Cymro a'r Celt Llundain

Notes and News. OUR King Cole" is Mr. D. A. Thomas, M.P., or should we describe him as our coal king. THE senior member for Merthyr is about to complete a big amalgamation of collieries in Glamorgan. He is destined to become one of the richest men in South Wales. PARLIAMENTARY news is somewhat disquiet- ing these days. It is said that serious differences exist within the Cabinet as to the work of the autumn session. OUR naval critics are having a busy time of it these days. The personal feud between two of our most popular admirals has given rise to a great deal of speculation as to what Mr. McKenna will do. SEVERAL of the Welsh M.P.'s are down at Pembroke this week assisting the Liberal candidate. Mr. William Jones is having enthusiastic audiences everywhere, and the solid argumentative speeches of Mr. Llewelyn Williams are winning support for him from all quarters. IT is said that Tariff Reform is a favoured policy with the farmers of Pembrokeshire, and that the Nonconformist section in the north of the county is sorely disappointed over the Disestablishment question. The Tory supporters believe that a great number of these will abstain from voting, and that Mr. Lort Williams will secure a slight majority. > THE weather has been most oppressive in South Wales these last few weeks, and the inhabitants of the towns are turning their thoughts to the sea breezes, the golden sands, or the mountain air. It is marvellous what an exodus there is from the industrial districts during the holiday season. Even the humblest toiler gets his fortnight's holi- day, and thousands of the working classes travel as far distant as Paris, Boulogne, &c. Some thirty years ago the South Walian who went to Paris was looked upon as a much travelled man," but to-day it is such a com- mon occurrence as not to elicit any special attention. MANY references have been made to Llan- twit Major English." The late Dr. Nichol Carne, of St. Donat's Castle, was in the habit of reciting an English Triban Morganwg in reference to his neighbours' patois and here it is :— Three things I do not relish A woman that is peevish, A man who talks but has no wit, And too much Llantwit English. If Dr. Nichol Carne lived in Radnorshire to-day he would, doubtless, complain in the same spirit of Radnorshire English." THE new Saint David-Mr. Wynford Philipps! MR. WYNFORD PHILIPPS'S lordly title will be Baron St. David's of Roch Castle, Pem- brokeshire. MR. D. A. THOMAS, M.P. [The coal king of South Wales, and the Ishmaelite of the Welsh Radical Party.] THE Rev. G. Hartwell Jones, D.D., rector of Nutfield, Surrey, will be the president of the Union of Welsh Literary Societies of London for the ensuing year. THE Rev. Ellis James Jones, pastor of the English Calvinistic Methodist Church, Car- narvon, has been appointed secretary of the Home Mission of the denomination, which will necessitate his resigning his church, and residing near the borders. MUSICAL festivals are becoming common throughout Wales but when we hear of one being held at Devil's Bridge, we are inclined to ask, is this the fruit of the Revival ? MR. HARRY EVANS is a keen critic of choral contests, and is a warm supporter of classi- cal test pieces," at our principal eisteddfodau. Speaking at Brecon, on Monday, where only two choirs put an appearance in the chief choral contest, he complimented the com- mittee for selecting new pieces for the test. He said that, from an artistic point of view, it was much better to get two choirs to give a moderately good performance than to get twelve choirs to give what might be called a grand performance of music which was not worth listening to. THE Liberals in Pembrokeshire are being opposed by Suffragets, as well as by a strong squadron on behalf of The Trade." The representatives of the brewery element assert that their canvass goes to prove that all the publican influence in the county, as well as some hundreds of Nonconformist share- holders in brewery shares, will go solid for Mr. Lort Williams. His many friends in London will be grieved to hear of the death of Mr. Maldwyn Humphreys, the tenor. For many years past, Mr. Humphreys conducted the Commercial Hotel, at Aberystwyth, and has not appeared so frequently on the public platforms. He possessed a fine tenor voice, and for years was one of the most popular artistes among the Welsh of London. One of his latest appearances was at the Castle Street concert, which was held at the Queen's Hall some years since. Ben Davies was the tenor engaged for the occasion, and had commenced to sing his favourite aria, Waft her, angels," but completely broke down on account of a bad cold. Seeing Mr. Humphreys in the audience, he beckoned to him, and told the audience I see Mr. Maldwyn Humphreys here, and I am sure he will take my place and he readily responded, much to the delight of the audience. It may be added, that Ben and Maldwyn were very great friends. THE Rhondda Royal Male Voice Choir, under the conductorship of Mr. W. Thomas, are shortly sailing from Southampton, in the "Pericles," for Australia, where they will give a series of concerts. They will be away, altogether, about a year, during which period, they will visit, in addition to Aus- tralia, New Zealand and Canada. The choir is a very fine combination, and will uphold the musical reputation of Wales.