The London Welshman

The Agents for The London Welshman" In North and South Wales are- Messrs. DAWSON & SONS, Ltd., and Messrs. W. H. SMITH & SONS. b Copies can be obtained at any railway C ookstaIl if a standing Order is given to the Ierk in charge. WELSH ADVERTISEMENTS. OOKs purchased for Cash.—JAMES GFORGE, 23 and 24, Queen Street Arcade, Cardiff. 10,000 ^lrnes always in Stock. New additions daily, RJCHARD JENKINS, Art Tailor, 3 and 5, Custom f House Street, Cardiff, has earned a great reputa- °r his excellent fit and finish.

A WELSH GUIDE. ROBIN BACH-or, to give him his correct name Robert Edwards -was a well known guide at Dolgellau in the early part of the last century. Every path and crevice on Cader ldris were known to him, and his quaint appearance, small stature, and pleasant humour were well known to the tourists of those days. But the one thing that Robin prided himself upon was his princely ancestors, and his pedigree and qualifications as a guide were well stated in his business card," which read as follows "ROBERT EDWARDS," Second son of that celebrated tawer (tanner) William Edwards ap Griffith, ap Morgan, ap David, ap Owen, ap Llewelyn, ap Cadwalader, great, great, great grandson of an illegitimate daughter of that illustrious hero, Rice ap Thomas -no less famed for his irresistible prowess, when mildly approaching under the velvet standards of -ni 1 the lovely Venus, than when sternly advancing with the terrible banner of the bloody Mars-by Anne alias Catherine, daughter of Howell ap Jenkyn, of Ynys-y-Maengwyn, who was the thir- teenth in descent from Cadwgan, a lineal descendant from Bleddyn ap Cymin, Prince of Powys. Since his nativity full four and eighty times hath the sun rolled to his summer solstice. Fifty years was he host of the Hen and Chickens, Penypont, Dolgellau; twenty of which he was, apparitor to the late Right Reverend Father in God, John, Bishop of Bangor and his prede- cessors. By chance made a glover, by genius and choice a fly dresser and angler, is now, by the All-divine assistance conductor to and over the most tremendous mountain Cader Idris, to the stupendous cataracts of Cain and Mawddach, and to the enchanting cascades of Dol-y- Melynthyn, with all its beautifully romantic scenery. Guide General, and magnificent ex- pounder of all the natural and artificial curiosities of North Wales, professor of grand and bombastic lexicographical words, knight of the most anomalous whimsical, yet perhaps happy, order of hair-brained mexplicables." It is little wonder that with such qualifications Robin was deemed a common favourite, and had he lived to the present age he would have made a fortune in the art of writing advertisements. Robin lived till he was 88 years old, and to the last was able to guide parties over that tremendous mountain Cader Idris."

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Broadminded Clergymen. The fact that Evan Roberts was invited to hold a service in Llandonna Church by the vicar is greatly to the latter's credit, and shows that there are broad-minded and tolerant clergy in our midst. The Vicar of Rhos and the Vicar of Ystradgynlais have exhibited a similar spirit of charity and goodwill, and it was pleasant to find a vicar of the Anglican Church present at 9 the recent Calvinistic Methodist Association Meetings at Penygarn. There is no doubt, also, that the new Bishop of Llandaff is going to prove one of the most charitable and broad-minded ecclesiastics that ever occupied a Bishopric. This is the proper Christian spirit. Merthyr Cymreigyddion. A very useful society is that known as the Merthyr Cymreigyddion. Next to the Rhondda Cymmrodorion, it is probably the most active genuinely Welsh Society in South Wales, and has done much to stimulate local interest in the Welsh language and Welsh music and poetry. The first meeting of the summer session was held the other day in the beiutiful locality of Vaynor, when tea was partaken of by a good company, and a most interesting programme of addresses, songs, and poetry was gone through. Amongst the songs were, "Gwlad y Delyn" and Hob y Deri Dando" (in South Wales style). Hob y Deri Dando." Mentioning" Hob y Deri Dando "reminds me that the original of the same was Hi a Deri- down." This was changed into" Hi a Deri Dando," or Hai i'r Deri Down." This refers to the old custom of congregating under an oak tree to sing and engage in other congenial occupations. As in English, Hai to the oaken shades let us go," or, under the oaken shades let us go," There is a reference to the custom in Virgil. Mr. Chamberlain at Cardiff. A statement in a South Wales evening Liberal journal that Mr. Chamberlain was received with hooting in the streets of Cardiff on the occasion of the recent Royal visit, has been challenged by the Conservative press, and I notice that the Swansea Daily Post refers to the report as very misleading." It was nothing of the kind. The report in the Liberal evening paper alluded to was perfectly accurate, and was the only report published that gave a true account of Mr. Chamberlain's public reception. For example, when the Birmingham M.P. emerged into St. Mary's Street, there were vigorous hoots from various directions, and in Cathays Park he was received with both hoots and jeers. In short, Joe was the most unwelcomed visitor in the whole programme, and the fact need occasion no surprise. A Summer Song. The starlight grows pale 'neath the flush of the morning, The night winds die softly afar in the west, And the t rush carols shrill that a new day is dawning, While dew drops gleain bright on her wings and her breast. Then wake from thy slumbers, oh, Cambria's daughter Come forth to the joy of a long summer's day Tho' there's mist on the hills, there's a breeze on the water To ruffle the ripples of Cardigan Bay. Beside the swift Rheidol we'll pluck the marsh mallows To weave in a garland all golden for thee, While the river runs giey through its pools and its shallows And winds through its valley away to the sea. Oh black are thy locks as the wing of the raven, And bright shine thine eyes as the stars on the foam, Or the beacon which gleams at the mouth of the haven, To welcome the mariner steering for home. Oh daughter of Cambria, why art thou sleeping ? The whisper of summer is heard in the air, Bringing hope e'en to hearts that are heavy with weeping, And joy and delight to the young and the fair. The bee and the butterfly flit o'er the meadows, The odour of flowers comes sweet through the hay, And night with the silence and gloom of its shadows Hath fled like a dream at the dawning of day I