The Welsh Coast Pioneer and Review for North Cambria

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that night lived in the beautiful valleys and mountains of Wales OVER 1,300 YEARS AGO. Sheers). St. David's father was a line old elshman, named Sandde ap Ceredig ab Cun- aa, whilst his mother was a holy virgin named A °*u W^°' was said, was a cousin of King f tVi Round Table fame. From his her's side his genealogy was traced to a nephew of Mary, the mother of Jesus. He mentioned those facts to show that the Saint JTas highly connected. It was related that at time of his birth, the whole realm of nature was convulsed. Thunder, lightning, and tem- Pest raged over the country, except ,he identical spot where St. David first saw light, where there was nothing but perfect peace, which showed conclusively that even the elements were made subservient to his maturity. (Laughter.) More- over, a well of pure water sprang up from per- ectly arid ground, where he was to be baptised, and the old blind monk who held up the child to be baptised, on this occasion, had his sight restored to him by bathing his eyes three times jn the water that was used at the Christening. (Laughter.) St. David and all those who be- longed to him were CREDITED WITH SCPERIICMAN TOWERS. Consequently, they inferred that he performed numerous miracles during his lifetime, and also, as it appeared, before he was born. (Laughter.) it was further solemnly recorded that his mother before St. David's birth, on one occasion, went to hear St. Gildas preach, but that the good priest was struck dumb, and couldn't proceed until the lady was sent out of the congregation, because it was asserted that the unborn child, whose coming had been foretold years ago, was of greater note than even St. Gildas himself. St. David received his early education at Hen- llwyn, and was afterwards under the tuition of aulinus, to whom he restored his sight in old a8e- They had all heard of the old white horse belonging to the saint, which could swim back- wards and forwards from Pembrokeshire to Ire- land, with St. Barri on its back. Being such a good and holy man St. David built no less than twelve monasteries to the glory of God, and it Was also interesting to note that over fifty j churches in Wales had been dedicated to his memory. About the year 1120, St. David was canonized by Pope Calixtus II., and immedi- ately afterwards he became the recognised PATRON SAINT OF WALES, with the leek as his emblem, which had since been worn on every ist of March. Of course, a St. David's dinner, as they were acquainted with it, with an extra hour's grace, was, com- paritively speaking, a modern institution. But IJi the good old days—he referred to 800 years ago-the feast of St. David was always kept in church, and on those occasions a special collect was used throughout the Principality, which was as follows:—"O Lord, who through the angel didst foretell the birth of Thy Holy Con- fessor St. David thirty years ago before he was ornJ grant to us, we beseech Thee, while cele- brating his memory that we may obtain ever- lasting joy through his intercession." Perhaps some of them might have thought that he had been guilty of drawing the long bow, but he could, if necessary, produce chapter and verse for every statement he had made. (Applause.) Between the nth and the 1.5th centuries no less than four biographies of the saint were written by the most renowned historians of the dav. All those old works were written in Latin, but another manuscript entitled the "Legend of St. David," and written in Welsh, was at present PRESERVED IN THE BRITISH MUSKr.M. (Applause.) Leaving those musty old records behind, and coming down to modern times, he maintained that St. David served at the present day was to all Welshmen of every shade and opinion the standard around which they all rallied—(hear, hear)—and exhibited some of the best qualities, they possessed as a nation, such as love of country, the fostering of such good institutions as the Eisteddfod, the furthering of education, the desire (as Mr Roberts said) of keeping alive the old language -(hear, hear)—and, above all, a higher aim for anything appertaining to life all round. Whilst they shouted "Cymru am Byth" the sons of St. David were loyal to the core, and it was to their glory as a Principality to be considered Part and parcel of that mighty empire upon which the sun never sets. (Cheers.) On. an occasion like that, when they were paying hom- age to the memory of the patron saint of their native land, it was ONLY A TRUE POET that could adequately express, the sentiments that were uppermost in their minds, and he naturally turned to Sir Walter Scott, who said Breathes there a man with soul so dead, Who never to himself hath said, This is my own, my native land Whose heart hath ne'er within him burst, As home his footsteps he hath turned, From wandering on a foreign strand If such there breathe, go, mark him well For him no minstrel raptures swell High though his titles, proud his name, Boundless his wealth as wish can claim. Despite these titles, power, and pelf, The wretch, concentred all in self, Living, shall forfeit all renown, And, lonely dying, shall go down To the vile dust, from whence he sprung, ,r,, Unwept, unhonoured, and unsung." (Cheers.) Ir Homan now entertained the company with a song. 'Army, Navy, Colonial, and Auxiliary Forces. This popular toast was proposed by Air J. Amphlett. He said it was one of the mCst hon- oured toasts in the world—(applause)—and it was the first time that he had seen the Colonial orces included in the list. (Loud and pro- longed cheering.) If they felt as he did—and r°m their demonstration he was assured of the act the thrill of pleasure it gave him when he saw the word Colonial among the list of forces, they would resolve never in future to make up a toast list without including the Colonial forces Her Majesty's Empire. (Cheers.) Nor Illlluld they after this use the word auxiliary in connection with the Volunteer forces. They a Tv ^escribe all the services as the "Army Th -^avy of Greater Britain." (Loud cheers.) had several other toasts before them riich commanded respect, but he ventured to dssert that this toast stood supreme, especially he- present moment, this day of St. David's, Glj *bey had brought to their knowledge the Th news of the relief of Ladysmith. (Cheers.) M Want.8d to have it on the anniversary of the^K ^ie-v *°nged for it,. but instead a \v 1 an°ther very important victory, and as elshman--he was sorry that HE WAS ONI.Y HALF WELSH oftei all, as he had English blood in his veins— j) ,we'Conied that great victory. (Cheers.) the last two or three months England met»SK^ffered serious reverses, and had been nlem- oricaUy speaking, under a cloud, not to foreir jeers and sneers hurled at her by lated^V-.0^10*" their country had been iso- great N now- About 100 years ago the •Napoleon issued a proclamation, in which he said that all the nations in Europe ceased to have friendly relations with England. After reciting the difficulties the nation then experi- enced, Mr Amphlett said they ultimately came out on the top, and in spite of repeated reverses at the Tugela-which was a time when he (the speaker) felt very dispirited, a feeling, how- ever, which Sergeant McCormick did much to dispel by his confident assertion that the British arms would in the end "cnme out on the top"- they had at last triumphed all along. (Cheers.) Since Waterloo, when the English soldier again came out on the top, they had lived in fairly peaceful times, and now that their troops had had a fair chance in this war, HISTORY REPEATED ITSELF. (Great cheers.) The speaker then eulogised the Navy, and said that any foreign power would think seriously before attacking England, when she and her possessions were guarded by the most magnificent fleet in the world. (Cheers.) What had the Naval Brigade done for Lady- smith? (Cheers.) Why, the gallant sailors saved Ladysmith at a most critical period of the siege. (Cheers.) And again, when Lady- smith was relieved it was accomplished by the descendant of the great naval officer, Lord Dun- donald. (Cheers.) Referring to the auxiliary forces, he said up to the present this branch of the service had always been regarded as an or- nament, and nothing more. Now, the Volun- teer forces were an important factor in the Brit- ish Army. (Cheers.) They should not be called auxiliary forces any longer. Together with their Colonial brothers, they had proved their worth in the hour of need, and they should become part and parcel of the regular army. They had not been wanting in discipline, and none could say that they were wanting in any- thing to prevent them being joined with the forces which comprised the soldiers of the Queen. (Cheers.) Captain F. A. Dew was the first to respond. He said that after the grand news they had re- ceived during the last few days, NO COMPANY OF BRITISHERS could drink such a toast without a display of enthusiasm. (Applause.) But in their hour of victory and in the midst of their jubilation, they must not forget, but think seriously of the ten thousand brave soldiers who had bitten the dust since the campaign started. Were they respon- sible for the number that had fallen? Should what had taken place recently not make them resolve to take care that these things should not happen again? In the Indian Mutiny—even in the Crimean War—the British troops were not prepared. In this war they had not been ready. Was it to go on for ever? ("No"). Were they going to continue to send out one soldier and a boy to do the work of three men? If not, they must be prepared to pay. It wouldn't do only to throw their shilling in the tambourine for the "absent-minded beggar." The soldiers must know that their families would be properly pro- vided for, so that they could go away with the feeling that their loved ones were not likely to want. They ought not to be dependent upon the few shillings and coppers they threw to him. (Hear, hear.) He had heard that song over and over again, but it was very poor when they COMPARED IT TO TENNYSON'S immortal verses on the Light Brigade. "The Absend-minded Beggar, who's left his kids be- hind him." He didn't like it at all, and hoped they would not see it again. Whilst they were rejoicing at the relief of Ladysmith, and cele- brating the anniversary of their patron saint, he could not help thinking that there were many amongst them who had lost friends among the 10,000 who had gone. Each dead soldier, per- haps, left a widow, and a mother behind. That conflict had brought home to them the awfulness of war more than any other war they had been engaged in for many years. They, as Volunteers belonging to the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, had to mourn the loss of a gallant soldier in the person of Colonel Thorald. He (Capt. Dew) had the pleasure and honour of serving under him when, for two years he acted as adjutant of their regiment, and he could say that England had lost in him a gallant and brave soldier, and a NOBLE-MINDED BRITISH OFFICER and gentleman. They also locally had to mourn the loss of another officer-Lieutenant Jones. His name, perhaps, had not been brought be- fore them, but it was a painful fact that Mr Latimer Jones had, within the last two or three days, lost his brother, who was at the front. He also understood that two men who- belonged to the company when it was first formed, had suffered in the last engagement. He hoped that in the future the distinction applied to the auxiliary forces would disappear, and that the services would be known as the British Army and the British Navy. It seemed to be a matter of surprise amongst the middle classes that Volunteers who come from the middle classes should conduct themselves before the enemy as well as the aristocrat or the peasant. He did not think it should be a great surprise. Surely, the middle classes who formed the most power- ful factor in this powerful empire, should be able to fight for their own. If they were going to allow a paid army to fight for them always it would mean the beginning of the end, and that the existence of a great empire was at an end. (Cheers.) Air H. N. Sulivan and Dr Venables Williams also responded. Mr Booth then gave a stirring recitation, en- titled, "The Handy Man." Loud and pro- longed applause greeted Mr Booth's eloqutionary efforts, and this versatile entertainer, despite Capt. Dew's tragic look, sang with considerable verve, the famous "Absent-minded Beggar," the company carrying on the chorus with great enthusiasm. £ 2 lis. 9d. for the "Absent=minded Beggar." At the conclusion of Mr Booth's song, two young ladies entered the coffee-room, and in the absence of tambourines handed the plates round. With the words "Pay, pay, pay" ringing in their ears, everybody suited the action to the word, and responded liberally, the result of the collec- tion reached £2 11s gd. The Bishop, Clergy, and Ministers of all Denominations." Mr F. J. Holmes briefly proposed this toast, which was drank with much cordiality. On rising to respond, the Rev Meredith Hughes (vicar of Brynymaen) received a warm reception. With regard to the work of the Church, he did not think any man present would cast a reflection upon the representatives of the Christian bodies who were at the front. (Ap- plause.) Although they did not wield the sword their hearts were as true and as loyal as anyone of those who girded on their swords and carried a rifle. Whilst their brethren were fighting battles at the front, there were others trying to battle with the insidious and moral diseases which, if they were not checked and grappled with, would cause untold horrors. "Those Who Have Gone Before." Mr Lowe (solicitor) asked the company to drink to the memory of those who had died on the battlefield. Everyone rose, and in solemn silence honoured the memories of the gallant officers and soldiers who have died at the front. Mr Samuel then favoured the audience with "Father O'Flynn," a droll-Irish song, with a rollicking chorus, which, of course, went with a swing. "Lord Lieutenant and Magistrates." The duty of proposing this toast fell to the lot of Mr Francis Nunn, who generally succeeds in delivering an eloquent and interesting speech on any subject. His remarks on this occasion proved no exception to the rule, and his flashes of humour greatly amused his hearers. He commenced as fol- lows —As his friend, Mr Hughes would say, his text was divided into two portions. (Laughter.) First, the Lord Lieutenant of the County of Denbigh, and the magistrates. As to the former gentleman, they had lately had the honour of a visit from him, and, therefore, as they had seen him face to face, they all knew him. He was a man whom all of them, from the shortest man to the tallest—(laughter)— could look up to. He remembered on one occa- sion assisting Col. Corwallis West to put his overcoat on. He (Mr Nunn) most devoutly wished he had a chair to stand on at the mo- ment. (Laughter.) However, he felt, and he was sure the same feelings predominated them all, that whatever the toast was, the proposer was constrained irresistably to look upon it in the light of events which were pressing around them, and which had culminated in two such important events in the last three days. They were at the CLOSE OF A CENTURY which was pregnant with the making of history, much more so than at the close of the previous century. (Hear, hear.) The close of the last century was the first step in the building up of an empire—an empire of oppression and ty- ranny, which had faded away. Whatever views they might have about the war, and they were all, he hoped, tolerant enough to let every man have his opinion, they could not shut their eyes to the fact that history was now being written at a more rapid rate than perhaps it had ever been in the history of the world before. As the outcome of this war, it must be evident to every- one that the hitherto loosely compacted frag- mentary atoms which the British Empire con- sisted of only a year ago, were going to be welded into a compact whole-(Cheers) ;-and that from this day forth the British Empire was one and iiidissoluble-(applatise) ;-when the voice of discontent and of anything approaching rebellion would never be heard; when Natal, Jamaica, Australia, Vancouver, and the Strait Settlements, and the farthermost colony that this country possessed would feel as they had not done three months ago, that they were part of the greatest empire the world had ever seen; GREATER THAN THE ROMAN EMPIRE greater than the empire founded by Napoleon. An empire founded upon what? Whose central corner-stone was liberty. (Cheers.) He believed the consequences of this war would be far more reaching in its effects as time went on. He saw around him the flag of that empire, but there was another flag he would have liked to see there,one that had often been blended with the old flag of England the Stars and Stripes. (Cheers.) Was there a man in that room, be he vVelshman or Englishman, that had not got a feeling of kinship for their brethren on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. America stood by us, and we stood by America when she under- took to free the -Cubans from the yoke of their ancient enemy, he would go so far as to say, the world's enemy, Spain. Again, the Stars and Stripes had stood by us when we went to free the oppressed in the Transvaal and the Orange Free State. (Applause.) He unhesitatingly and confidently looked in the near future to an alliance between, not England, but between this CONSILIDATED FIRM BRITISH EMPIRE and the United States of America, as would make the nations of Europe grind their teeth with envy and anger; an alliance that would draw the fangs from their enemies, and render the whole lot of them powerless to affect the beneficient sway of their empire, which he believed would be for the good of the world. (Loud cheers.) They did not love fighting for the sake of fight- ing. Capt. Dew had referred to that aspect of the question, and he liked to hear a soldier refer to the other side of the war—the horror, the pain, and suffering. But none of them liked war for the sake of fighting, and it was joyful to hope that the outcome of the war would be such a conciliation, such a union of hearts in the whole of the Anglo-Saxon world as would in the com- ing century and centuries make war for ever impossible. (Loud cheers.) Now for the se- cond portion of his text—(laughter),—the magis- ttates of the county of Denbigh They were a lot of good fellows. He had not seen one of them GO TO SLEEP ON THE BENCH. (Laughter.) In fact, he did not believe they could. (Laughter.) Sometimes he and his friend who sat at the other end of the room had little skirmishes with them, but, doubtless, his friend would join with him in sayng they loved them none the less. They believed in their bench, and they were proud of them. (Applause.) Dr Venables Wiliams responded for the bench, and also thanked Mr Nunn for his remarks about the Lord Lieutenant. Not very long ago Mrs Cornwallis West very graciously performed the opening ceremony in connection with the new hospital. Speaking for the magistrates, he said the bench sometimes was not the pleasantest place to sit on. (Laughter.) Occasionally there were some terrific engagments. (Laugh- ter.) It was their wish to deal out justice to everybody. If it was not for the magistrates they wouldn't be there that evening. (Laugh- ter. ) "Town and Trade of Colwyn Bay." This toast stood in the name of Mr W. Jones, C.E. (town surveyor). He said he had seen the trade of the town develop in a remarkable de- gree during the last few years. The town had prospered owing to its go-ahead business people rather than from the efforts of the lodging-house keepers. The building trade had been a pros- perous one, as they had adopted a bold policy. These gentlemen and the trades-people invari- ably responded to applications for assistance in every public movement most generously, and he could assure them that they would compare more than favourably as a body of business men with those in other towns on the coast. (Hear, hear.) What was Mr Booth doing but improving the place by pulling down premises and improving them? (Hear-, hear.) He begged to couple the name of Councillor Hugh Hughes in the toast. The company sang "For he is a jolly good fellow." Mr Councillor Hughes, in responding, re- ferred to the advancement of Colwyn Bay during the last 25 to 30 years, and said he re- membered it when there were no houses there at all except the station house and Pwlly- crochan Farm. As a body the tradesmen of the town always manifested a true public spirit, and did all they could to further the interests of the town and ratepayers. (Hear, hear.) "Colwyn Bay Urban District Council." This toast was entrusted to Dr Brooks, who also referred to the marvellous development during the last 25 years. He considered it was very useful, and even desirable, for men to be connected in local municipal affairs. Some of the biggest men in the country had been trained in municipal offices, and although, perhaps, some of them did not agree with him, it was a fact that Mr Chamberlain's training in the Birmingham Council Chamber had stood him in excellent stead in his Parliamentary career. There was a great difference between a politi- cian and a statesman, just the same as between a religious person and a Christian. This train- ing gave men an insight into the management of affairs, and of constructive legislation. He well remembered the town when it was managed by a Committee formed out of the Board of Guardians at Conway. They missed one of the old faces in the late Mr John Porter, but he was glad they had another old face in Mr John Roberts, and also Mr Hugh Hughes, whom he remembered 20 years ago. The improved con- dition of the streets was manifest, but there was still room for improvement. They had A BEAUTIFUL PROMENADE, which probably would be extended before long eastwards and westwards, and thus make Rhos, Colwyn Bay, and Colwyn into one. The condi- tion of the shops was also improving, but there was still much to be done. Sergeant Instructor M'Cormick We want a drill hall, sir. Dr Brooks said he agreed, and he was glad to observe that the Government were much more alive than they had ever been to the great ne- cessity of acquiring drill hall and better shoot- ing range accommodation ¿Jr: the citizen sol- diers. Speaking in regard to the approaching municipal elections, he contended that they should not be fought on political lines. (Hear, hear.) In large towns it was possible to select good men from either party, but in a small place like Colwyn Bay, religious and political differ- ences in matters of Local Government should be sunk. Speaking for himself, if he had any ambitiion to serve on the local Council he would never-although he was a Tory and Churchman —allow his name to be brought forward by any political or religious party. (Applause.) He coupled with the toast the names of Mr Thos. Byrne and Mr J. M. Porter. In the course of his reply, which he said in- cluded Mr Porters', as that gentleman was not present, Mr Byrne TROD ON RATHER DELICATE GROUND in referring to some phases of municipal pro- gress and the various public schemes the Coun- cil had under consideration, viz. gasworks, electric light, sewerage, etc. He said the gas- works should belong to the town, and they ought to have a dust destructor. The present adoption of the electric light he considered pre- mature, and the question could lie in abeyance for a few years yet. They were in advance of the times. He referred sarcastically to the huge chimney which the Council proposed to erect in the centre of the town to the height of over 100 feet, and said it would be an eyesore for visitors, who generally get plenty of chim- neys where they came from. As to the cemetery question, they ought to acquire a piece of land near Llandrillo. "Safe Return of the Colwyn Bay Volunteers." Capt. Stubbs proposed the safe return of the Colwyn Bay Volunteer contingent that had to go to the front. The toast was honoured with great enthusiasm. Sergeant- Instructor M' Cormick, in replying, recounted a few of his experiences whilst on duty at Wrexham training the volunteers, and remarked that Private Jackson was the best shot in the regiment. "The Hostess." A GENEROUS ACTION. It was now five minutes to twelve, and as the hour of extension terminated at midnight, the Chairman said they would have to abandon the rest of the toasts, viz. The President, Vice- President, and the Press. The press were glad to get out of it. The President proposed a vote of thanks to Mrs Lowe for the excellent dinner she had pro- vided, and the way it had been served. The waiting and all the arrangements were admir- able. He was pleased to mention the generosity which had prompted their kind hostess to pro- mise to give the proceeds from the dinner to- wards the Soldiers' and Sailors' Fund. (Cheers.) A lady who could do that unasked must have a kind and generous heart—(hear, hear),—and if she could be that thoughtful FOR THE POOR FAMILIES of their soldiers and sailors, how painstaking she would be in looking after the interests and welfare of her customers. (Applause.) People who stayed at that hotel would certainly find all the comforts of home. They all hoped Mrs Lowe would have a long life amongst them. He understood their hostess had left Rhyl, and intended to vote her entire energies in look- ing after the Imperial Hotel. It would be a good thing for Colwyn Bay. (Cheers.) Everyone then sang "For he is a jolly good fellow." It's a pity no one has yet proposed a verse of a similar nature to suit the ladies. It sounds funny to honour a lady by describing her as a jolly good fellow! Mrs Lowe having gracefully thanked the presi- dent for his complimentary remarks, the pro- ceedings terminated, all the visitors leaving the house as the clock chimed the midnight hour.

—— Up to Saturday evening last the receipts for the Kipling Poem Fund, from all sources, totalled £ 82,000. —— Hiram Hey, a private in the King's Royal Rifles, who was wounded at Lombard's Kop and invalided home, found on coming to Keighley that his wife, thinking him dead, had married again- He had deserted her thirteen years a.go.