is true that the prizes are good for those who are living in Wales, hut they af0 not sufficient to attraet tlteir people owing tjj the distance they would have to go." \Vc know, he says, that the people who eisteddfodau do so for the benefits derived fiomthem—and pay the debts of churcheS, chapels, and many other things": hut sup" pose that they hold an eisteddfod in Wilkes. barre or Scranton." he suggests, and dO away with the idea of making money excep* barely enough to pay the expenses of holding the eisteddfod, and the balance to go towardS making prizes sufficient in value to attract the musicians from every State in the Union to compete for them. and it may be that the prizes would large enough to draw a choir of two from Wales to compete." Then if they 4#*can secure one or two choirs from Wales to come over there, he will give 500 dollars (£100) towards the expenses of holding the eistedd* fod." He sees "no other way in which to bring the musicians of Wales and that country on the same stage without making the prizeS large enouah to attract them," and ends W, wishing Eisteddfod i bawb o bobol y byd. Although there are one or two points that a not very clear, and not quite convincing In regard to their manner of operation—modtt8 operandi, the only particular comment shall make now is to point out the fact tha* choirs from Wales undertook the trouble expense of competing at the Chicago World 9 Fair" (Ffair y Byd), when travelling rates were probably not less than at present in any case; and that what was possible for choirs frorO poor Little Wales to accomplish, is surely not beyond the financial capabilities of chO haling from the land of the almighty dollar to accomplish in return. They would receiv0 a truly loyal welcome if they made their ap" pearance on the National Eisteddfod platforrO* Welsh singers and Welsh people generally haV0 never been found wanting in the matter ol courtesy, be the visiting contestants whotC they may and certainly it would not be lack" ing towards their own kin from over the sea. The Feis Ceoil. Or, in other words, the Irish National EiØ; teddfod, were we not in danger of being charge with another injustice to Ireland in coose" quence. However, the Festival-the 13th tht has been held-which came to an end after si* days' busy work, on the 17th of the precedi month, partakes more of the character of j musical eisteddfod, or musical competition^' than anything else. Certainly they manage, those things differently in Ireland to what 'lie do here—and not always better, as we are d; posed to think, after a perusal of the specif representative of the Musical Herald's re. port. "We read that two or three halls w■ engaged all day throughout the Feis. Tber was a stream of people ready to pass in or OUt at the end of each item. In the large concer room singers filed before the adjudicator the official accompanist, using either a hig^" pitch grand or a low pitch upright piano. lJ1 smaller rooms, solos, duets, and trios for pianO. violin, etc., ere heard. As I could only b in one hall at a time, I chose the large concer room, paying an occasional visit to the othet rooms, and to the excellent refreshment roOtØ, managed profitalby by a ladies' committee, who made the feeding sociable and enjoyable. Again, one of the judges receives tion for his patience and leniency, spendiDe five or six hours over one competition eaC day." A patient judge," indeed. And 'lie agree with the special correspondent when ing that the man who says a judge is severe,, —as it seems certain armchair Pressmpn have done in this case—" should be condemned to sit out a contest of forty sopranos, each s' ing tWo songs and a sight test." In choral sm ing the "first idivision ladies reacheQ the water mark of the Feis while in the IOf division of male voice choirs there was some the worst singing that the writer "ever hear, in a competition." It sefms all the chora^ competitions had the nfinimum number ° voices stated and no maximum but be thought it was better to fix the maximum and omit the minimum—a small choir may arri with unexpected absentees and be disqualified^ and the smaller choirs needed most encourage" ment." One of the male conductors in some gymnastic displays on the platform- as some nearer home have a habit of doing, at;1d which caused a certain degree of audible snlll. ing among 1 he audience. They were take*? to task for this by the adjudicator, who adde^ that he would stand on his head if by so ing he could get a better effect from bis choir* It is suggested by some that the Feis mØl leave Dublin," but the Herald tive thinks it would be more reasonable to make the festivals in other towns preliminary trials for local talent, to be finally heard 111 the capital." We in Wales may find something to emu'a^ in the Feis management. A smaller addition^ building to the pavilion for the despatch the minor business—adjudications and —would agreeably lighten the heavy work 1 the latter. The institution of sight-sing1™ tests would be an important step in advanC but we agree that life is too short to li in public to the triple set of tests from every singer." 'When one reads that an adjudicate who is pronounced to be the most talentf and amiable of professors," spent six hours 1 one contest, listening to 45 junior pianists Dublin, one cannot help asking '• what for The object of a competition is to find out tft best singer or player, and with the of the abler contestants—generally but feW In number—that can be ascertained in the intE; pretation of one page as well as it could be 1 that of a dozen pages. In regard to minimj1/^ and maximum limits of choirs, of course, th only just rule is to fix both definitely th commercial reason for adopting-the open maximum is sufficiently patent to the e"; nerienced eisteddfodist. The teeth of pOOA Welsh adjudicators must water when theyre of feeding made sociable and enjoyable," fr?, the streams of people ready to through the various rooms, and the presence0 two differently pitched pianos, set on a-thinking. Perhaps the conclusion arrived would be that one had better stick to the we know of. In regard to a movable Feis, £ in Wales are quite certain that to fix tt> National Eisteddfod permanently in any f town would settle its fate promptly and <* e; cisively. We note that the talented preS representative upon whom we have drawn 50 freely states that he has throughout witB held Saxon criticism on purely Irish HlUSIC: because it would be resented but he ney0 theless has a sly little dig at another instil* tion, when saying that the Feis is not eP 'cumbered with tradition which allows tediot19 speeches, continual verbal announcementS. reading of adjudications or MSS., all unnece sary in these days of speedy printing, but g°. i straight to business." Something could be s^1,, in reply to that too—without •• resentment but it must be left as it is for the present.
Mail Thieves Foiled. r
Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu
Mail Thieves Foiled. r P.M.G.'S CLEVER SAFEGUARD. There is an extraordinany sequel to mysterious robberies from the mail b er passing between Gibraltar and London, which St. Martin le Grand was greatly cO cerned. 911 The postal authorities are now sending g valuable post articles by British ships r, direct, to Gibraltar, and the thefts have 0 It may be remembered that it was the Pra, „{ii of the mail-bag thieves to cut the bottom se up of the bag, extract the contents, and seW the seam with fine string. Serious losses occurred, but despite. utmost precaut ions, no clue to the could be obtained. It was believed th^t thefts occurre.d within the area controlled the Spanish post office, but the official Spain blamed the British post office,^ 0 there was a theory that they might have t» place while the mails were going thro » France. r At any rate, the Bristish Postmaster-gen nO gave an assurance that there would be he recurrence of the thefts. The device 8>11 adopted was to keep the valuable m the time under British control by the expedient of sending them in tbe British s going direct to Gibraltar. Not a single D1 bag has since been touched. bU#' The thieves, smarting under this re, have turned their attention to the ma- of France, Germany, and other 01 countries. The latter have no rrica [tar' despatching their mails by seaito Gibra^^ and the thieved have continued to make$ rich hauls. So serious, indeed, have their depreda become that the authorities of these coun.^ have made an appeal to England t°c fie* ance in the matter. The British Post O t<J, have agreed to extend their own Hletho Continental mail matters. now been completed by which such ¡¡(l between the various Continental post offices doJJ Gibraltar will be forwarded through Lon t This will cause about a week's delay, ou matter will be safe. "l