The London Welshman

Notes from South Wales. (From our Special Correspondent). Welsh Sculptor's Tablet. The tablet to the memory of the war corres- pondents who died in South Africa, formally unveiled at St. Paul's Cathedral the other day by Lord Roberts, was designed by Mr. Goscombe John, A.R.A., a talented and clever Welshman. Salmon Fishing on the Tivy. The London Tatler runs a most interesting photographic competition, and I noticed that the third prize-winner in last week's issue was Mr. J. Richards, of 42, Harker Street, Chelsea, whose photograph of "Salmon Fishing on the Tivy" is exceedingly interesting to those who, like myself, have witnessed such a scene as is depicted therein. The Late Welsh Champion Cyclist. According to a well-informed cycling journal, the late Mr. J. Michael, Aberdare, the champion cyclist of the world, made ^"40,000 on the cycling track, but, according to the same authority, he died worth a few thousands only. Michael evidently sustained great losses when he temporarily forsook the cycle for the turf. Aberystwyth Newspapers. Despite the fact that Aberystwyth is the centre of a district where Welsh speaking is very prevalent, there was no local paper that devoted a few columns weekly to news printed in the native language until the Welsh Gazette made its appearance a few years ago. The Gazette, I am pleased to notice, now devotes almost a whole page to Welsh, and this generous acknow- ledgment of the national language deserves the best recognition of all lovers of Wales. This is in happy contrast to Mr. Gibson's cynical weekly, which has deliberately ignored the Welsh language, and advocated an Anglicising policy generally. International Football. The scene at the Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday, when the Welsh and English inter- national teams met one another to decide which was the superior, was a striking proof of the popularity of football in South Wales. There were some 35,000 spectators, and the gross receipts for admission came to some £ 2,131. In that vast crowd were all sorts and conditions of men. A more orderly crowd I have never seen. In fact, the general conduct of all was excellent. The Welsh players were decidedly superior, but as a spectacular display of the game it did not come up to that seen at some of the ordinary football matches played during the season in South Wales. "The London Welshman." Every patriotic Welshman will be glad to learn that the circulation of this journal is steadily increasing in Wales. It is admitted to be of great interest to all Welsh people, and supplies a long-felt want. A bilingual weekly, run on truly patriotic lines, has been very much desired, and, now that it is a reality, let Welsh people do all that lies in their power to increase its circula- tion in every way. Death of the Oldest Doctor. Dr. William W. Morgan, who has just died at Newport, was probably the oldest medical prac- titioner in the British Isles. Dr. Morgan, who was 95 years of age, had lived the greatest part of his life in the Principality, and could relate many interesting anecdotes of the olden times. When the Chartist riots took place at Newport Dr. Morgan rendered great service in attending to the wounded rioters. Dear Me! In the "Editorial Notes" of Mr. Gibson's Aberystwyth weekly it is recorded that many women who believe that they are teetotal will drink port wine." Dear me Dear me The Drink Traffic. It is stated on good evidence that the receipts of two breweries in South-West Wales have decreased very considerably during the past few months. One of them usually despatched fourteen tons of beer per fortnight on an average, but during the last few fortnights the average has been about eight tons. The decrease is entirely attributed to the effects of the great religious revival. Blockade Runner's Fate. Much anxiety is felt in regard to the fate of s.s. "Cloverdale," which sailed with Welsh coal from Hong Kong on September 23rd for Vladivostock. It is feared that the steamer, a comparatively new and fine boat, struck a floating mine and sunk. The officers are all Welshmen, viz., E. E. Thomas, master, Cardigan D. Llewellyn, second officer, St. Dogmell's; James Reed, third officer, St. David's; and David Jones, carpenter, Cardigan. The Cardiganshire district has always been famous for its intrepid sailors, and in running the present blockade it showed that Cardiganshire seamen are as intrepid as ever. During the famous war between Peru and Chili, one of the most notable events of the conflict was the blockade running by Capt. Davies, of Cardigan town, whose portrait appeared in all the leading illustrated papers at the time. Rather Sweeping. As a native of Aberystwyth I read with interest the statement of Mr. O. M. Edwards, in Cymru, that the spirit of Welsh nationality is weaker in that town than it is in any other town he (Mr. Edwards) knows of in the Principality. I will admit that there is a good deal of snobbery in the Cardiganshire town, due, chiefly, to the false impression that it is "fashionable" to ape the English visitors' twang and ways, but on the whole the inhabitants of Aberystwyth are as nationalistic as those in any other Welsh town. Take, for example, the magnificent Welsh chapels in the place. The most cultured residents attend these chapels, and zealously protect them from the introduc- tion of the Anglicising element. How very much better is this practical loyalty to the Welsh language when compared with the action of Welshmen in many other Welsh towns who have given up the Welsh place of worship for the English cose," because they think it is "more fashionable, don't you see ? True Patriotism. The true patriot, after all, is he who, despite the Anglicising influences that surround him, is still loyal to the church or chapel where his mother tongue prevails. It is the Welsh places of worship'that have kept the flame of Nationalism burning brightly, and in this respect Aberystwyth shows a patriotism which cannot be excelled in any other Welsh town. If the Welsh place of worship had died Welsh Nationalism would have died also, and when I mention that Aberystwyth has six large Welsh chapels, one Welsh church, and three or four smaller Welsh chapels-although the popu- lation is only some 8,000 people-it will be seen that Welsh Nationalism at Aberystwyth is a real and genuine force. A Solitary Ministerial Critic. The Rev. Tudor Jones, Unitarian minister at Swansea, possesses the unique distinction of being the only minister who has publicly and frankly criticised Mr. Evan Roberts and the Revival meetings. In Mr. Jones' opinion "it would have been better if Mr. Evan Roberts had stuck to his books." Had Mr. Roberts stuck to his books," however, the many thousands of people who are now enjoying the beauty of the new life would be still steeped in iniquity and sin. Yes, it was a happy day for them when Mr. Evan Roberts left off sticking to his books." Welsh National Eisteddfod. The programme of this year's National Eisteddfod to be held at Mountain Ash is a most attractive one. In regard to the choral competitions, however, there does not seem to be any great enthusiasm, up to the present, manifested in reference to the same in musical circles. I have not heard of any Welsh choir having decided to compete in the chief choral, the only entrants up to date being one English choir and a choir from America. This is very much to be regretted, and I hope that a Welsh choir may yet be forthcoming to uphold the reputation of Welsh choral music. A Touching Revival Story. One of the most touching little incidents of the religious revival I have heard is in reference to an elderly man who used to go from one public house to another playing the concertina. He has come under the influence of the revival and given up the work alluded to. Several young men in one of the South Wales chapels took interest in his case in a practical way by making a collection to buy him a suit of clothes. Scottish Testimony. One of the most dramatic testimonies to the marvels of the Welsh religious revival that I have read appeared in the Scotsman a few days ago. "Such thrilling music," stated the well- known Scottish minister, whose personal experi- ences of the revival were quoted in the paper alluded to, "for passionateness and for fervour one could not expect to hear again on this side of the grave. He (the minister) had no hesita- tion in saying that the revival far exceeded anything the newspapers had written in reference to it." H.M.S. "Andromeda." The chaplain of H.M.S. "Andromeda," the warship that arranged to take stores and medical aid to Port Arthur on the capitulation of that famous port, for the relief of the sick and wounded, is a Cardiganshire man, viz., the Rev, D. Richards, M.A., Penllwyn. The" Andro- meda," was not, however, allowed to proceed near the shore by the Japanese authorities because of the fact that Russian mines were supposed to be still floating about. Welsh Centenarian. Mrs. Evans, mother of Mrs. Jones, of the Angel Hotel in the beautiful hamlet of Pont- neathvaughan in the Neath Valley, celebrated her icoth birthday last week, when she received the congratulations of her family, who represent four generations. Mrs. Evans, who was born in the year 1805, retains her faculties to a remarkable degree and her stories of Welsh life as it existed 70 years ago are most interesting and instructive. Mrs. Evans invariably speaks Welsh when engaged in conversation.