The London Welshman

EISTEDDFOD Y TABERNACL, KING'S CROSS. Ysgrifena Mr. W. Edmunds, ysgrifenydd poblogaidd Cymdeithas Lenyddol y Tabernacl, atom i gywiro dau wall yn ein hadroddiad o'r eisteddfod uchod. Enillydd ar yr unawd baritone oedd Mr. Lloyd Jones, Shirland Road, ac arweinydd y parti buddugol oedd Mr. Emlyn James. Gan fod y rhaglen mor futh, bu raid cwtogi'r beirniadaethiu ar yr adran lenyddol. Dyma feirniadaeth Machreth ar yr adran farddonol:— Telyneg. Tri ymgeisydd sydd yn y gystadleuaeth hon, Glan Ceri," "Yr Hen Ddihenydd," a" Gwilym 0 DirGwalia." Da genyf fedru dweyd fod yma gystadleuaeth dda. Mae pob un o'r tri yn meddu syniad pur lew beth sydd eisieu, a chryn dipyn o fedr i gario y syniad allan i ymarferiad. Testun Yr Hen Ddihenydd yw Yr Hen Alaw." Hen alaw ganai ei nain. Mae'r drychfeddwl dipyn yn hen. Onid yw yn bryd i'r hen bethau a berthynent i deidiau a neini iu gael llonydd gan y beirdd bellach. Nid yw y pennillion mor fyw nac mor loew ag y carasem iddynt fod. Tri phennill i Ftodau'r Grug sydd gan Gwilym o Dir Gwalia." Mae ynddynt gryn lawer o nwyf yr awen, a pheth annaturioldeb hefyd. Dywed am y blodau hyn eu bod mewn greigiog gryd a siglir gan ystormydd." O'r braidd y gall hyd y nod yr ystorm siglo y graig mae yn siglo gwreiddiau yn ogystal a blodau'r grug yn ddigon tebyg. Sonia am gan a hyawdledd y blodau. Ond eu tegwch syml yw neillduolrwydd blodau'r- grug," a rhy ychydig o hwnnw sydd yma. I Ferched Dyffryn Ceri y canodd "Glan Ceri," a chanodd gyda llawer iawn o hwyl a hoender. Nid yw y pennillion yn gwbl ddifrychau. Sonia am awelon blith." Gwn beth yw buwch flith, ond dyma'r tro cyntaf i nri glywed son am awel flith. "Blodau ar y blodau "-mae'r syniad yn darawiadol, ond dylasai y birdd ei osod allan yn well. Cofied y bardd hefyd o hyn allan nad oes y fath air a rhianod yn y Gymraeg. Rhiain a rhianedd yw y geiriau, nid rhian a rhianod. Mewn un dwy linell sonia am gerddi y merched yma, ac yn y ddwy linell nesaf try y merched eu hunain yn "alawon." Er cystal merched yw merched Dyffryn Ceri, mae'r awdwr hwn braidd yn eithafol yn ei ganmol- iaeth iddynt. Ond pennillion hoenus, diwareus, a'r ddawn delynegol yn ddiamheuol ynddynt, yw y rhai hyn ac i Lan Ceri yr a y wobr. "Pedwar Tymhor Bywyd." Daeth chwech o feirdd i'r gystadleuaeth hon, ac er nad oes ymhlith y cyfansoddiadau yr un gwael iawn, nid oes yma yr un yn rhagori rhyw lawer chwaith. Mae'r chwech yn fydrwyr pur hwylus, yn deall beth a olygir wrth odl a chorfan a mesur. Rhaid i Arthen ddysgu sillebu yn well cyn y llwydda. Anesgusodol yn y dyddiau hyn yw ysgrifenu "yw" am i'w," a "hogin" am "hogyn," a'r cyffelyb. Pentwr o ffugurau cymysglyd yw pennillion Ap Gwanwyn." Yn ei ymgais am fod yn newydd ac anghyffredin a yn ddireol a niwliog. Braidd yn gymysglyd yw Ystyriol hefyd. Cymerer y pedair llinell gyntaf yn engrhaifft. Nid yw hanner olaf pennill cyntaf Mab yr Hydref" amgen ailadroddiad o'r hanner blaenaf. Gormod o droi yn yr un man sydd yn yr ail bennill hefyd. Credaf mai y ddau oreu yw Arwr o Lan Aeron" ac Oriau'r Haf." Nid yw yr un o'r ddau yn ddifrychau, nac mor awenyddol ag y gallesid dymuno iddynt fod. Tuedda Arwr o Lan Aeron i syrthio i bechod Ap Gwanwyn"- plentyn ffugurau. Nid oes llawn digon o neillduolrwydd y tymhorau Igan Oriau'r fiaf Nis gallaf wneyd yn well na rhanu'r wobr cydrhwng y ddau hyn. Englyn: "Yr Eiddew." Derbyniwyd 22 o englynion, nifer dda iawn mewn cystadleuaeth leol o'r fath hon. Dau-ar-hugain ddywedais. Rhaid galw y ffigiwr yn ol, oblegid y mae yma nifer nad ellir eu galw yn englynion o gwbl. Nod angen cyntaf englyn yw cynghanedd, ac nid oes yn yr erthylwaith a anfonwyd i mewn gan "Ceiriosen," "Cerdinen," "Jim," "Beulah," a "Gwan Galon" gymaint a rhith o gynghanedd. Nid oes eisieu dweyd dim rhagor am danynt. Saif cynyrchion "loan," "Eiddil," B. o'r Bryn," Ie, wir," "Hen Fyrddin," "Gwynfynydd," a Meredydd mewn dosbarth dipyn yn uwch. Mae y rhai hyn i gyd yn englynion—o rywfath. Ond anafir pob un o honynt gan naill ai cynghanedd wallus, iaich wedi ei llurginio, neu amhriodoldeb syniadau a ffugyrau. Trafferth ofer fyddai ceisio eu rhestru yn ol unrhyw safon o deilyngdod. Mae'r deg eraill, sef eiddo "Caswallon," "Arthen," Rhyddfrydwr," Gomerydd," Gwyddfryd," Bettws," "Eiddil "(2), "Derwen," "Garddwr," a Brigyn yn englynion na raid i'w hawdwyr gywilyddio eu harddel. 0 leiaf, y maent oil yn gywir, ac nid yr un ohonyrit heb ryw darawiad priodol. Ar y Haw arall, nid oes yma un yn rhagori yn amlwg ar y lleill, na'r un na charaswn ei fod yn well. Y goreuon ydynt eiddo "Eiddil" (2)„ "Derwen," "Garddwr," a "Brigyn," a gorchwyl anodd yw pender ynu cydrhyngddynt. Wedi hir betruso, yr wyf yn dod i'r tarn fod yma un yn fwy cyflawn mewn desgrifiad na'r lleill, ac yn llawn mor briodol a phert yn ei fynegiant. A hwnnw ydyw eiddo "Brigyn."

Notes from South Wales. (From our Special Correspondent.) St. David's Day. That the observance of St. David's Day is getting more general amongst Welshmen is patent to all observers. This week's celebra- tions in South Wales were certainly more numerous and influential than those held on similar occasions in past years. The Welshman is getting to love his nationality more and more, and there is no doubt that our gallant little nation has a bright future in front of her. Welsh Opera. In my last week's "Notes," I referred to the increasing interest that was being taken in Welsh drama," and commented on the recent successful public performances of "The Maid of Cefn Ydfa," at Aberdare. I should like to explain that the performances alluded to were in operatic form. The Maid of Cefn Ydfa has been played both as a drama and an operetta, but it was the Rev. Edward Jones (Iorwerth Ddu's) operetta that drew such appreciative audiences at Aberdare. The performers were the Aberdare Operatic Society, conducted by Mr. W. Gwynne. It is exceedingly pleasant to find that it is not always necessary "to go abroad for operatic productions. The opening scene, illustrative of old Welsh village 1 ife, including villagers and peasants dressed in old Welsh costume, was really good. Mr. Llewellyn Jones took the part of "Will Hopkin," the hero of the pathetic Welsh romance, and his singing of Cam 'rwyf Hen Wlad fy Nhadau touched a tender chord in the heart of every Welsh man and Welsh woman in the audience. Miss Maggie Mason, as the Maid of Cefn Ydfa," also sang most sweetly, and Miss Esther Evans, as "Mrs. Thomas," mother of "The Maid," was very good. All the other parts were in equally capable hands. I heartily congratulate the Aberdare Operatic Society. I should like to see this beautiful operetta performed in all large towns where there are Welsh people. Let us encourage our national productions as much as possible, and have less foreign matter." Cheap Workmen's Trains. South Wales being to such a large extent an industrial district, considerable interest is taken in the matter of cheap workmen's trains. The other day Mr. Lloyd-George, President of the Board of Trade, received a deputation from the Parliamentary Committee of the Trade Union Congress in reference to cheap workmen's trains, the inspection of railway carriages, and the appointment of properly-certified persons to the charge of steam engines and boilers. The fact that Mr. Lloyd-George had been approached on the subject aroused a particularly keen interest amongst South Wales working men. In regard to the two latter matters, Mr. Lloyd-George was unable to go into them without further investiga- tion, but in regard to cheap workmen's trains he had communicated with the railway com- panies, sending them the report of the last Parliamentary Committee, and asking them what they were prepared to do in the way of meeting its recommendations. If the companies were prepared to meet the legitimate require- ments of the case without legislation, the Government would be perfectly satisfied; other- wise he could promise that there would be legislation. The Education Bill. There is much speculation in South Wales as to the probable features of the new or amended Education Bill. I notice from one prominent London Liberal daily, that Mr. Birrell is working like a nigger" at the Bill. He is assisted, so I further read, by the best experts of the department, who have drafted the vital clauses of the great measure. I am inclined to believe that the forecast of the Daily Chronicle is likely to prove substantially correct. From this it appears that all the schools, provided and non-provided, are to be controlled by the local authority, and the Cowper-Temple clause re- tained in the provided schools. As to the other schools, that is mainly those connected with the Church of England, facilities will be given for such religious teaching as the majority of the parents desire. Thus the Catholic schools, which exist for the most part by the side of provided schools, and to which Nonconformists are not obliged to send their children, will, if the parents demand it, be allowed to retain their distinctive religious teaching. The Anglican schools, if similarly grouped for their children, will receive the benefit of the same concession. In this manner a new religious grievance will, it is hoped, be avoided, and the Catholic and the Anglican schools will be treated in the same manner as the Jewish schools. There is a sincere desire amongst both Free Churchmen and Anglicans in Wales to have this vexed educational controversy settled once and for all. A Worthy Object. Every Welsh Nonconformist knows that well- known hymn 0 tyn Y gorchudd yn y mynydd hyn, &c. It has cheered and solaced thousands. A move- ment has been started with the object of erecting a memorial to its composer, Hugh Jones, at Henllan, and I am sure that Welsh Nonconformists all the world over will be glad that his memory is to be perpetuated in this manner. The hymn will live as long as the Welsh language. Aberdare Musical Enterprise. There is a good deal of musical enterprise amongst the people of sweet 'Berdar, and I now notice that the local Trades and Labour Council have engaged the famous Meister Glee Singers to give a concert in the town.

SOUTH WALES BUSINESS NOTES. [In this column it is our intention to bring before the notice of our numerous readers the features of various businesses calculated to prove of use and assistance to them. Proprietors of shops, hotels, &c., desirous of such publicity should communicate with us.] AN ACCOMPLISHED PHRENOLOGIST.— "Madame Elvira, F.C.S., Queen Street Arcade, Cardiff, has established a splendid reputation in the city and district as a clever phrenologist. Clients are delighted with the accurate manner in which Madame Elvira reads their characters. Madame Elvira notes their good qualities, points out their failings, and gives practical advice as to their business and marriage prospects, &c."— West of England Observer. GOOD SPECTACLES.—Hundreds of South Wales residents are using spectacles supplied by Mr. Ernest R. Scott, optician, 37, Castle Arcade, Cardiff. They are cool and comfortable to wear, and cannot possibly be excelled. RUPTURE —If others fail, try the Easifit" Truss, which fits the most difficult cases. Manufactured on the premises by Allen Pearce, 23, Charles Street, Cardiff.

Y GOMER PRESS, 9, RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET, E.C, am holl Gyhoeddiadau'r Byd a'r Bettws.