The Welsh Coast Pioneer and Review for North Cambria

Visitors at Colwyn Bay. Pwllycrochan Hotel J S Littlewood, Esq. resident Mrs Liitt'ewoorl. do Mrs Heap, Rochdale Miss Heap, do Misses D Heap, do Miss Edge, do Rev J li- Ha,worth, Colwyn Bay Mrs Haworth, do Miss Haslein, Manchester G H Bramall, Esq, Chester Mrs Alexander, Dublin J Evans, Esq, Liverpool John Eva. s, Esq, do Mrs Harvie, baby, & 2 nurtes, Birkenhead Master Harvie, do Master H Harvie, do MasLer It Harvie, do Master J Harvie, do Master B Harvie, do Mrs Henry Lewis, B'burn Miss Humber, do Mrs Humber, 00 H Addleshaw, Esq, Manchester Mrs Addleshaw. do Master Addleshaw, do Master H Addleshaw, Alderlev Edge Madame Gagnant, Cann es Pwllycrochan-Con W Raby, Esq, Manchester Miss n,by. do Mrs Hodgkinson, Marple F 13 Hodgkinson, Esq do Mrs F B Hodgkinson, do SHutcheson, Esq, L pool Imperial Hotel- -.MItchell, H;sq, London F W Allpress, tisq, do L E Starmer, Esq, Northampton -Irving, Esq, London Striuger, Esq, do G Benson, Esq, Birkenh'd J F Walker, Esq, Norwich Mrs D Oliver, Manchester Page, Esq, Wol'htmpton J Williams, Esq, Chester Abergele Road. Newsham House- Mr & Mrs W L Whittam, Ambleside Mr Thomas Shorrock, Blackburn Erskine Road. Heathfield— Miss Keteineyer, resident T C Hockley, Esq, Stirling Mrs Hockley, do

High Water at. Colwyn Bay. h m ft in h m ft in Alorn Height Even Height Dec. 25-Friday 2 10 14 4 2 28 14 7 26—Sat .2 51 13 7 3 16 13 10 „ 27—Sun 3 43 12 9 4 14 ]3 5 if 28 —Mon 4 47 12 3 5 2S 13 o II 29-Tues 6 o 12 5 0 39 13 7 If 30-Wed. 7 8 13 1 7 37 14 6 „ 31—Thurs.8 4 14 0 8 28 15 11

Caractacus: The British King. A New Method of Teaching History. Interesting Dramatic Performance at Abergele. OF late years, there has been a distinct revival of the Welsh national drama, and in the per- formance of "Caractacus"' at the Abergete County School on Tuesday, the movement scored its latest and proudresit success. Aipart from 'the decidedly educating influence of such a play, when Welsh history is so agreeably taught, the performance was extremely enjoy- able. The various parts, some of them most difficult and exacting, were represented in a manner wenthy of legitimate "Thespians," by the scholars, assisted by two. members of the teaching staff. Hitherto, no Welsh Intermediate School has esktyed the. acting of a historical drama, and Albergele must be complimented on having broken the ice, as it were, in such a successful manner. The school has become the pioneer off a movement, which we hope will be eagerly joined in by other educational establishments, who- desire to add: interest to the study of Welsh history, and instil patrioÜc sentiment into the hearts of the young folk of Gwalia. The play, of which the renowned Welsh Prince, Caractacus, is the. central figure, was specially written by Mr Beriah G. Evans. Mr Evans is well-known as an author, and his literary fame has been enhanced by this latest production. His keen .love of romance, -and his fervid patriotism were given vent to in the soul- stirring lines of the play. Mr J. T. Rees, Mus. -Ba,c., Aberystwyth, had composed some delight- ful music for the occiasibn, and thus g.reakly added to the charm and originality of the per- formance. The Audience. As the performance was a matinee, a large number of the gentry of the neighbourhood were able to attend', and tthe hall in which the play was staged, was packed. Amongst those pre- sent were Lady Elorentia Hughes and the Misses; Hughes, Kinmel Park, the Hon. AIr Laurence 33rodrick and Mrs Brodrick -.oedt Coch), Col. and Mrs Mellor, Mrs J. Herbert Roberts and, party (Bryngwenallt), Mr and Mrs Scott (l'las Ucha), etc. The Caste. The principal charac-ter in the caste was Caractacus, splendidly enacted by Mr David S. Owen, whose elocutionary gifts have more than once distinguished him in na/tional eisteddfodx competitions. With a capital voice and a won- derful power of expression, his performance was well-nigh, perfect, and evolked unstinted praise. Miss Gwen. Parker Davies was more than pleas- ing in the character of Claudia, the daughter of Caractacus. Arviragus, the (brother of the British King, was very ably represented by Mr W. J: Evans, whilst Goronwy Owen did full jus- tice with the part of the traitor, Vellocatus. Cartismauidna, Queen of the Briganites, and the betrayers of Caractacus, was acted by Miss Mary 'Hughes tin a most creditable manner. In the third scene, when the Druidic Temple of Aiid,rast,e, Goddess of Victory, is shown, Miss Gertie Bond enadwdl the, part of Sabrina, chief DTuidiic; Priestess, with much skill. The march of the priestess round the sacrificial altar, and! the chanting of their weird songs was most impressive. The young ladies who took part in this scene were Misses Ephie 'Bell, Nelly Thomas, Norab Metcalf, Edith Wynne, May Davies, Freda Bradley, Olive Bradley, Annie Williams1, and Gwen Parker-Davies. Amongs!t"the other parts were Venutius, chief of the Podgontes, represented by Newman Evans; Lucius, chief of the Silures, l'arry Hgihes; An.tedrogus, chief of the Dobumni, J. A. Roderick; sold'iers, John Lloyd, David Robems, Huibert Amos, etc. Gwenffreda, wife of Carac'tacus, Miss> Gwen Williams; British matrons, Misses Lottie Owen, Katie Alffibut, Bessie Davies, and Gwen Jones. All did full credit to their varous parts. The Romans/ The above characters represent the British element. Amongst the Romans, Pudens, a Roman officer, enacted by Mr J. Alexandre, claims special notice. As Caesar, F&rgus Arm- strong entered fully into the spirit and dignity of the part, whilst Miss "Daisy Jones made a fitting Empress. In Miss Nelly Evans, the,part of Gernissa, Caesar's daughter, found a sym- path-eitic, and pleasing exponent. The minor parts, of Senator, soldier's, etc., were ably re- presented by Wal'ter Darlington, D. E. Law- rence, Harry Metcalfe, Evans Hughes, Willie Williams, Harry Roberts, Robert Roberts, Llewelyn Jonles, etc. Miss Pope played the incidental music dur- ling the performance, whilst the Misses Mill- ward relieved the monotony of the intervals with selections of popular musiic. The costumes and general mounting- of .he play were highly creditable, and the stage- man- agership was all jhat could be desired. There will be a repeat performance on Thurs- day afternoon and Friday evening in the 'town Hall, and next summer, by special arrangement, the same company will perform be,fore H.R.H. Princess Louise of Schleswig Holstein. The proceeds are in aid of the school bazaar tfor the Buildiing Extten-sion- Fund. In conclusion, it may be said that Abergele County School has scored a distinct success, and ichc- promoters of the event, the autnor, the composer, and the performers are to be most heartily congratulated. Outline of the Plot. The play, as produced at Abergele, has been slightly curtailed to bring it within the- limit of time suitable for a school entertainment, but the sttory as told by the present representation is cOInplelte in itself. The curtain rises in. the firslt scene on an ex- citing speCfcacle. Pud-ens, a Roman officer con- vey img offers of peace from Ostorius, the Roman General to Caradoc, the British- Penclraizoii, has been surprised and captured by a party of British, half soldiers, half banditti, who,smart- ing under some of the excesses which the Roman, soldtiers occasionally displayed in their treatment of the British, are in the act of sub- mitting him to torture. On this scene suddenly enters Claudia, Caradoc's daughter, who, find- ing her demands for Puden's release as an ac- credited ambassador ineffectual, by a ruse- dis- tracts their attention while she cuts the pris- oner free. Puåens seizes his- weapons, and-with Claudia stands ready to receive the rush of the discomfited; band. The prisoner and his res- cuer are at the crucial moment reinforced by Arviragus, Claudia's uncle, at sight of whom the assailants flee. Then follows a pretty scene, affording opportunities for delightful acting on 'the part of each of the three charac- ters. Arviragus twits Claudia a British ma,iden for championing the cause of Pudens, an officer of the enemy. The tables are promptly turned upon Arviragus by Claudia's nimble wit, re- minding him that she has but emulated the ex- ample set by Arviragus himself in releasing without ransom Gennissa, Caesar's daughter, heM prisoner by the British. Pudens produces to Arviragus a letter from Genniissa, in which, in touching terms, Caesar's claughker expresses her gratitude, regretting that the war shouldi have estranged them, and' the whole exhibiting ithe conflict between her feelings and inclination, towards Arviragus, and her evident duty as Caesar's daughter. Claudia again appears as her uncle finishes the reading of the letter, and does some admirable jesting. The three them proceed to the iBrMsh camp, where the second scene shows l'udens laying before Caradog and his asembled chieftains the Roman general's proposals. In the course of the discussion the case for Rome and IBritain respectively is put forward with power and vigour, and we get in attractive form a summary of the history of the invasion and' of the political sitate of Britain at the time. The. burning patriotism whilch in- spired" Caractacus and his chieftain's is brought ouic in bold and fierce relief. The third scene is of a very different charac- ter, and is laid in the stronghold -of Canis- maudna, Caradoc's cousin, and Queen- of tne 'Brrgantes. Iliither Caradoc -has fled after his final defeat 'by tile Romans at Caer Caradoc on the confines of Shropshire. The British King plays w-it-h a master hand upon- the patriotic instincts of the IBrigantian. Queen, and incident- ally inculcates the les'son of the m-oslc exalted patriotism. -Caractacus h'aving retired to rest, Gartismaudna is pressed by Vellocatus, a rene- gade officer of her court in the pay of Rome, to betray her sleeping guest. The scene pre- sents in vivid hues a very probable explanation of the causes which led Cartismaudna to com- mit that deed of treachery which has earned for her in the ancient Welsh triads supreme noto- riety as one of the three arch traitors of Britain. The Queen, after a discussion which affords a fine. analysis of character, finalyyields to the temptation so speciously urged by Vello- o catus. Then we have the actual seizing and binding of Caractacus, an .instructive and ex- citing scene fwinding up withi the capitve king's scathing denunciation of his cousin's perfidy: "Caraatacus,though bound, is free These bonds Are naii,g,'b:t My spirit laughs 'at such,, and soars Altofk, free and untrainmelled) as the Gods them sel v es Thou, free to seeming, yet art bound indeed, Bound by the Fate's to shame, despair, and doom Go, then, to meet it! And, in going, take My curse, thy country's curse, thy people's curse, And these, Tlpon thee heaped', tbou'It curse thyself, And he who tempted thee thou traitress d-'ouble dyed!" The next scene presents a delightful contrast, and here composer and librettist are- at their' .best. This- is from beginning to end a musical scene, the music, as it should do, a'ssis-ting the words to 'tell their meaning. From whatever standpoint regarded,, this scene—charming, weird, and beautiful—is one. of the great successes orf the play, at once pic- ture'suqe and' awe-inspiring. The metrical li- bretto is impressive, and rhythmical: the -music intensely weird and awesome,quiite in. character ,wit,hi the scene and the period, it represents. The whole scene goes with a swing and; a rhythm that enchani[is at once the ear and the •eye. It is so. arranged that iit may be tat-ei-i up independently by schools or parties not equal to the performance- of ilhe complete play. The curtain rises on a pretty sylvan scene, depicting an ancient Druidic circle represent- ing an open-air temple dedicated to Andraste, Goddess of Victory. From the flies above to the great a'1tar or logan stone- below fall three sets of c'oloured ribbons, representing the present- day eisted0ifodic emblem of the three ravs of light, symbolising the sacred name. In. the distance is heard a weird chant, beginning '•'Day of dlarknesls Day of woe 1),r,i,tain trampled by the foe the strains of which: send a 'thrill through, the audience. Then slowly and majestically enters Saibrina, the High Priestess, 'followed by a num- ber of Vestal Virgins and' British matrons, wuo, to the strains of another chorus, "Here, Oh, Andraste, to thy temple we come, Seeking, Andraste, thy aid againslt Rome" perform a slow dance-march around the circle, weaving in and out among the monoliths. Then follows a picturesque service, intoned by St-- br.ina, the Virgins- chanting responses, after Which the girls, in another pretty but intricate dance, weave the coloured ribbons, singing "As we weave the 'colours, so Weave we Fate for Britain's foe" The Goddess, on (being passionately appealed to to select one o'f the girls for sacrifice, her lot by a process of exclusion falls upon Claudia, between whom and' her motcher Grwei-ifreda a touching scene is enacted. Then Claudia, in a song of self-immolation, prepares to offer up her life as a sacrifice for her country, when Pudens, followed by Roman soldiers, rushes in, and, against her will, Claudia is saved, the so d-iers, in covering the retreat of Pud-ens wi Claudia, affording a realistic illustration of a Testudo- or inteii-o'Cked shields. The final scene is in the Field of Mars in Rome, where Caesar and Ag-grippina, his are seated on the historic double throne, an surrounded 'by all the pomp of a Roman o'Va.- tion, the British prisoners, including Caracta- cus, with his brother Arviragus, and his wtfe and daughter Gwenffreda and- Claudia, ar*j 'brought in in chains. In- this powerful an touching scene Cara'ctacus delivers his histor1' ca-1 oration be-fore, Caesar, justifying the Britis opposition to Rome, and the necessary itinge ° realism and- romance are introduced in the toric marrying of Pudens1 with Claudia and 01 11 Arviragus with Gennissa. tfihe populacecal for blood, and poetic justice is done in the execnLon of Vellocatus and Cartismaudna, aDd so the curtain finally falls.

♦ The Charges Against a Colwyn Bay Bankrupt. The Verdict. AFTER three days' hearing of the case for the pro, secution against Edward Arthur Evans, 23, builder, of Colwyn Bay, before Sir Justice Bruce, at the \orth Wales Assizes at Ruthin, the case for the defence was commenced on Friday. The charge was that, having been adjudged a bankrupt, and within four months next before tn presentation of the bankruptcy of petition agal him, prisoner did unlawfully dispose of otherwise than in the ordinary way of his trade certain timbe which he had obtained on credit and had not Pal for, at Penrhvn Bay, on 7th June, 1902.. Mr Colt Williams, with Mr E. Morris (instructed by the Treasury), prosecuted Mr R. S. Lawrencc, with Mr Graham Wilkin (instructed by Mr Bliss Hill) defended and Mr E. Owen Roberts had A watching brief for Mr R. jones,,Ffynnongroew- Bir In opening the case for the defence, Lawrence said it was perfectly obvious that th' case was one of exceeding gravity, and especially so to the prisoner. He thought one and all w°u agree that the public at large must be considered and protected where such cases such as was now alleged did exist, and if the jury were satisfied that prisoner had commited the offences it was their duty to convict him, however painful it might be- But he was very hopeful that they would be spared that duty. It was the duty of the prosecution t prove the prisoner guilty. But had they done so He submitted that nothing of the kind had been done. Further, under the savings clause section of the Bankruptcy Act, the jury were still to acquit prisoner if they were satisfied that that which he was alleged to have done was not done with any intention to defraud. This, counsel thought, would be conclusively proved. It was not pleasing to be a bankrupt—it bore a certain amount of stigma—still, such circumstances were by misfortune more than anything else.. Counsel then dealt with at length-his address occupying three hours-the facts of the case, endeavouring to show that the prosecution had entirely failed to make out its case. Prisoner then entered the witness box, and in the course of a lengthy examination gave evidence of his business transactions with various timbet merchants.. In the spring of 1902 he used timber to repair the trucks of his traction engine, for win- dow sashes of Mr Robert Jones' house in June, 1902, from Messrs. Hollins Bros., which last item was included in the account of ^29 95 6d. The reason why timber was sent to his tatner's and mother's workshop at Colwyn Bay was because he had ccme to to an arrangement with his parents to use their machinery. The timber would there be trimmed for necessary use, and would afterwards be taken away to where the work was in process, either to Ffynuongroew, Mustyn, or Connah's Q nay, by traction, cart, or by rail. It was not true, as was suggested, that he had ordered timber for fiauluient pui poses. T'he case- was nesuimed on Saturday, audi aftelf fl'engthy addresses by counsel and the Judge"-5 ,su:mtmd..ng up, the jury, afiber thirty-five minutes* Ihflo'ughit in a verdict off gtudlky, but prisoner to •mercy on accsoutmt of Ihss yiouitlh;. Htiis I^otridlshlap miid the jury had1 fcxind guiiilty of ün-e otf the nxM seirtous offences, and he tihtaigiht up'on the evidence they could- not arri'vla ati any other decision*. He sentence^' •prisoner to filvJC< mlO-ll, amjprisonmlent Ward laibonir, the sentence tto. date from Oicttolber, the, dlate of- tihe, opening of the. oo'in* mission. lie diuscouriagedi' an a/p?plliiciajtli-cvn• ■by Mr LaW- neiiioe to pliace prisoner in, tlhie -second. ddvisao«> beoaiulse iin s,mtalq prisons such mieant, more or less, solitary donifnecnenit. Ilis lordfc-ttniip took syonlpiatihy upon She juiO> who had ibeen in. tine box frotm TaVesdiay, exempted! thieim frtomi sarvang on. a jury for t'h13 nexit ten years.

By the .stale of the Sweoy-d oolletftio-n orf luian.Tuscr/ipits, which concluded- at iS»itlhe!by's sale rooms* on Sattuoidtay, a sunn ,{."13,553 13S has been. reached. —— From all parts of ,.hle United Kingd'on1 ■offers are being, received by the- Japanese Mii/nistter in Ixmcliom from people vo'luniteennb their services to Japan in- iihe event of wair W"t-n Russia. Twelve thousand pound's 'ha..s alrelady been sub scribed iiii the Wdnwitcik Rural Deame^ (\yarr)ingiton) towards the Liverpool Cathedra* sdheane. -==-

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