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Advertising
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Mr. T. CHI DLEY Begs to announce the OPENING 10 of his Newly-constructed STUDIO which has been specially built to meet all requirements for the production of the HIGHEST CLASS OF PHOTOGRAPHY. No. 2, STATION ROAD, COLWYN BAY. Tel 856x u bt WeisD Coast Pioneer." LARGEST CIRCULATION ON THE COAST. THE SALE OF THS Welsh Coast Pioneer Amounts to an average which, if tes.ed, will show an Excess of Several Thousand Copies Weekly over any other Penny Paper. Branch Ojjiccs LLANDUDNO MOSIYN STfEET L LAN ft W ST WATLLNG STREET RnYL KIN MEL STREET ABERGELE CAXiON HOUSE LONDON REPRESE?vTAT'VE: MR J. E. TRIG (J, 47, FLELT-STKEET.
THE EISTEDDFOD.
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THE EISTEDDFOD. BRILLIANT LOGAN STONE ORATORS. (By BERIAH EVANS). COLWYN BAY, Thursday Night. Writing last night, I said that although much of the Eisteddfod hitherto had centred in what is somewhat contemptuously styled its "side shows," yet there were incidents at the Eisteddfod proper which showed that the old spirit still Eves even inside the Pavilion. No one who was privileged to attend to-day's gathering will doubt the statement. There is one characteristic of the Eistedd- fod which those who have i'oLowed the Na- tional festival for a succe^s-on of years will hardly have failed to uotice—and that is the dinerent "atmosphere" which pervades the gathering on one day ad compared with an- other. One day you may have a humdrum programme, a humdrum gathering, a hum- drum everything, without your being able to locate the cause tor the uninspiring character ti i n, of the proceedings. The next d-iy, again, without any iocatable cause, you will find a new spirit pervading, a new atmosphere en- veloping the whole of the proceedings. In- dc-cd, veteran Eisteddfodwyr will tell you early in the day, "We are going to have a great day to-day,"—and in nine cases out of ten they will be right. The indescribable, indefinable "something," invisible, inaud- ible, yet palpable, wLi have informed their inner "consciousness of its presence—and later it viil manifest itself to a,1 beholders. To-day was such a. day. Inside and out- side the Pavilion to-day, the Eisteddiodic spirit was ever-present, all pervading. The bards felt it in their first hand-grips at this iiXK-ning Gorsedd; the conductors realised it as they faced from the platform the seeth- ing crowd in the auditorium; the English visitors were startled by its man if-stations around them; even the Master of Elibank became dimly conscious of the presence of a "something" he had never known before, as lie sat mutely regarding this immense crowd possessed by a common spirit, controlled by a commo-ii impulse. MARCHANT'S ELOQUENCE. The morning Gor.sedd gave the keynote to the day's work. It had three outstanding features which will make it memorable. The first was Sir Marchant Williams' address from the Logan Stone1. No one knows better than Marchant how to tickle his fellow-bards —and Marchant, mind yon, is a bard, a fact indisputably proved by the imaginative flights of his oratory, if by nothing else. Flattery and satire, pathos and bathos, are as natural to his nimble tongue as water to a young duckling. No or--to.- on the Logan Stone is more popular than the Stipendiary Knight. Even those who feel the lash of his tongue, and who wince at his gibes, nre com- pelled to join in the laugh against them- selves. To-day, he played with practised hand on the highly-strung choids of the bardic heart, extracting the unbidden tear to be followed by the loud laugh of unrestrained amuse- ment. The pathetic reference to the lost leaders of the Gorsedd, to the "hoarfrost of the grave" already visible on fnmiliar faces around him, and to the time when he and they must be reckoned among those tiiut have brought home with all the greater force the argument that the Gorsedd itself has a.l- ways been, and will always be with us. Then came the quick change of key, the striking contrast of the old and the new z, School of Bards, drawn in bold outline to catch the mind's eye and to leave an indel- ible picture; the old bard content to dress himself in honest homespun, the new bard who needs must distinguish himself in tailor- made kuicker-bockers. It was simply irre- sistible. A LOGAN STONE ORATOR. Then came Mr Llewelyn Williams, M.P., who has made for himself a reputation almost rivalling that of Marchant as a Logan Stone orator. I tJlink it was at Llangollen he riist established that reputation, and today he worthily maintained it. His subject was the same-as Marchant's—the new culture and the old, but treated in a different vein. He had given us a part of his oration at the Folk- song Society the previous evening. "Gwell dysg na golud was the foundation of a ,stirring vindication of modern culture. dawn na dysg" was an even more ex- alted plea for the fostering of the older cul- ture which for untold centuries has made the peasantry of Wales take an intelligent inte- rest in matters which in other countries are supposed to be the paiticular preserve of a considerably higher social class. Finally came Pedrog in a new ro'e. There is a wider gulf between the bard and the me.ro Rhymester than there is between the violinist and tIE fiddler—.and yet the fiddler can some- times give the violinist points. Pedrog to- day showed us how a bard of the first water can become a veritable king of rhymesters, and as a rhymester give expression to some truths, which the more dignified herd dare not utter. As a satirical poem in th-e form of a bardic address it has never I think been equalled, certainly never excelled. The high standard fixed by th-e morning Gorsedd was worthily maintained at the Eis- teddfod Pavilion. The presidential address by Mr Yerburgh, M.P. for'Chcster, was hap- pily conceived. He showed how (,'1 a "bar- r i a. ii without a drop of Welsh blood in his veins," as he was pleased to describe himself, could fit himself to his surroundings, and attune himself to. an audience whose thoughts, ideas, a.nd ideals must have been strange to him. I venture however to think that he was fortunate in having an audience permeated bv the Eisteddfodic spirit, a spirit which like charity itself suffereth long and is kind, doth not behave itself unseemly, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Were it not so, it would surely have resented the suggestion that, whatever the glories of Chester, jiast, present, cr to come may be, the Gorsedd would be reduced to the necessity of going cap in 'hand to the Governor of Chester to pray for permission to hold the Eisteddfod, within its valls. Llew Tegid in a few choice words made Mr Yerburgh fully conscious of the truth that the Gorsedd, so far from being a sup- pliant, must lie supplicated. A BUDDING ORATOR. One of the most effective incidents of the day was the recitation for children. The eekctcd piece constituted a most severe test for juveniles. The th *'ee who appealed on the platform more than came up to popular expectation but the victor gripped the heart of the audience. For so young a lad the flexibility and compass of the voice, apart from the purdy oratorical power of the speaker, were am axing. No one cou'd pos- sibly have lost himself more absolutely in his subject than did this lad of legs then a dozen years. I do not remember ever having seen the power of oratory more clearly manifest- <d. I forgot my own work in listening to him—but then I am impressionable. I saw the tears glistening in the eyes of such men as Mr Herbert Lewis, M.P., the Under Secretary of the Local Government Board, and of Dr. Emyr Owen Price, of Bangor,— but then they are also Celts with heart- strings already attuned to the lad's patriotic appeal. But what struck, indeed surprised, me was to see monoglet Philistine Saxons who understood not a word of the lad's de- livery, but who fnllv understood his message. Their cheeks glowed, their eyes blazed, their hearts beat, all in sympathy with his, and the furtive tear which rolled down manv a cheek told its own story. And that is the Eisteddfod. EISTEDDFOD GREATER THAN PER- SONS. It is a striking significant fact that the ceremony of chairing the bard was not de- layed for a single moment to await Mr LJovd George's coming. Be it noted he had been appointed afternoon President in order that he might be present at the ceremony. That coveted position among the week's presiden- tial honours has been regaid?d as his bv pre- scriptive right for years. He filled it in Lon- don last year, and at Llangollen two years ago. It was accorded him as a matter cf course again this year. But he was not pre- sent when the hour struck—and the Arch- druid promptly proceeded with the ceremony. I am far from suggesting any intentional dis- courtesy on either side, on that of Mr Lloyd George in being late or on that of the Arch- druid in being prompt. What I wish to em- phasise is the fact that the Eisteddfod is greater than any personality however highly placed, and proceeds on its dignified way in- dependent of considerations which would in- fluence any other gathering. And the chairing ceremony was right royal- ly performed. I have seldom seen it better done. Still it might have been improved upon, and doubCess will be in th-c near fu- ture as the Gorsedd Reform Act comes to gradually influence procedure, and the Herald Bard of the Gorsedd tightens his grip as Lord Chamberlain upon the Bardic reins. Among those who took part in the actual chairing ceremony, in addition to an unusu- ally brilfiant Bardic Court, were the Coun- tless of Dundonald and Lady Mostyn of Tal- acre, both in specially-designed Bardic robes, while amongst interested spectators v.ere the Countess of Dysart and Lady Frances Balfour representing the English aristocracy, almost rnobing shoulders with Mr .Sam Evans of Johannesburg (formerly of Carnarvon), an old fellow-pressman, and the Brothers Bryan, the world-known Welsh merchants of Cairo and Alexandria, representing the best of Welsh democracy, and emphasising the truth of what Mr Edward John, of Llanidau Hall, said vesterday morning about the world for the Welsh. WREXHAM'S CHASTENED SPIRIT. My day's impressions have already exceed- ed the stipulated space, and I can omy brief- ly refer to the joint session of the Gorsedd and Eisteddfod Association. It v.as undoubt- edly a disappointment both to Bangor ana Liverpool that the choice of the authorities should have fallen upon Wrexham. Each 01 the three towns had made out a strong case. Each case taken by itself, and without re- ference to those of its competitors, might well be regarded as irresistible. There were however special considerations which evident- ly weighed in favour of Wrexham. Wrexham had been a disobedient child, and had been severely punished in the past. Chastened in spirit it had kissed the Eisteddfodic rod. And, animated by a spirit of charity, the authorities now saw fit to respond as a tender parent will when a wilful child comes to :tb senses. BERIAIl EVANS.
--------- --------SUCCESS…
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SUCCESS OF THE EISTEDDFOD. When Sir Marchant Williams destri bed the Colwyn Bay Notional Eisteddfod as one of the best-managed he had seen in his long experience, on2 felt that they were words not oi fulsome flattery but of since.e adiiiira- tion. Such a tribute of praise from so keen and ardent an Eist-eddfodwr as Sir Marcliant Williams must fos gratifying to the promoters ox the Colwyn Buy Festival, who have laboured to good purpose. That they did their work well, however, was at once ap- parcnt from the regularity with ,"hic11 the whole machinery ran. There was no hitch in the arrangements from beginning to end, everything went on smoothly, and the public will not begrudge the measure of praise which is due to the Colwyn Bav com- mittees for the thoroughness with which they carried out th-eir arduous duties. ;,c_ An analysis of the figures shows that the surplus am-ounts almost, if not quite, to a I record for the last decade, and the ticket re- ceipts point clearly to a marked advance in the attendance as compared with most, it not all, th.e Eisteddfodau held previously in North Wales. Significantly enough, how- ever, the att-el,danceat no time exceeded 7500, a fact which leads to the conclusion that to build a Pavilion capable of accom- modating 10,000 or 15,000 people, as some members of the committee suggested, would have been a great mistake. Indeed, had the larger building been provided, the extra cost would have absorbed more than the surplus which the committee LOW have in hand. Two other points very clearly established were the wisdom of abandoning the original Pavil- ion site and roofing the structure with iron. The Mansard roofing served its purpose ad- mirably, the acoustics being so satisfactory that an experienced Eisteddfod vocalist de- scribed the I'aviliooa as "the best temporary structure I have ever sung in." It also transpired that ihe committee were well ad- vised in connection with the Saturday pro- gramme. Strong opposition confronted the proposal to arrange a final Welsh concert, ¡ and if it had prevailed, about half the profit on the whole week would have been lost. It is reported that over 43,000 people paid Is I for admission to the various Eisteddfod mect- ings and concerts, and that nearly 30,000 passengers were brought by the trains from all parts of the country. Notwithstanding the crowds, not a single case of disord-erlmoss came to the notice of the police, and, though this was not in any way peculiar—in fact sobriety and orderliness have for years been characteristic of the great national gather- ing—it afforded additional evidence that Wales has not without good cause been de- scribed as "Gwlad y menyg gwynion." L, 11 1
Chester and the Eisteddfod.
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Chester and the Eisteddfod. Few of the many presidents at the Natio- nal Eisteddfod, la-st week, were so cordially received as the popular member for Chester, Mr R. A. Yerburgh. As the Parliamentary representative of a neighbouring English constituency, which in many respects is as Welsh as Cardiff or Carnarvon, and, more- over, one of the most generous supporters of the Eisteddfod, Mr Yerburgh had an un- doubted right to the honourable position he occupied. Happily, he discharged the duties of the chair with distinction, and to excellent purpose. Pertinently enough he challenged the claims of London and Liverpool in com- parison with those of Chester in regard to entertaining the Eisteddfod. Indeed, from some points of view, there are few centres wi the Principality that could more appro- priately and more effectively play the part of Eisteddfod hosts than historic Chester. As Llew Tegid remarked, it has a consider- able claim to be regarded as the capital of Wales. Its history is essentially Welsh; there is a Cymric atmosphere about much of fts life, and Welshmen form no inconsider- able part of its citizenship. It is ideallv situated geographically for it is equally accessible to North as to South Wales, thanks one of the best railway services in the Kingdom. Many of us will watch with sym- pathy the development of Mr Yer burgh's idea.
-----Cofwyn Bay-Llandudno…
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--<!> Cofwyn Bay-Llandudno Read. When the project for providing a free Z, short route between Colwyn Bay and Llan- dudno wae discussed at the Colwyn Bay Council meeting, a fortnight ago, two"or three ill-advised sta-tements were made, from which one would infer that the Llandudno and Carnarvonshire Councils had t.rted to force Colwyn Bay to accept what is now de- scribed as the Marine-road route without in the first place consulting the Colwyn Bay Authority on the matter. As we anticipated, a completely satisfactory explanation has been given by the Carnarvonshire Council, through its Chairman (Mr John Owen), who, as an old member of the Llandudno Council is in a position to know the fact; In a let ter, which appears elsewhere, Mr Owen points out that the Carnarvonshire Council "acted under the impression that prompt action was of vital importance." Quite so. If the Denbighshire Authorities had been equally alive to their duties, the whole ques- tion would have been discussed, and sub- stantially settled some weeks ago, at the Conference suggested between representatives of the two counties. In proof of the bona- fides of the Carnarvonshire Authorities, Mr Owen adds. "I am prepared to assert that the Llandudno Council would even yet be pre- pared, rather than jeopardise the movement r. aeoept either scheme/' which means either the seashore route or the ad toll road through Llandrillo, of which certain Colwyn Bay councillors appeared to be enamoured. Mr Owen throws out the excellent suggestion that the Road Board be invited to decide upon the choice of routes. We hope the Colwyn Bay and Denbighshire Council will act upon that suggestion, for it would be a sorry mistake to endanger the success of so admirable a movement by the unreasonable suspicion of either party.
- Tho Chaired Bard.
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Tho Chaired Bard. Mr Williams Parry, the chaired bard of the Colwyn Bay Eisteddfod, is probably the youngest man who ever won this high dis- tinction, as he cannot be more than about 2G years old. He very nearly pu.t\:d it off last year, for he was declared a good eecond to Mr Gwynn Jones, at the London Eistedd- fod. Mr Parry belongs to what is callcd sometimes in scorn and sometimes in ad- miration, the younger school of poets, having modelled himself, as his published picces shoV, on the lines of t.11. poets of the c'r.ssic period, and being quite free of the influence of the estimable, but somewhat dull, mid- Victorian set of Welsh bards. He has d- tained to a very complete mastery of the cvnghanedd, and possesses a copious and ex- cellent vocabulary. Above all, as far as can be judged from what has been published of hi., work, he is a true poet, and in that capacity, as Sir Slarcaanfc Williams has pointed out, belong; to no school at all.
----.y---Mr Justice Eldon…
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-y- Mr Justice Eldon Bankes. The news of the appointment of Mr J. E-don Bankes, K.C., to a High Court Judge- ship, was received with acclamation, and the public will join with countless friends at the Bar in congratulations to the new judge. No man .on the Common Law side is better known than Mr Banjjps, who has figured in most of the causes celebres of recent years, tie bus gained no Parliamentary honours, though he did endeavour to unseat Mr Tdl is in the Flint Boroughs, and his elevatio.i to the Bench is a tribute to the sound lawyer alone. It is not many years since he took silk, and the large practice which he enjoyed as a junior Has steadily increased from the time he first went within the Bar. lie is the personification of good humour; indeed, his irrepreesib.e cheeriulness has enlivened the < tedium of many a dull case, for Mr Bankes is as strong on points of law '.1>3 in those I I (I cases of wider inte.rest that find a way into the newspapers. Never known to lose his L good temper, he has never appeared in a scene. He is always a gentleman. He possesses the terrible gift in a cross-examiner of making the witness from whom he is ex- tracting admissions believe that he is really his friend, and that has made him dangerous. Mr Bankes ce-me-j of a legal family. being a great graxdi?on cf Chancellor Eldon and a grandson of Lord Chief J us t ice Jervis. who from 1855 to 1852 member of Parliament for C'r.0:t, r. r.
PERSONAL.j -I
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PERSONAL. Lo.i,d Ke nyon attended the meet of Sir Watbn WiHiauus-Wynn's hounds at Grading ten en Sit t ti retay. — 3> Princess PI-ccs has arrived in Berlin from
[No title]
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Priehard J^nes, at New borough, Anglesey, for the week-end. — o £ > Mr Lloyd George will visit the little village of
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Petci-stone, in the Vale of Glamorgan, on Octo- ber 21st, for the purpose of unveiling a memorial to Dafydd Wwliamsi the Welch hymn writer. 2; The Duke and Duchess of Westminster are
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still at Lairg, N.B., and do not return to town until October 1st. Later in the month the Duke of Westminster wi.1 leave England to visit his estates-in South Africa.
PRINCE HENRY OF PRUSSIA IN…
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PRINCE HENRY OF PRUSSIA IN SHROPSHIRE. Prince Henry of Prussia, who on his motor tour of this country is now the guost of the Earl and Countess of Powis at Powis Castle, Montgomeryshire, ma.do on Tuesday after lunch a long- round in Shropshire. Prince Henry drove the Mr. b car, with Lord beside him. Prii-ee Minister* Lord and Lxcry Ne wton, the Earl and Countess of Hare- wood, the of Yerborough, and other members of the Ipu,< party foi!.ov»vd in other cars. Ihe Prince visited Ludlow, where he went over the rums cf tho Ca tie, a.nd afterwards a ,.i was n¡a,t!.0 at Wemlcek Abbey, where Lady Catherine Minos-Gasket! received the party. Beautiful weather prevailed.
--__-_-
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Mil JUSTICE ELDON BANKES. A POPULAR APPOINTMENT It is officially announced that the King has been pleased to approve the name of John Elucn Buoikes, K.C., for appointment as one of the justices of the High Courts, in the of the kue Mr Ju. tico. Walton. The new judge is the eldest soa of the late Mr John Scott, Bankes, J.P., D.L., Sough ton Hal), Flintshire, his mother being a daughter of the late Chief Justice Sir John Jervis. ë) He is fifty-six years of age, having fceen bona in Gloucester in 1864. lie was educated at Eton and University College, Oxford, and was called to ,he Bar in 1878. He joined the North Wales and Chester Circuit, and shoddy began to make way his colleagues, wth whom ho was moot popular. As a pleader he early showed distinction, being exceedingly clear in his ad- dresses and forceful in argument. For manv years he was a famiiiar and prominent fi<nira at the Chester Assizes. and die Birkenhead and Chester Quarter Sessions. After he took silk, which he did in 1901, he settled down in London! in Eaton-square, but his a in this neighbourhood have not been so frequent of late. lie is a member of the Carlton Club.. In politics Mr Bacikee is a Conservative and he unsuccessfully contested Flint Boroughs against Mr Idris at the 1006 general election, the voting being: Idris 1,899, Bankes 1.523. He is a Jus'doe of the Peace and Deputy Lieutenant for Flint- shire. Mr Bankes married in 1882 Edith, eldest daughter of Mr Robert Peel Ethekton, of Hinton Ilall, Shropshire, and has a eon and two daughters. He has been Chancellor of St. Asaph since 1908. He- i ;;¡, keen agriculturi-t and farm^ extensive- ly himself, while as a stcok breeder no is a fre- quent winner at the county agricultural shows. At present he is erecting a village hall at Soughton. «fis a memorial of his oldest son. Mr J. E. E. Bankes. who died about four years ago as the result of a riding accident.
MR BANKES'S MOTOR MISHAP.
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MR BANKES'S MOTOR MISHAP. Mr J. E'don Bankes, K.C., was motoring on Monday from his residence, Soughton Hall, Nortfrop, to Mold, whm he. ha<l a.;i unusual ex- perience. As he was approaching Mold the car swerved and dashed with considerable foroe into quickset hedge, from which it was removed with difficulty. The car, though slightly da.niaeed, fortunately retailed ifs upright jx>si- tion, and Mr Bankes escaped with a shaking.
SALE OF FLINTSHIRE FAliMS.
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SALE OF FLINTSHIRE FAliMS. Four farms in the Nordiop district of Flint- shire were soM by public auction yesterday at Mold by Mr Ashby, of Colwyn Bay, cu the in- structions of Colonel Howard, St. Asaph. There was keem competition for all the lots. The re- sults were officially givem a the close of the sale as follows:—Waen Farm, gold to the tenant fo" £ 380; Coed y Crai Farm, purchased by Mr j Owens on behalf of -Judge Banker for £ 2010; Bryn Saer Farm, to Mr Wright, Liverpool for £ 1025; Pemtre Golftyn Farm, to the tenant for £930.
- CLOSING SCENES.
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CLOSING SCENES. COLWYN BAY, Friday Night. The Eisteddfod is practically over. To-morrow wo sliall have the Brass Band Competition and the Welsh Conceit—a queer combination of at- tractions, which will no more mix well together than will oil and water. Most people are, I think, glad to have the wink's work over. For many it iias been a try- ing week—for even pleasure when prolong pulls. This morning's closing Gorsedd was well woi thy the previous celebrations this week. The attendance was not large. The lowering skies and threatening c!ouds would be enough to ac- PUSLiSHING OFFICE, BANGOR. "¡' count for that, even if the celebration were on a ie&s exposed spot than Flagstaff Hill. And here let me put in a word of well rLservcd recognition of the efforts of the local committee. Mr T. H. Thomas voiced the prevailing feeling in bardic circles when from the Logan Stone this morning, he rightly attributed to the efforts of tho local committee the success of the week's Gorsedd. The credit indeed must be shared between the Clerk of the Weather and the local committee. The processions, as processions, have been a failure--you cannot make a striking pro- cession of a line of vehicles, snorting motor cars, crawling barouches, and closed carriages. Judged by the spectacular standard, the processions then have been a failure judged by the standard of the personal comfort of the bards they have been just the reverse. Judged again by the spectacular standard the Goisedds have been a great, almost an unqualified success. Among this morning's now initiates were Miss Mostyn of Talacre, and Mrs Fanny Barnato. The latter, garbed in specially designed bardie robes, was a striking figure. Miss Mostyn, dressed in a facsimile of the regal costume worn by her celebrated ancestress, the Rcval Welsh Princess of Tegeingl, was perhaps the most strik- ing figure which has taken part in the week's celebrations on Flagstaff Hill. Cadfan hit off her appearance happily in his impromptu coup- let from the Logan Stone. Anwvlfercli, gwylferch, gwynfyd, Hawdd i'w gwo'd, mac'n hardd i gyd. Lord Mostyn, Sir Vincent Evans, and Pedr Hir figured prominently at the speech-making. It is no reflection upon the oratory of the other two to say that Pedr Hir's address is one which will be long remembered, and which deserves to be widely circulated. Better gospel has never been preached from Christian pulpit than the lay sermon we heard this morning from the Logan Stone. If a sermon must have a title, then "The heroism of the Incompetent" is the one which suits Pedr Hir's ovation. The text, a dual one, was taken from the Mabinogion, and from the history of Bosworth Field. In the ber.uliful story of Cilhwch and Oiwen figures a lame ant, which succeeded where all the other inhabitants of the ant hill had failed. Had it rot been for the lame ant's heroic deed the lovers would have been for ever separated instead of being united. "Cou'd I but meet that lame ant, whether in pulpit or in prison, I would doff my hat to him" said Pedr Hir. Then followed the companion parable illustrat- ing the same truth. When S;1' Rhys ab Thomas summoned his Welsh retainers to meet him at Brecon on the way to Bosworth Field, he found foremcst among the volunteers a war scarred veteran who had lost both legs in buttle, and now stood on wooden pins. "What does thou here?" cried Sir Rhys. "Thou will be an encumbrance rather than a 6 help to my army for thou canst not run "Run!" came the prompt reply. "When thou meet st Richard Crookback in battle thou wilt need men who can s'and, not those that can run 1" Here, said Pedr Hir, we have rgain the pre- sumably incompetent doing heroic deeds. It ■was the spirit of the wooden-legged Welsh pat- riot that placed England's crown on the head of the Welshman from Penmynydd, Anglesey. And what followed? The Tudor Dynasty- Henry VIII., and Elizabeth, who made England what Spain had been. Were it not for ï.h.. spirit of the wooden-legged soldier England to- day would have been a third rate power, even if that Had they got nothing more than this lay ser- mon I venture to think that those who climbed Flagste.ff Hill this morning were well repaid. The closing Gorsedd of the Colwyn Bay Eistedd- fod was indeed well worthy of all that preceded it. At the Pavilion to-day one was conscious of something present that was out of harmony with the surroundings, and of something wanting which had inspired us yesterday. It manifested itself later, but at the opening of the proceed- ings it was indefinable though definite. "What is it?" I asked a veteran Eisteddfodwr. "It is the False Prophet of the Eisteddfod, the Philistine posing as Patriot," came the pat reply. And it was. I think that in my hurried notes of last night I likened tho true Eisteddfodic spirit to charity that suffereth long and doth not behave itself unseemly. That was not the spirit present and manifest to-day. It'did not suffer long, and it did behave unseemly. I have seldom been so overcome with shame as I was to-day when Demos shouted down so good a Welshman as Lord Mostyn, and denied a hearing to one liVe Cadfan, whose voice easily penetrated every corner of the Pavilion. It was the False Spirit of the Eisteddfod—the spirit which would prostitute our National Fes- tival into a gigantic musical competition; the spirit which would substitute a megaphone for the silvery voiced orator, and which would be more at home in a third rate music hall than in the Temple of Welsh Intellect. The crowd was not so big, but was far 11101'0 unruly than that of yesterday. Indeed, the word unruly cannot even in a qualified degree be applied to yesterday's crowd; that was the distinguishing characteristic of to-day's gathering What is there to account for it.! Simply the difference between true and false ideals —between* the true and the false concep- tion of the Eisteddfod. The Chair Day crowd belonged to the so strikingly pictured by Mr Lloyd George in his presidential address y. sterday, the people who love song rather than singing, who find an intellectual delight not only in music, but if1 literature and poetry. That crowd will sit patiently list ning to and bene- fiting by a half-hour's adjudication teeming with technicalities." The other crowd, which we had to-day, will not listen for five minutes to any- thing but music. Fortunately Sir J. Prichard Jones's thoughtful presidential address had been delivered in the morning before the. uneircumcised Philistine in the back saats had superseded in authority the platform conductor. The developments of to-day present one of tho most difficult problems of the Eisteddfod, and taken in conjunction with what I have already written earlier in the week respecting the side shows gives Eisteddfod wyr something upon which they may with advantage chew the cud of reflection. I am glad to learn to-night that a surplus is already an assured fact. It is said to be B50 to-night, and is expected to be increased ten- fold to-morrow. BERIAH GWYNFE EVANS.
$ ILOOKING BACKWARD—AND I…
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$ LOOKING BACKWARD—AND ONWARD. CARNARVON, Monday. The Colwyn Bay Eisteddfod is now a thing of the past, and others than the local committee will be engaged in striking balance sheets. I Everybody will be gratified to learn that the financial success of the Eisteddfod is assured. The precise amount of the surplus is uncertain— and will be for some time to come. Unexpected accounts have an unpleasant way of coming in after the Eisteddfod is over, and Colwyn Bay will prove a happy exception to the rule should it be otherwise. But what would not the Colwyn Bay commit- tee have given had they possessed twelve, even six, months ago the practical experience in Eis- tedufod organisation they have now acquired, It is not too much to say that their worries would have been fewer and their surplus larger. They were exceptionally fortunate in some of the men they had at the helm. It would be perhaps invidious to select any individual mem- bers of the Executive for special notice in a case where everybody did his best. One may, however, be permitted to point out that in the General Secretary, in the Stage Manager, and in the EUteddiod conductors, the committee were exceptionally fortunate in being able to command the services of experts in their several cvpartments. That things worked liko clock- work at the Pavilion, and that with the excep- ton of one or two outbreaks referred to in pre- ceding articles, everything passed off smoothly and without a hitch, is to be attributed to the fact that these officials knew their business—and did it. Had they been untried or unexperienced men things would have been very, and very sadly, different. But does not this suggest something more? If the experience possessed by these officials helped to make the big machine work smoothly, would not experience in organising the Eistedd- fod have been invaluable to the committee it- sed? In other words would not any and every Notional Eisteddfod Committee benefit largely if among its members, or sitting with them in the capacity of expert advisers, were a few, if only two or three, who know as much about the Eisteddfod and its organisation as LIew Wynne knows about stage management and Llew Tegtd about Eisteddfod conducting? For the matter of that would not the presence upon the committee of even one permanent Eisteddfod official, qualified by long experience to give ex- pert assistance and advice, be of inestimable ad- vantage? As it is, the wealth of' experience now possessed by the Colwyn Bay Committee, won in travail and trouble, is practically thrown away. Carmarthen will not benefit by it next year, nor will Wrexham the next, nor Aber- gavenny the following year. Each of these com- mittees will have to go through the same process of learning its business through mistakes and failures, as the Colwyn Bay Committee have had to do. When the next Eisteddfod Reform Bill is in- troauced it will have to take cognizance of this. One of tho gieat, problems which faces every committee, and the partial solution of which has cost Coi\vyn Bay Committee more than. they may care to admit, is how to stop the leakage in the takings. I question if any Eisteddfod Com- mittee of recent years has received 90 per cent, ot what it should have received from the aud lerces present at Eisteddfod meetings and con-' certs. I am sure Colwyn Bay did not. Let the committee work out the figures of the attendance for themselves. Let other comiii;t- tees hereafter do the same. They will all be driven to the conclusion at which I have omvil lmgly been compelled to arrive, viz., that the receipts always fall short of what the actu-.il aud- iences represent. He who can devise an effective ;in(I easily applied method of preventing this l«Mk.?go will be a public bonofactor deserving the blessing of Eisteddfod Committees for dl time to come. Hitherto it has been found to be impassible. Although the leakage is less in some instances than in others, I think I am justifie I in saying that it is seldom it ever less than 10 per cent. Where and how it takes place is the question which Eisteddfod Committees should set themselves to discover. I have heard one criticism of the otherwise ex- cellent arrangements of the Colwyn Bay Com- mittee. The Welsh concert, which might be ex I ected to be the most attractive of all f r the visitors was fixed for Saturday evening, when the visitors—with the exception of the Bras* Band crowd—had left. Those who could and would have appreciated the Welsh Folk-Song had it ft those who did not care for them remained both were disappointed. 1 have said there will be a surplus, and that it should be a substantial one. What ,f tiie ether gains of the Eisteddfod? It has produced no great work of original power; it has brought to the front no great vocalist, no great body of choralists, no work of ait It would be too much perii;tT.S tr; say that everything produced in the competitions has been mediocre. But it certainly cannot be snid that they have reached any great heights of excellence; in justice it should be added that neither have they fallen to any great depth. I have heard competitors complain that the stand- ard set by the adjudicators was high, unduly high. But it should be high. I was glad to hear the Rev. Wynn Davies, in delivering his adjudication upon the recitations, declare that the standard of the National Eisteddfod should be much verv much, higher than that of an or- dinary competitive meeting or even of a leading Provincial Eisteddfod It is only by maintaining a high standard of excellence that the National Eisteddfod can perform, or even possess, any mis- sion at all. Incidentally it has been matter of general comment that so many prizes offered by the National Eisteddfod Association this year have bcn withheld owing to insufficient merit. While on this question of competitions and award, I may as well refer to the fact that they proved to demonstration the groundlessness of the absurd attacks made in the press before the Eisteddfod upon both tho local committee and the adjudicators. The setting of so high a stand- ard by the adjudicators is a practical proof of their fitness to discharge the trust reposed in them. Then comes the complimentary fact that, although the adjudicators belonged to the de- rided and reviled "old school," the chief prizes should have been awarded to bards of the "new school." Mr Williams Parry, the Chaired Bard, and Mr Crwys Williams, the Crowned Bard, are both young men. Each has tried before—and failed. Instead of blaming the adjudicators each tried again—and succeeded. The moral is obvious I have said the Eisteddfod has produced no great work or person of outstanding merit. The same may be said of the presidential addresses. It is no reflection upon the selected presidents to say that not a single address from the plat- form this year will bear comparison with what we have heard in years gone by. Time was when the presidential addresses at the Eisteddfod were a valuable ndftmal asset. They were reprinted in pamphlet form, and sent broadcast through the land bearing their inspiring messages. They enriched our literature, and set a high standard of oratory. And here let me say that the fault is not altogether that of the presidents. To attempt to deliver such a message as we had years ago from, say Matthew Arnold, or the late Marquis of Bute, or from Llawdden, or Archdea- con Griffiths, would have been worse than folly --at Colwyn Bay. The Philistinism to which I have referred in a previous article would have doomed the attempt beforehand. And Wales is the poorer therefor. Perhaps the only presiden- tial address this year that contained a reasoned message to the nation was that of Mr Lloyd George. But the speech was in Welsh, delivered on Chair Day--and the speaker wus Mr Lloyd George. I have heard the speech characterised as very commonplace. It was far from being so. In my opinion it was certainly the best Eistedd- fod speech Mr Lloyd George has ever delivered. It contained a messnge which the Welsh people of every creed, and class, and party, will do well io study and reflect upon. Still, although the speaker was Mr Lloyd George, the address can- not be regarded as having made Colwyn Bay Eisteddfod noted in Eisteddfodic annals. The outstanding feature of this year's meet- ings have undoubtedly been the Sectional Meet- ings and tho Gorsedd. The Cymmrodorion Society has rehabitated itself; the Folk-Song Society has established its reputation the Biblio- graphical Society has more than justified its existence; the Gorsedd has immeasurably strengthened its hold upon the public, and ren- dered easier the task of further controlling the Eisteddfod of the future. Colwyn Bay Eistedd- fod will figure in history for new departures calculated to benefit Cymro, Cymru, a Chymraeg. BERIAH GWYNFE EVANS. ♦
• PEDll AIiAWS MUSICAL CiUIIClSM.
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• PEDll AIiAWS MUSICAL CiUIIClSM. Before proceeding to make remarks upon the singing at tho third sitting of ihe Eisteddfod, I feel it a duty to the Eisteddfod, as one oi' the bardic fraternity, to mention that the criticisms of certain writers, within the last few days, are aa ungracious u,> they are uncalled' for. The music sung at the. Eisteddfod the other day was described as. "poor stuff "-bt-.I(ie. the English a-nd lcre'ign music sang no doubt, v. hat I wish to point ou is that most of the music referred to is prize. music; arid if it is as poor as some would \vi..h us to believe, those who commended it for its excellence oil the Eisteddfod platform were lacking in musical knowledge and good taste We welcome strangers to the Eisteddfod, but before criticising an instituion like this they should be capablel of understanding its languaye and much of the meaning of its ceremonies. Tho Welsh can be but best. studied, or at least best understood from the Celtic standpoint. It is rather a bold thing for any newspaper, to seek tho support of the Welsh whilst ridiculing their music and their National Institute-tl;e Eistedd- fod. The musical competitions today (Thursday) were interesting and were evidently enjoyed' by the huge orowd which had assembled to witness the chairing- of tho bard. The duet competition for soprano and con- tralto. showed the defects noticeable in all duet- singing, namely, the importance of the voices being not only of good quality individually, but capable of blending and singing in a sympathetic manner as a combination. Of the three parties of ladies who appeared on the platform, one ex- celled in finish and general excellence, and wa* awarded the prize, namely, tho Misses Claudia and Blodwon Jenkins, Liangennech, South Wales. » • • The penillioii singing was one of the best of recent years. As many readers know-, in this kind of singing the singers are required to com- mence at various points cf the. melody and on the ic unaccented beat, of the bar; and particular care must he taken not to sing the melody, but a sort of counterpoint to it. That is to cav, it must be in sympathetic accord with the melody, ex- cept, of course, at the end, where it finishes with the melody note. Most of the players failed in this; they adhered too closely to the melody. The best was a veteran singer—Ap Ehedydd, Llan e rch ymedd. In Schubert's. Impromptu in F Minor, it appears some competitors studied one- edition, whilst others studied another. Two prizes had been arranged by the committee owing to a misdirection on their part. All the selected players displayed much technical ability, but for most finish and general excellence, tho two prizes wore awarded respectively by Master W. Francis, Gllfach Goch, and Miss Vera Ford, Cardiff. A taste of Beethoven was afforded in the trio for piano, violin, and 'cello, the piece being "Air Varie." Only one party plajed, namely, one from Pontypridd, and it wasi well worthy of the prize. The 'cello tone was occasionally weak, otherwise, the reading of this player and her companions was good, and there was a good dear of merit in the performajice
TH E JUVENILE CHOIR COMPETITION.
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TH E JUVENILE CHOIR COMPETITION. Nine choirs took part in this, and their per- formances seemed to p!ea-:e the great audience. Mr Jenkins spoke truly when he suggested that the capability to tackle two picces such as were sung was proof positive of the advance of music among our junior singers. They could not have accomplished to-day's task twenty years ago. The two pieces were (a), "What can Lambkins do" (b), "In the Snow." Some of the choirs reversed the order of the pieces, so we shall refer to them by letter (a) or (b). No. 1 sang (a) too staccato; over-emphasised tho music; (b) was fairly well rendered, but the expression esj>ecially might have been better. No. 2 in (a) showed more sympathy, and there was moro careful phrasing; (b) lacked somewhat in character at first, but as too choir proceeded it entered more into the spirit of the music. No. 3 at (b) was a little sharp at the rallintando. The enunciation was good, but there was a tendency o over- emphasise—(a) was nicely rendered; nice colour- ing. The sopranos, however, got a little sham ally k No. 4 got a wrong in item (1)) and was cutting the notes too short. Further on the intonation, was unsatisfactory and the tone was coarse. No. 5, the tempo of (a), was a trifle slow—-good matured voices. They impro-ved in (b) in tempo, but sharpened a little on page 5. The 6-8 movement was very well sung, a.nd the performance, generally, was very good. No 6, all boys, evidently from the same school, and well-drilled musically. A very neat, intelligent rendering of both pieces. There was a little over- emphasising in the last movement of (b) pure tone throughout. No. 7.—The voices did not respond to each other very happily in some parts of (a); the harmony was note-lean; (b) was better sung, although too jerkv. No 8 The soprano occasionally produced 'a too open tone in (a) but the softer passages were Rood In (b) they gave a fairly good! performance No 9 — The intonation wtu-i faulty at. first, in (a), but it was more satisfactory later on. In (b) t.her'3 was a better tone, tune and expression. The" finst prize was awarded to No. 6; second prize to No 5; third prize■ divided between 8 and 9 • « • • PERFORMANCE OF THE MESSIAH The Eisteddfod Choir's performance of Ilaadel's Masterpiece was not creditable. The singers knew the music well, and entered with zest into the spirit of the music. Occasionally the bos-es a.nd tenors were indifferent 1.71 attack for instance in the major part of the chorus "Lift, up your heads." Mr Ben Davies' part of the perfomance was rendered as of old—excellently. His solos, Ø5- peo:ally "Every Valley" were greatly enjoyed. Miss Perceval Allen's brilliant voice was effec- tive, especially in the airs "Come unto Him" (although, we consider, sung too loudly at first.), and "I know that my Redeemer livet.h." Miss Dilys Jones' solos were few. Her best effort was in "He shall feed his flock"—the lovely air "He was despised," being omitted. Mr David Hughes' fine baritone voice we!! suited Handel's music and his efforts were much applauded, especially "Why do the nations" and "The trumpet shall sound." # ENGLISH AND WELSH CHORAL SINGING. ESSENTIALS OF SUCCESS. Tho greatest Welsh festival of the year is past. It has afforded pleasure and enter- tainment to thousands; it has brought regret to some, upon whom it would not signify ap- proval of their efforts. In the department of poetry it has given a premier position to a very young poet, who just missed it at the London Eisteddfod. in music it has not been the means of raising the standard ot singing, though that is reaiiy the fault of o t singers themselves. One of the Cornelius' choruscs proved rather too much for our two male Clio as yet, are not accustomed to strange noises in music. The judgment on the singing by the male choirs does not seem to have pleased several musicians with whom I conversed. However, there is no doubt as to the correctness of the adjudica- tors' remarks that the Manchester Choir made the discordant chorus, "Sorrow's Tears," sound more agreeable than did tho Swansea Choir, and that means a great It surely means that the English choir under- stood it better. True the English choir fell a little in pitch in the "Riders Song;" and "to finish" out of tune has long been con- sidered an unpardonable fault; but in this instance it was overlooked oviiig to con- sist-ency of tempi a.nd generally fine inter- pretation. The Swansea Choir finished this piece in the right pitch—a great feat; but this was seemingly counterbalanced by their somewhat erratic tempi. If the pros and colics, of the two performances are weighed carefully, and if the "going out of tune" is excused—a thing which has been done before now at Eiskddlodau-it points to the better work of the English choir. But then it must be remembered that the Welsh choir gave a more descriptive, more inspiring rendering of the Welsh chorus than its great rival, and it was admittedly more correct in intonation. On the other hand, the English choir showed more finish. If these things are considered it points to the Welsh elicit as having ap- parently drawn equal with its rival—soiiw think it was cdiead of it. The adjudicators, by a, majority, however, decided in favour of Manchester, and "after judgment 'tis futile to argue." The failure must be made to serve our choirs as a lesson. That is where the value of competition lies. The music, if not presented in a manner to create the right "atmosphere," must be studied until such is created The picture must be as perfect as human ingenuity can make it. That can only be done by getting each singer in a choir to represent a tint, which shall be so applied that it combines, with all the other tints, in producing a most beautiful variety, in the truest unity There must, therefore, be a master-hand to apply these tints. In other words, there must be a conductor who lcnows how to conjure up the right thought, I or idea, or picture from the studied music, and so use the voices at his command that they will be enabled to make others realise the picture, or idea, or thought. The present National Eisteddfod has given encouragement to a young composer of pro- mise, in the person of Mr Cyril Jenkins, of Ineorky. It has also endorsed the opinion of other adjudicators as to the excellence of the singing of the young vocalist, Miss Hop- kins, of Liangennech, and others, including Miss Tregoning, of Denbigh, and Mrs Lees, of Buxton and Rhyl, both of whom apjieared in the finals, out of a large number. It ha.s afforded several Welsh composers an oppor- tunity of being heard. WELSH FOLK-SONG SOCIETY. The English press referred to some of the Welsh music as "poor stuff" beside the Eng- lish stuff. The remark is not a true one. One or two pieces did contain phrases which were not very original, but then similar phrases are found in English iriusic-luirtiws often taken from other "works. If some of our previous Welsh song writers have written music savouring of the countryside, our younger composers are building upon the higher art models. Many of our songs of twenty years ago were but "enlargements" of Folk-songs. Some may say it would havo been well for Welsh music, as such, if such forms had been kept to; but then as a musical people we must movie forward. There is, of course, the danger of losing the char- acteristics of our music in new forms; but in chapel and Church music those are al- ready almost lost. The Welsh hymn is be-ing adapted to a newer "cut" of tune. The benefit to worship is doubtful, but, then, tho development of the musical art must be felt in Church and chapel music, and we can only try to infuse the right spirit into our modern tunes. Our only hope of keeping the char- acteristics of our national music is in our Na- Songs;" and it is cheering to learn that the tional Songs," and it is cheering to learn that the Welsh Folk-Song Society has found many now son.gs, which, in time, will form part of our rich store of such, in which future ages will be. able to see the distinguishing features of Welsh as compared wth other music. The Eisteddfod is encouraging the new Society. It should also out of profits help Weieh composers to publish their works, by contributing' to the fu.nd.-i of a society which would consider such aud recom- mend' them. The restricted circulation of music, etc., in Wales tends to discourage writers to write extended works. There should be a stipu- lationi in Eisteddfod programmes that the suc- cessful compositions will be heard at succeeding Eisteddfodau. Why not.? If the awards are made o.n real metrit, the music should be good enough to bo included in tite' succeeding Eis- teddfod competitive list. Committees should think of this. "THE SAME OLD LINES." Sir Herbert Roberts iü his excellent speech from the presidential ohair on Wednesday week, at the National Eisteddfod, suggested that a National Council should nominate subjects for our local EisteddfcxLau. It implied that local committees were rather orampec1 in their ideas; and so they are. At present, however, I should think the work of a National Council could best be applied to the National Eisteddfod it-.elf. Jt surely must be "localism" which helps very largely to keep the musio of the Eisteddfod to much the same old lines, year atter year. In one thing the Oolwyn Bay Eisteddfod showed retrogression. In the chief choral competitioij no orchestral accompaniments were used. Cer- tainly they would have heightened the effects of tho vocal parts—except in the Cornelius' items wherein the orohestral colouring of the voice'parts might have frightened people Of course, thero are good musicians on every Natio- nal Eisteddfod Committee, but they are not in the majority. Tlvey must be in the majority before the Eistedd'iod is helped on. One missed the rendering' of part-songs and madrigals at Colwyn Bay. It pleasing to observe that Car- maxtixell is including such In their programme. Why not also include "action songs lor the little ones in die chief festival It was most untartunato the authorities should have kept the children's choir waiting about for three hours after time. Scores of them had had no food since early morning, and they were naturally so excited that they did not eat. much breakfast. Instead, however, of being allowed to. sing at 12.30, they were kept waiting until late in the after:toon. Surely, the long-winded ceremony, the "chairing" of the bard, could have waited until the little ones had been dismissed to their teas Of course, there was no intemtion to put the bairns to such inconvenience, but they wer€- T1IE YOUNG ORGAN STUDENT. Mr T. J. Lineka-r, of Colwyn Bay, has issued, under1 the above heading, a series of studies on hvmn tunes. To those who wish to become in- terested in irga.11 music and organ playing no better stepping-stone could be recommended than this. The aymn-tune is generally the Item in the church or chapel service in which the organist proves with what a.mou-ni, of discretion, he is endowed. Mr Linekar shows "how to ar- range music for tiie organ. and how to 'brÁng out' or make prominent as a solo any of the vocal parts when it is necessary to support that part, either at a rehearsal or during the service." The inclusion of the alto and tenor clefs may, at first sight, seem superfluous; but although an organist may not bo cille4 upon to use them, he should be able to road music so n,c printed. In fact every musician rnu.s-t accustom, himself to these clefs, which are invariably met with in scores. Mr Linekar's book is published by Larway oi Loudon.
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ineatand Manor, LN with her mother, Mi-s Ccrnwaiiij West. Sir E. Vincent Evans was the guest cf Sir