Cymro a'r Celt Llundain

The present unhappy condition of the nation's finances, resulting from the rejec- tion of the Budget by the House of Lords, is shown in the Treasury returns published this week in the London Gazette. While the main items of revenue down to February 19 were 9 j millions sterling below the total 2 at the same date last year, the expenditure is higher by ten millions. Property and income tax is the item showing the largest deficiency-nearly Y,12,000,000 and the only redeeming feature is an increase of over £ 3,000,000 in the estate duties. Advances made by Treasury bills and in other ways amount to Z167,999,786 this year, as com- pared with £152,215,150 last year. Mr. Keir Hardie is about the only member of the House of Commons whose attire is significant, for even the Labour members are hardly distinguishable in that respect from their colleagues of the other parties. It is on record that once, when on his way to refer to some book in the House of Commons library, he was stopped by a policeman. Say, mate," said the constable, where are you off to?" "To work," replied the M.P. Are you working, then ? Yes." "Where? On the roof?" "No; on the floor," was the crisp and accurate reply. Writing in Notes and Queries," Mr. James Platt, jun., the eminent linguist (whose death occurred almost immediately after writing the note), says that the term Welsh comes from Anglo-Saxon Wealh (a Celt), and the latter is now regarded as derived from the name (Volcse) of a tribe of Southern Gaul, to which it corresponds phonetically. In Middle High German Walhen continued to be applied to the French and Italians, and the Slavonic languages took it over in that sense thus Polish Wloski, Bohemian Vlassky, Slovenian Laski all mean Italian, though answering in form to our Welsh. The Newport Choral Society, as will be seen from our advt. columns, will give their second concert of the 14th season on March 3rd at Newport Central Hall. Gounod's Redemption will be performed. There will be a full chorus and orchestra of 250 performers. Madame Sobrino, Mr. Lloyd Chandos, and Mr. Ivor Foster will be the special artistes. In conversation with Mr. Arthur E. Sims, L.R.A.M., the able con- ductor, the CELT'S South Wales representa- tive was informed that a special feature will be a choir of boys composing the celestial choir. They are being specially trained by Mr. J. A. Gaccon, F.R.C.O., organist of St. Woolos Church, and will, together with the celestial trumpets, be placed high above the principal chorus and orchestra, thus securing the effect intended by the composer. Rainforth and Son, jewellers, Newport, are selling a beautiful brooch emblazoned with the leek. Just the thing for St. David's Day. Mr. G. S. Idle, 12, Railway Street, New- port, has had excellent experience as a practical piano tuner and repairer. Consult him.

THE MEN OF GLAMORGAN. ANNUAL DINNER IN LONDON. Of the many county societies in London, there is not one that is more active or successful than the Glamorgan County Society, which on Thursday last week held its eighth annual dinner at the Holborn Restaurant, under the presidency of the genial Viscount Tredegar. A large company of Morganwg men gathered on the occasion, and among the company present were Lord Aberdare, the Mayor of Swansea, Sir S. T. Evans, K.C., M.P. (Solicitor General) and Lady Evans, Sir Griffith Thomas, the Rev. Dr. Hartwell Jones, Principal Griffiths, Sir D. Brynmor Jones, K.C., M.P. (Recorder of Merthyr) and Lady Brynmor Jones, Mr. Aneurin Williams, M.P., Mr. A. Mond, M.P., Sir R. B. Llewelyn, Mr. J. J. Jacobs, Mr. and Mrs. R. A. Strong, Colonel W. D. Rees, Rev. Dr. Bryant, Mr. C. J. Howel Thomas, Rev. Leoline Phillips, Mr. Bowles, Rev. S. Morgan, and the secretary, Mr. Leason Thomas. After the loyal toasts, Mr. A. Mond, M.P., gave "The County." He said they had in the chair one of Glamorgan's noblest sons, with a reputation far outside the county, and whose name would be an undying memory as long as the British nation lived. Re- ferring to the castles of Glamorgan, he said they showed that the men of Glamorgan in olden times were as little anxious to be ruled from outside as they were at the pre- sent moment. Speaking of the commercial and mental enterprise of Glamorgan, he said those who pointed to America as the only country in which there was hustle should look to South Wales, and there they would see as much in the way of hustle and energy as anywhere in the world. Glamorgan was great in its history, in its present position, and would be great in the future. Lord Aberdare first replied, Sir D. Brynmor Jones said he had just recovered from the General Election, and was very much damped in spirits by the prospects of another election next week. Mr. Mond had given them an encyclopaedic history of the county. He would like to cross-examine Mr. Mond on some of the things said, but that would have been as much out of order as to ask a question of a bishop at the Welsh Church Commission. (Laughter.) In regard to Glamorgan, their glory was in the past, the present, and the future. The county had produced a great many able politicians, not of one party, and he pointed out amid applause the number of members of the Glamorgan Society and Glamorgan men who had become M.P.'s in the present Parliament. It was quite a long list. The Rev. Dr. Bryant proposed the health of the guests, to which the Mayor of Swansea and Principal Griffiths replied, the proposer of the toast aptly describing them as re- presentatives of the civic and intellectual life of Glamorgan. In the course of his reply Principal Griffiths said that one of their ambitions was to make the Welsh accent a testimonial. (Laughter and applause). Welshmen were singularly suited- for the pursuit of natural science. When he looked to Ireland and saw what the Treasury had done for Wales he reminded Welsh members of this, and he hoped those from the West of the country would bear in mind that the University College in the East was not the Cardiff College, but the University College of South Wales. (Applause.) The Solicitor General then proposed, Our President," and said that Lord Tredegar was a great man before most of those pre- sent were born. His public spirit was most admirable. It was for that he was esteemed and revered by all classes in South Wales and Monmouthshire. (Applause.) Never has He's a Jolly Good Fellow been more heartily sung than it was on Lord Tredegar rising to respond. His Lordship was most enthusiastically re- ceived, and was in his happiest vein. He said he had intended to say he had a bad throat, if Lord Aberdare had not pleaded it before him. He had, however, not got that by making speeches at political meetings, or heckling candidates and that sort of rubbish. (Laughter.) He got it in following a fox from covert, which was more in his line. (Laughter.) His Lordship went on to tell a story of an American who told a friend that he saw there was going to be a big dinner of Glamorgan men. Were there, he asked, any remains he could see ? The friend to whom he was talking said, You had better see the Golden Mile." (Laughter.) He thought that a very dangerous subject to touch upon just now, and that he (Lord Tredegar) would not very well like it treated upon but it was not his Lordship's golden mile. It was the golden mile in Glamorgan where tribute was paid over to myrmidons of Fitzhamon. He wished all success to the society. (Applause) Mr. Aneurin Williams, M.P., proposed The Society," this being replied to by Mr. John J. Jacobs and Mr. Fred Morgan (Mr. Jacobs referring feelingly to the deaths of Mr. John Cory and Mr. Forrest). During the evening an excellent pro- gramme of music was interspersed with speeches.