The London Welshman

Notes from South Wales. (From our Special Correspondent.) Snobbery in Merionethshire. I concur with Mr. Southall's letter in the Western Mail in reference to the question of Welsh place names. He points out that many Cymric names have been corrupted, and ridiculous English names introduced in others. Thus, in Merionethshire, for instance, a new village near Abermaw has been christened "Fairbourne," and Mr. Southall very appropriately ridicules such a penny novelette title. Fairbourne in Welsh Merioneth, forsooth Is Socialism a Failure? I understand that Mr. Keir Hardie, the junior Member for Merthyr Boroughs, has been writing articles in the German Socialistic Press in regard to the Socialistic Movement in England and Wales. "Socialism," Mr. Hardie remarks, "seems to be less and less attractive to the working men of England and Wales. It is not," he further continues, "making headway," and he deplores the fact. As Mr. Keir Hardie is an authority on British Socialism, the above remarks are significant. Mistakes of Socialists. There is no doubt that the Welsh working man has a great deal of sympathy with Socialism, in so far as it relates to such matters as the nationalisation of mines and railways, and the furtherance of social legislation calculated to bring about a more equitable distribution of the world's riches; but it is an unfortunate fact that in many districts, Socialistic leaders have gone out of their way to ridicule religion in general. The Welsh working man may feel strongly on the question of State-aided religion, and he will not tolerate the arrogance and pre- sumption of the "priests," but neither will he tolerate rank atheism. It is because so many Socialists have prominently identified themselves with atheistical teachings that Socialism has experienced a set-back. Crack Welsh Bands. Although Wales has long been famous for its -choral music, it never did possess a really good brass band, that is to say, a band that won many first prizes in class competitions. Within the last few years, however, there has been an awakening in this direction, and, in the Ferndale Band, Wales now possesses a crack combination. This band has attended nine competitions this year, and has won seven first prizes. In giving his award on Saturday week at the Llanidloes Band Contest, when the Ferndalians won two first prizes, Mr. Richard Stead, of Slaithwaite, and a well-known brass band adjudicator, stated that the playing of the Ferndale Band in one ,of the pieces, surpassed anything he had heard during the 52 years of his experience." This is praise, indeed, and Welshmen generally will heartily congratulate the Ferndalians. Welsh National Eisteddfod. Of course, the great event of the week is the Welsh National Eisteddfod at Aberpennar. The preparations for the same have been ex- tremely well carried out. The committee have been fortunate in having such an experienced secretary as Mr. D. T. Evans. He is a pro- fessional accountant, and, consequently, an expert in finance. Moreover, he has acted as secretary of the successful Aberpennar Easter Eisteddfod for several years past, and what he does not know of Eisteddfodic manage- ment is not worth knowing. The Welsh National Eisteddfod is now such a big affair, and necessitates so much expense in '■ its promotion, that a financial expert is neces- sary in directing such expense; and I shall be surprised if this week's "National" does not show a very substantial surplus in hand after paying all expenses. It was pleasant to notice as an additional feature of the gathering, an Art Exhibition. A good picture has quite as much influence upon a man's soul as good music. Art has been too much neglected in Wales in past years, and it is to be hoped that in future National Eisteddfodau the Art Exhibition will become a leading and permanent feature. Probably the pictures that attracted most interest this week were those painted by Miss Williams, a young Welshwoman from Barry, and who gives promise of great things in the future. London Impressions. Many readers of the LONDON WELSHMAN in the City, will, doubtless, be glad to read the following extract from the Rev. Seth Joshua's report of his visit to London in connection with the Revival meetings. It appeared in the July issue of the Torch, the monthly organ of the Calvinistic Methodist Forward Movement:— From Scotland I went to Wilton Square Church, London. Miss Florrie Evans, and Miss Maud Davies, of Newquay, gave valuable help here. I felt the throb of our Welsh Revival at once. There was a swell and a moving in the tide, just like I have seen in the Cardigan Bay. People came to the front, hearts were bent, lips were opened, tongues were untied, jealousies were removed, sins con- fessed and forsaken, and God's will became all in all. Please do not ask for numbers or a tabulated list of results. There came into this Church a calm, beautiful tide of blessing. He did not rend the heavens, but fell as the dew- it saved, it sanctified. I was permitted to assist at Jewin Church also. There were three young sisters here from Glamorganshire. Now we saw the rending heavens; it was a cyclone. This happened in an overflow service, and it was quite a new phase of the Revival to me. The young people were on their feet in groups, praying, waving their hands in the air, and shouting with voices like thunder. There is room for variety in this glorious work, and if this is the Lord's doing, I am willing to bend." Alien Musicians. Lord Tredegar's observations at the National Eisteddfod in reference to the engagement of alien musicians are to the point. No one dis- putes that there are some clever musicians hailing from Continental countries, but it is a fact, nevertheless, that undue preference has been given foreigners by promoters of musical and other gatherings in Britain. The result is that many of our own musicians have been obliged to take a back seat. Even in Wales, we are not free from this pandering to foreign artistes. We have people in Wales who think it very dignified to go and engage a foreign vocalist with a fierce moustache, a crop of luxurious hair, and with a name unpronounceable. They think that because a Welsh vocalist is a mere native of the district, and bears a homely name, that he is very inferior to the foreigner. We have had supposed "crack vocalists" from abroad in Welsh concerts, &c., and in nine cases out of ten, the audiences have really found them inferior to local musicians. It is to be hoped that Lord Tredegar's remarks will be continually emphasised.