Evening Express

WHAT WE THINK. & Who can say that Welsh tradition is dying out in Wales, or that our pride in the usages of our forefathers is swamped by the wave of modernity ? In Cardiff, the most modern of all towns in Wales, the Gorsedd ceremony yesterday was attended by a concourse that has beaten the record. It is safe to say that no other national ceremony, except it be a national spectacle in London, attracts anywhere in the British Islands such a gathering as that seen in the streets cf Cardiff and on the Cathays Park yesterday afternoon. The Gorsedd ceremony was no spectacle the procession, imposing as it was, had not the character necessary to draw its thousands out of mere curiosity alone. Few out of the concourse which covered the Park could hear a word or catch a glimpse of the ceremonial, yet the crowd never diminished, but increased, as the afternoon wore on. No force brrt that of patriotic interest can account for the gathering. The augury is the most pro- mising the Cardiff Eisteddfod committee and the National Council could desire; the advertisement given the national institution is of great and exceptional value. Seldom has an assembly of the people been seen to better advantage. Strangers who were present were eloquent in praise of general appearance of a Cardiff concourse. There were no signs of the pressure of poverty by reason of the strike, although we know too well, unfortunately. that the wolf is at the door of many hundred homes. There was none of the horseplay that characterises a crowd drawn together bv less worthy motives than those of sound interest and patriotism. Even WU( n Y-tb discovered thlt Co few hun-i oris only ci.ulc. get in position to heal" and see the less fortunate thousands waited patiently, and showed by their 4ickilaiiee and demeanour the sympathy they felt with the old-world Cymric ceremonial. It is easy now, when the Cardiff Eisteddfod programme is on the eve of publication, to hope for such an enthusiastic compe- tition in every department that the cry of "Wales for the Welsh" shall have some further justification.

Powder and Shot. Either bicycles or barmaids must be cheap chis season. In a couple of districts to which the Evening Express offers a bicycle for pre- sentation to the most popular lady employed behind an hotel bar only one or two ladies have been entered. Whd.t is the matter with Ih. men? Either bicycle, are unpopular or :he barmaids must have a. small following, en in the thirsty seasc n. » < The Cardiff Football Club is always kind. The committee lent us their ground on the occasion )f our .Santiago battle against the Swansea Press Football Club. Now the prayers of the Gorsedd are offered up for the club. The eistedd- fod committee was very fortunate in obtaining :he loan of the range of palings by the kindness )f the football authorities. « According to Spanish telegrams the entire force engaged in the battle of Caney numbered 2,000, and of these, according to American tele- grams, 5,000 were killed and wounded. Was -here ever such a bloody war? » Talk of the extent to which the strike is felt in Cardiff! Centrally situated licensed vic- tuallers complain that their receipts show a falling off of £ 30 to £ 80 weekly, whilst publi- cans at the docks don't need to keep a clerk to ?ount their takings. A few shillings a day are accounted a god-send. One of our men, who touched Burton-on- rrent during his summer holidays, was sur- prised to notice the absence of clubs. It was sasily explained:—"The brewers won't supply -t club," he was told, "because they do not think a club is fair to the publicans." It is anly in Wales that clubs are a necessity. I • • I Speech may be only silver and silence gold, but Mr. Chamberlain's speech on behalf of a Midlands University brought in £95,244 on the } spot. It would need a long spell of silence on I :he part of. say. Sir W. Harcourt, to be worth J :hat; though we know no one whose silence i would be more precious. 1, **•»*» The Evening Express Bank Holiday Bicycle Competition may not be as ancient as the Gorsedd, bu+, there are points about it of stili" greater antiquity. One of our most nrcient usages is the casting of lots. Seeing t that the proprietors of the Express are pre- ser.ting two extra consolation bicycles to the bar-ladies who do not happen to come out winners, it is proposed that the competitors shall draw lots for the two. An easy way cf winning a bicycle that! There are many occu- pations nowadays worse than the barmaid's. « A certificated nurse for Whitchurch would be a step in the right direction, as was pointed out by the Squire of Greenmeadow at Satur- day's meeting of the Cardiff Board of Guar- dians, but one nurse would not be able to cope with the work if things go on as at present. On one evening last week a nurse was wanted in three places at the same time. Business is looking up at Whitchurch in the medical line, j if.. Mr. James Howell is nothing if not gallant. That quality was well appreciated at the Gor- sedd when Mr. Howell erected a well-appointed tent in which the ladies engaged in decoration could work in comfort, and for the day of the festival this was decorated prettily in the Gor- sedd colours of white, blue, and green. This! tent ha sbeen a special boon in the uncertain weather. » • » 11 As a result of the generosity of donors and the enthusiasm of the workers, the Gorsedd circle erected at Cardiff is quite unexampled in recent times, and even licks the ancients. The circle was yesterday decorated with a comple- tion and beauty not hitherto seen. It may be hoped that the decorated circles of Newport .and Cardiff will be surpassed at future meet- ings, but the workers of the future will require keen enthusiasm and energy so to do. The towns upon the south edge of Wales are for the present quite to the front. « i » « Here are seme interesting items concerning yesterday's Gorsedd, picked up from the stones -The floral decorations had been carried out by a con.pany of ladies, convened by Miss L. M. G. Evam; they were Mrs. Mee, Mrs. Bement, Miss Ap Caledfryn. Miss Fanny and Mabel Howell, and Miis Nellie Roberts, while Miss Charlotte Griffiths, Miss Edwards, and Miss John, who had much to do with the Newport decorations, had kindly come over to aid. The amount of decoration required was so conside- rable that the ladies had a hea^y task. The circle required a large amount of foliage and fiowers, and this had been supplied in generous mass by Mr. Pettigrew, Mrs. Masters, of Lanelay, Mr. Mildon, Mrs. Recs (Llanishem, Mr. A. Nash, Mr. Evans (Van), young ladies of the intermediate school of St. Margaret's, pupil teacher* of the Higher Grade School, and a large number of other individual gifts,, specially interesting, as showing the enthu- siasm with which the event was viewed.

WILL OF THE HOS. JOHS A. VIVIAN. By his will of the 24th of February, 1392, the Hon. John Aubrey Vivian, of Parc-le-Breos, near Swansea, whose estate has been valued at £ 39,114 3s. 4d., bequeathed to his half sisters, Violet, Margaret, and Averil, certain jewellery, and to his aunt, Dame Vivian, cer- tain plate. The testator bequeathed to his godson, Mr. Gibson Craig, £100; to his valet, Henry Jones, £ 1,000, and to his former nurse, Jane Williams, a life annuity of £ 1,000. He left all the residue of his property to his father, Lord Swansea.

LORD TREDEGAR AND HIS TENANTS. At Lcrd Tredegar's rent audit for his Mon- mouthshire estates his lordship's agent. Colonel Justice, announced that, as the five years over which Lord Tredegar's generous rebate of 20 per cent, of the rent was about to expire, his lordship had authorised him to state that the same rebate would continue for another five

THE GORSEDD CARDIFF INVADED BY BARDS. TOWN MOVING IN THE PRO- CESSION. TEMPLE OF THE MUSES IN CATHAYS PARK. t ENTHUSIASTIC SEND-OFF TO i THE EISTEDDFOD. r ( The Gorsedd at Cardiff on Monday was, in a S very literal sense, held "in the face of the sun and in the eye of light," for throughout the t proceedings "Plenydd's" shining brow and t golden locks were strongly in evidence. Cardiff I may be said to have been a veritable Cauldron 1 of Ceridwen, thronged with its own denizens, i numerous as locusts along the streets, and surging in all directions. The Town-hall was < invaded punctually by the bards and Gorsedd 1 officials, followed a little later by hundreds of ( 1 others, intending to join in the general proces- 1 sion which formed in the court-yard of the < Town-hall, at whose outer side congregated a j vast throng of sightseers, anxious to witness the procession start. Before a movement was 1 made the bards and a number of fair Druidesses in their Gorsedd vestments I emerged from the Town-hall, their appearance eliciting lusty cheers from the lay proces- sionists. No doubt, the bardic robes have been fashioned historically correctly, but the male] dresses have neither beauty nor picturesqueness J to commend them. On the other hand. those of the ladies were remarkably becoming and attractive. A goodly number of the bardic fraternity was in atten- i dance, some, including the Archdruid and "Einonydd" and "Cadfan," having travelled from North Wales, but the greater part of the company consisted of South Wales men— "Dyfed," the many-chaired bard, fresh from his 1 travels in South Africa; "Gurnos," enthusiastic ( as ever; "Morien," brimful of impetuous patriotism; "Gwilym Rjan," "Brynfab," I Carnelian," "leuan Dyfed," J. T. Job, and others, names long inscribed on tht. roil of Eisteddfodic fame. The company of bards was by no means meagre, as attendances at the opening Gorsedd go, but it ought to have been larger. The reason for the absence of many well-known faces was due, no doubt, to the fact of the ceremony being held on a Monday, a most inconvenient day for a large number of our bardic friends. Many of them are preachers, and were in harness on Sunday, maybe, in places remote from Cardiff, and failed to attend. Some of those who were present were only able to attend at consider- able personal inconvenience. Whatever opinions may be held of the anti- quity and origin of these Welsh gatherings. it is abundantly clear that the Welsh people are passionately fond of them. In illustration of this. we may say that a very large part of the throng on Monday consisted of Newport men, where the Eisteddfod and Gorsedd were held for the first time last year. Moreover, fully one- half of those present were men and women of English speech, and had never witnessed a Gor- sedd ceremony before, but they evinced through- out an unflagging interest which was truly beautiful to behold. There is no question that the greatest attraction at Monday's function was the Archdmid himself. The appearance in Cardiff of the Archbishop of Canterbury could not have created more enthusiasm. Though speaking in an unknown tongue to thousands, he was an object of interest to them. His majestic presence, his patriarchal looks, and his noble bearing, coupled with an enuncia- tion which was simply perfect—for "Hwfa," if he is anything, is a born orator—drew all eyes to-him. One could not help sharing the feeling which seized Professor Herkomer once upon a time, and fall down and do homage to the grand old bard. Had one done sa- it would not have been the first time for a Welsh bard to receive worship from mortal man. Many years ago "Mynyddog," then in the heyday of his popularity, conducted an eisteddfod held at Lampeter, over which the late Dean Lewellin. then a feeble old man, presided. "Mynyddog" was simply irrepressible, scattering his bon- mots and his repartee broadcast throughout the day, and so captivated by the smartness of his sallies and his fascinating personality was the good old dean, that he actually went on his knees, cap in hand, and did homage to what he cabled "Welsh native genius." It was one of the greatest compliments ever paid to "Mynyddog." A similar tribute may at some future time be paid to "Hwfa Mon"; but one failed to catch anyone in Cardiff in the act of genuflecting, though the newly-ordained bards and ovates might have done so with good grace. Indeed, one ventures to suggest that the Gorsedd authorities might do well to make the "ordering" ceremony more artistic and more imposing The least that could be expected of candidates for Gorseddic honours is that they should kneel before the Archdruid, a piece of ritual which would add to the impor- tance of the Gorsedd and the value in public estimation of the degrees. One feels sure that no one amongst those who graduated at the College of Bards on Monday would have refused to bend the knee before "Hwfa Mon," for he is a man who magnifies his office, awe-inspiring and sometimes terrible to look at. No Arch- druid in anient Britain, when the keys of the cycles of existence were kept on the Logan Stone, looked more fearsome than "Hwfa" in some of his most majestic moods. He looks, and, lo! lightnings leap from his eye; he speaks, and the cosmic system trembles! At the Gorsedd on Monday we had only just a slight foretaste of his oratorical capabilities; he evidently preserved himself for future occa- sions. "Hwfa's" "A oes heddweh," when the spirit is strong within him, covers two miles easily at a bound. One of the sights of the day was the meeting of the Archdruid with the Chief Magistrate of Cardiff, a Welshman, as he told us on Monday, "on his grandmother's side," and sufficiently vell-favoured to wield the "golden sickle" as t High Priest of Hesus. Apart from that I conscious feeling of native worth which dis- tinguishes Mwor Eamsdale, he has a irgh and becoming sense of the importance of nis ancient office, as, indeed, he well may. In Archdruid and Mayor we were reminded of a hoary antiquity—of fair Siluria ere ever Aulus Didius set foot within its borders. There is another member of the Gorseddic College whose name should not be passed over —"Morien"—in whom the succession of Arch- drulds finds a legitimate expression, he being the occupant of the Tir Iarll Chair, of the Arthurian group, and the proud inheritor of ancient mysteries, especially the Ovum Mundi, handed him by no less a man than "Myfyr Morganwg," the direct successor of 'Iolo Mor- ganwg," the first of the present dynasty of Archdruids. "Morien" himself was candidate for Archdruidical honours, and, as "Dafydd Dafis" tells us in his inimitable autobiography, only yielded the battle at the point of Lord Tredegar's sword. In spite of an all-embracing charity which beareth all things and thinketh no evil, it is morally impossible that the Gwyddon Tir Iarll should look upon his North Walian rrval with absolute composure. "Tantaene animis ccelestibus iræ?" In comparing the Gorsedd at present with what it used to be, say, twelve or fourteen years ago, one could not fail to be struck with < OPENING OF THE GORSEDD. the great change which has come over the j institution and the importance with which it I now looms in the public mind. The change has been in great measure due to the active policy of "Eifionydd," the engineer of the Gorsedd, and, as its recorder, is largely respon- sible for its programme. Nor must we forget the large amount of interest which of late years has been evinced in the institution by men of t high social position, like Lord Powis, Sir Arthur Stepney, and Lord Tredegar, and the important part played in connection with it by artists like Professor Herkomer and Mr. T. H. Thomas ("Arlunydd Penygarn"). This year it has been invested with greater dignity than ever, the committee having gone to great expense in erecting a "temple," which it is intended to hand down to future ages as a memento of ths Cardiff fin de siecle Eisteddfod, and an incen- tive to the patriotism of posterity. Most of the credit of the planning and arranging the Gorsedd at Cardiff is due to the hon. secretary, Mr. T. John ("Ffagan") and Mr. T. H. Thomas. It consists of two circles, the inner composed of twelve large masses of Penarth alabaster, pre- sented by the president of the Eisteddfod com- mittee, Lord Windsor, and. the outer of taU red Radyr stones, ranging from about 6ft. to 9ft. in height above the ground. The circle was oriented under the direction of Mr. Arthur Mee, F.R.A.S. ("Idris"). Between the stones of the outer circle an oak or ash sapling, emble- matic of the Gorsedd cult, has been planted, fol- lowing the circle, which is completed by a hang- ing rope of foliage from stone to stone, an arrangement first introduced at Newport last year. A fresh proof of the increased interest taken in the,Gorsedd was obtained at Cardiff on Mon- day in the handsome banner stand which Sir Arthur Stepney has presented, as "Eiilonydd" put it, "to the eternal keeping of the Gorsedd Committee." The IJanner-a valuable and beautiful gift—was presented by Sir Arthur at the Llandudno National Eisteddfod in 1396. It occurred to him afterwards that a well-vrought stand would enhance its effect, and he gene- rously suggested to Mr. T. H. Thomas that one should be designed and made. The matter was placed in the hands of Mr. S. W. Allen, A.R.C.A., of Cardiff, who designed and executed the work. The stand is in brass, and consists of a tripod, into which the banner staff slips. I THE ARCHDRUID: "A ces lieddwch ?" (-41s there peace ?") I The bars of the tripod have dragon feet, and. above, terminate in an intricately-plaited leek. A wide annulet is pHaced round the bars. and upon this is affixed an enamelled plate, upon which the arms of Sir Arthur Stepney are em- blazoned. This plaque was designed by M). T. H. Thomas, and executed by Mr. John Williams, Castle-arcade, Cardiff. It may ÍJe of interest to note that both banner and stand have been designed and wholly executed by native hands in Wales. It was to be regretted that the generous donor was forced to be absent on Monday, but he was well represented by his deputy, Mr. E. Lewes Bowen. A further sign of increased public interest in the institution was found on Monday in the presentation of an "aberthged" to the archdruid. The offering >vas intended to represent the welcome extended to the Gorsedd by the town of Cardiff, and was made by the mayoress and Miss Kamsdale, -Ui>- ported by a company of ladies. The first "aberthged" consisted of a bouquet comprising the plants traditionally associated with Druidism, viz., trefoil, verrain, corn, and mistle toe—emblems, respectively, of the four seasons. The ceremonial bouquet was presented in a curious horn, given Dy Mr. E. A. Bidwell, of Richmond. A further "aberthged" was made by the offering of milk, a ceremony in the nature of the "loving cup." For this purpose a silver-mounted horn was lent to the com- mittee by Mrs. Stephens, of Merthyr, an eistedd- fodic relic of great interest, being a prize wo^ at the Rhuddlan Eisteddfod, in 1850, by the late Welsh scholar and historian, Mr. Thomas Stephens. Many of the sightseers on Monday, no doubt, looked upon the Gorswid rites and ceremonies as so much "tomfoolery," or, what is worse, relics of barbarism and paganism. But the artistic mind which penetrated behind the scene GRAND TRIPLE-STRUNG WELSH HARP, Invented, Designed, and Manufactured by Bassett Jones, of Cardiff (Chief Harp-maker to Her Majesty the Queen), for the Great Exhibi- tion of 1851. Lent for the Gorsedd Ceremony by Mrs. Masters, of Llanelly, and played by Mr. M'Kirdie. perceived a beautiful meaning in it all and II could say with Kenan: — "The worship of forest, and fountain, and stone is to be explained by this primitive naturalism, which all me councils of the Church held in Brittany united to prescribe, The stone, in truth, seems the natural symbol of the Celtic races. It is an immutable witness that has no death. The animal, the plant. and, above all, the human figure, only express ( the divine life under a determinate form; the -n The Major's carriage, in which the Archdruid was driven to the Gorsedd circle. stone, on the contrary, adapted to receive all forms, has been the fettish of peoples in their childhood. Pausanias saw, still standing erect, the thirty square stones of Pharaoh, each bear- ing the name of a divinity. The 'men-hir' to be met with over the whole surface of the ancient world, what is it but the monument of primitive humanity, a living witness of its faith in Heaven?" One further word in regard to the advance- ment of the Gorsedd in popular favour—this is j plainly discernible in the value set upon the honours conferred by the Archdrnid. Gorsedd degrees are of two kinds, some being conferred by examination and some honorary, as was the case at yesterday's function. Gorseddic honours from time to time have been conferred upon some of the most distinguished per- sonages in the land, including members of the Royal Family of England and the ablest men of the day. The list drawn up at Cardiff was highly satisfactory, thoroughly representative in character. It was highly gratifying to find prominent men like Canon Thompson, Prin- cipal Viriamu Jones, the Mayor of Cardiff, Alderman David Jones, Mr. Lewis Williams, Mr. John Duncan, Dr. Treharne, Mr. Charles Morgan, (and others identifying themselves with THE GORSEDD BANNER, the traditions and institutions of the land they live in. They set an excellent example to others which will g. far to disarm hostile criti- cism, which is often the outcome of prejudice or individual idiosyncracies. THE PROCESSION. With these prefatory remarks, we may now turn to the procession and the ceremony of, proclaiming the Eisteddfod of 1899. The ceremony, probably, was never witnessed by a larger assemblage of people than on this occasion. The whole of the route from the Town-hall to Cathays Park was lined with an immense throng of people, and the utmost decorum pre- vailed even in the, streets, while in the park itself not only the adults, but the thousands of school children who had gathered there, seemed to be entering for once into a. thoroughly Welsh hwyl.' Th* procession was formed at the rear of the Town-hall in the fol- lowing order:— Mounted Police. Mounted Police. Band. The Gorsedd Committee. Members of Eisteddfod Sub-Committees. Members of Cardiff Free Library, Museum, and Technical School Committees. President and Representatives of the Cardiff Naturalists' Society. Chairman and Committee of the Cardiff and I South Wales Art Society. The President and Members of the Cardiff Chamber of Commerce. Thi Chairman and Members of the Glamorgan County Council. The University College Senate. The Chairman and Members of the Cardili School Board. Invited Gnests. Representatives of the National Eisteddfod 1897 (Newport). Representatives of the National Eisteddfoa 1898 (Blaenau Festiniog). The Executive Committee of the National Eisteddfod, 1899. Representatives of the National Eisteddfod Association. The Hononrabis Cymmrodorion Society. Members of the council of the County Borough of Cardiff. Bards. The Gorsedd Banner. The Archdruid. The Chairman of Executive Committee. The Town-clerk. The Mayor. Mounted Police. General Public. Marshals:—Mr. W. McXenzie, chief-constable; Dr Wm. Williams, Mr. T. John, the Rev. John Williams, M. Barbier, Mr. James Bush, Mr. Jacob Davies, the Rev. Thomas Davies, Mr. Gwiiym Hughes, "IdriswyM." "Morien, the Rev. Cynwyd Thomas, Mr. T. II. Thomas. Dr. John Williams, the Rev. Wm. Williams, Mr. E.-an Owen, and Mr. D. W. Evans. The mar- shals were distinguished by a badge of "Go seddic" c )!ours—white, green, and blue. 'llie bards assembled at the robing-room in th3 Town-hall at 1.30 p.m. Amongst the bards present were the Archdruid ("Hwfa Moil"), supported by the following: — Mr E. E. Fournier (representing the Irish Feis Ceoil), Principal Edwards, "Ariunydd Peny- gam, Garnos." "Eifionydd," "Moriell," "Cynwyd," "Vincent," "Dyfed," "Cadvan," Bethan,' 'Ieuan Dyfed," Gwyddonfryn," "Gwilym Elian," J. T. Job. "Brynfab," "Eos Dar," M. Barbier, "Tawenog," "Carnelian," "Ap Rhydderch," "Symlog," "Ap Caledfryn,' Mr. Jacob Davies. "Cochfarf," "Idriswyn," "Nathan Vvyn," Miss Caledfryn Williams, Miss Charlottfe Griffiths, Newport, and others in bardic robes, while other bards followed in the crowd. Among the representatives of the Newport Eisteddfod Committee who came to offer fraternal greetings to the Cardiff Gorsedd were:—Dr. Garrod Thomas, J.P., Mr. C. D. Phillips, J.P., Councillors Liscombe and E. A. Taylor, and Messrs. D. Bowen, Abercarn; T. Llewelyn, A. J. Phillips, D. Morgan, R. L. Davies, R. T. James, Fred Jones, and A. Morris. There were also present:—Dr. Williams, medical officer of the county of Glamorgan and chairman of the Cardiff Gorsedd Committee; the Rev. Canon Thompson, the Rev. Canon Roberts, Dr. Joseph Parry, Principal Viriamu Jones, Mr. Evan Owen. J.P., Mr. D. W. Evans, Mr. J. Austin Jenkins, registrar of the college; Prin- cipal Edwards, of the Baptist College; Mr. D. A. Thomas, M.P., and Messrs. E. Seward, Ivor [ Bowen, Pritchard, J. E. Edwards, T. Edwards (inspector of factories), the Rev. T. Tawelfryn Thomas, Groeswen; the Rev. Father Hayde, the Rev. W. E. Winks, Dr. Jones, and Messrs. E. Jones J." Jones, C. E. Riches, J. Ballinger, Price Jones, T. R. Thompson, T. J. I,ean, W. Carter, W. Lewis, Dr. Jones, Cathedral-road; Dr. Cook, Dr. Vachell, the Rev. J. Morgan Jones, Mr. Charles Morgan, B.A., the Rev. W. Evans, M.A., Pembroke Dock; Dr. Rhys Griffiths, Mr. W. Davies ("Western Mail"); Mr. John Duncan J.P., the Rev. Edward Lewis, Dr. Treharne; Mr. Richards, solicitor; Councillors George David and R. Hughes, Messrs. Walter Cook, T. Barlow, T. H. Stephens, J. E. Jackson, and J. Sankey, Professor Davies, Dr. Downing, the Rev. Tyssul Evans, Mr. W. T. Samuel, Mus.Bac.; —. Prothero, Mus. Bac., America; Mr. Morgan Thomas, secretary South Wales Liberal Federa- tion; Mr. Tom Davies, secretary Rhondda Cymmrodorion Society, Pentre; Mr. John Evan: and Mr. Roberts, secretaries to the Cardiff Cymmrodorion; Mr. Jacob Hughes, Penarth; Mr. Lloyd Jones ("Llwydmor"), Llantrisant; Mr. W. A. Morgan, Cardiff; Madame Clara Novello Davies, Mrs. Dr. Parry, Mr. T. L. Powell. Cathays; Mr. Lewis Williams, J.P., Mr. D. T. Alexander, Mr. T. Lovell, Mr. Hy. Ratcliffe, Penarth; Mr. T. Roberts, Councillors Jabez I ones, Crossman, Jotham, Buist, S. Robinson, Ivans, Fox, Good, Courtis, Mr. J. Shepherd, Mr. J. Williams; the Rev. H. Evans, Glyntaff; the I tev. J. Hughes, Cardiff; Mr. Jones, Tonypandy; Ir. Jas. Munn, Cardiff; and many others. The j procession was headed by a posse of mounted 1 wlice, under the superintendence of Head-con- l stable McKenzie, and the band of the 2nd Glamorgan Artillery Volunteers. I The long and sinuous procession from the court-yard of the Town-hall marched into St > Mary-street, halting for a brief space in fron' I of that building to take up the archdruid who, in company with the Mayor of Cardiff. the deputy-mayor (Alderman David Jones) and the town-cierk, waited on the steps of th? Town-hall for the mayoral carriage. The quar tctte having taken their seats, the processio: wended its way through the densely-crowded streets, the line of march lying along High street, Duke-street, Queen-street, and Park- place. The road at every point was thronged with eager sightseers, and it was only wit! difficulty in some parts the procession could wedge its way along. Not only was the pave ment on either side occupied, but the people overflowed into the roadway,, while evkrv window and every coign of 'vantage was crowded with spectators. At certain point- on the way the tramcars and 'busses were stopped, and these afforded a capital oppor- tunity for the passengers to pass in review the moving mass, marching to the strains o' Welsh national airs, and composed of the best representative men in the town, including many of the hard-headed merchant princes oi the Docks. Some time before the procession reached Cathays Park that famous place wa- peopled with thousands of men, women, and school children, forming two dense lines from the Park-place entrance all the way to th- Gorsedd circle, a distance of from four to live hundred yards, and the happy, cheerful faces of the juveniles lent additional charm to the spectacle. The scene around the Gorsedd was one of considerable animation and colour, ladies in their brighf summer costumes being present in grefit num- I bers. It is estimated that, what with the school children and the people in and out of the J i PEITHYNEN (OR WOODEN BOOK) Made by the antiquary, "Iolo Morganwg," in illustration of an alphabet for cutting in wood described as used in Wales subsequent to the revolts of Giendower, being a burvival of mure ancient form, and resorted to during a period when paper and parchment were debarred. Lent for use in the Gorsedd Ceremony by Mr. John Williams, Castle Arcade, Cardiff. HIRLAS HORN, Won by the late Thomas Stephens, author of "The Literature of the Cymry," Ac., at the Eisteddfod Freiniol, Rhuddlan, 1830. (Rhuddlan Pr.vileged Eisteddfod.) Lent by Mrs. Stephens, of Merthyr Tydfil, for use in the ceremonies of the Proclamation of the Cardiff National Eisteddfod, July 4, 1898. enclosures, the number of spectators in the park alone could not be much under 20,000. As the head of the procession approached the circle tha band ceased playing, «md imme- diately the voices of the Gorsedd Choir were heard singing the proclamation song. This was specially compose.i by Ur. Joseph Parry to words written by "Dyfed" for the occasion, the doctor himself, robed in his academic gOwn of brilliant scarlet, posted on an emi- nence at the eastern point of the Gorsedd, leading the choir which he had trained so well. While the stirring notes of the IlHbic were still proceeding the archdruid led the druids, bards, and ovates into the sacred circle, the- rest of the procession finding standing room in the limited area not already pccupied by the fortuna-te ones who had emulated th-3 early worm. "Hwfa •Ion" then proceeded to open the Gorsedd, calling upon the trumpeter, or corn. gwlad, to sound the fanfare. A procession of ladies, introduced by "Arlunydd Penygarn" and "Eifonydd," then came forward to present to the Archdruid a peace offering. The offering copsisted of a horn full of milk, handed to the Archdruid by the mayoress. Principal Edwards, who was called forward by the name of "Myrddinwyson," recitsd the Gorsedd prayer, which was as follows: — Grant, 0 Lord, Thy protection; And in protection, strength; And in strength, understanding; I And in understanding, knowledge: And in knowledge, knowledge of the just; And in the knowledge of the just, the love of it; And in that love, the love of all existences; And in the love of all existences, the love of Gcd- God and all goodness. The following officials took charge of the stones of the Gorsedd:- Archdderwydd (Archdruid) "Hwfa Mon" Bardd yr Orsed (Gorsedd Bard) "Dyfed" Dirprwyfardd yr Orsedd (Deputy "Cadfan" Trvsorydd (Treasurer) .Gwynedd" Datgeiniad Cerdd Dant (Penillion Singer) "Eos Dar" Cofiadnr yr Orsedd (Remembrancer)."Eifionydd" Telynores (Harpist).Miss Annie Jones, R.A.M. Coro Gwlad (Trumpeter) "Perseinydd" Arwyddfardd (Herald Bard) "Arlunydd Penygarn" Gwarcheidwaid y Porth (Keeper of the Gate. "Dafydd Morganwg," "Nathan Wyn," "Gwilym Elian," :t "Bethel" Ceidwad y Corn Gwlad (Keeper of the Trum- peter "Brynfab" Ceidward y Cledd (Keeper of the Sword) "Cochfarf" Ceidward y Cledd (Keeper of the Sword) "Cochfarf" "Hwfa Mon" informed the assemblage that if they had been present in the morning they would have witnessed the informal opening ol the Gorsedd of the Cardiff Eisteddfod. He reac out the formal declaration of the opening o.t the Gorsedd, which would again be held in th. same place at the expiration of a year and II day, in accordance with the rites and cere monies of the Isle of Britain; and invited aL the bards, literatti, and musicians to take part in it, explaining that it would be for the up- holding of the ancient Gorsedd and for the conferring of degrees, and concluded the pro- clamation with these words:—"Llafar bid iafar," "Y gwir yn erbyn y byd." "Cadvand then called upon Mr. Bowen, who was present on behalf of Sir Arthur Stepney, .00 present to the Gorsedd a magnificent stan. dard. now shown for the first time, for use in supporting the Gorsedd banner. Mr. Bowen explained that the banner was designed by Mr. T. H. Thomas ("Arlunydd Penygarn"), and was worked entirely by her JWll hands by Miss Lena M. G. Evans, of Car- diff. It gave him great pleasure to know that the whole of the work had been completed in in Wales, and he had great satisfaction in handing the gifl. over to the Gorsedd. Mr. T. H. Thomas, in English, returned thank3 oa behalf of the Gorsedd to Sir Arthur Stepney, who was unable to be present, but had sent hia friend and agent, Mr. Bowen, down from Lon- don to make the presentation. He proposed .vith much pleasure a vote of thanks to these gentlemen. The vote was seconded by "Cochfarf" in IVelsh. "Morien" supported the vote. Starting in English, "Morien" was prevailed upon to speak. .Velsh, and said he felt that at that Gorsedd jvery language was acceptable, because the J orsedd of the bards was the Gorsedd of the vorld.IIe thought it would have been a good Jling if the Gorsedd on this occasion could put an end to the strike by bringing the employera ind employed into a closer bond of sympathy. The vote having been carried by acclamation, Englynion were then recited by "Gwylim tflian," "Eurog," "Hywel Ddu," "Brynfab," the :lev. J. T. Job, Aberdare (who was introduced .y the Archdruid as a patriarch from past iges and chief bard of the world), Ieuan Gwynedd," Gurnos," Dyfed," Dewi Vychan," "Brynfab," Ben Bowen," It will doubtless be of some interest to our eaders to give the following selection from ae englynion read.— Ca, n hawen mewn rhwysg newydd—roi ei bri Ar brawf drwy ein broydd; A byw hoen pob awenydd Irea dan drwy holl Gaerdydd." "BEX BOWEN." "Ar yr orsedd hedd o hyd-a erys Dan eirian wen loyv.bryd Iluan ddereh ar awen ddyd 01 nwyfrei chusan hylryd. O'r oesoedd hen arhosodd hi-yn ben Deddfle'n beirdd, a thrwyddi Ilardd orsedd! myrdd o wersi Hyd yn awr gadwyd i ni." "DEW I VYCHAN." "Drwy aidd a dawn Derwyddon,—adeilwyd Ilael orsedd y Beirddion,— Ac enwog 'feini gwynion' Roed yn gylch o amgylch hon. ,c Ei nawdd a'i swyn heddyw sydd—yn agor I enwogi 'n broydd; A'.i hawen fythol newydd Geir i'w dal yn hen Caerdydd." 'GWILYM ELIAN." "Dan awyr las tyrnas dydd,-a gwenau Jwyaeb haul ysplenydd, Yn ngor-ied.t wen awenydd Hwyl yn swn y Delyn sydd. "J. T. JOB" Orsedd hen! goroesodd hi—ergydwyr A il gwawdus gamwri; A llai5 iiedd yn ei Ilys hi Eilw gan o'r clogwyni. Hon i'n tadau gynt ydoedd-uchelfan, Uwch chwalfa teyrnasoedd, A'i hyddirif gajiritoedd Ei sedd uwch pob Gorsedd oedd." "BRYNFAB." In connection with the bardic address of Gurnos," a li..e incident, not .ssiher with- out some excitement, occurred. The Archdruid, in stentorian tones seemed to be calling spirits from the vasty deep. when he shouted to 'Gurnos" from the crowd. "Gurnos" was not ai his bardic robes, and, while he was elbowing his way to the foot of the Logan Stone, "Dyfed," with his ready bardic wit. fired off the follow- ing introductory englyn to his friend "Gumos. and its recitation was received with hearty laughter by the assembled bards:— "Un a'i wen feI liuau lia — yw Gurnos,' Ai gern ddi-gynhana; Odlwr doeth ac awdhvr da. Brwd hefyd—brawd i 'Hwfa.' A little girl here stepped forward and pre- sented the Ar Mdruid with a bouquet of flowers, after which "Cadvan" proceeded to aeiiver a speech, instead of a bardic address. Taking as his text one of the mottces of the Cardiff Eis- teddfod, viz that of the "House of Raglan," "Deffro, Mae Dydd" ('A'wake! it is day"), he pointed out that Wales had just awakened from sleep. They saw the wings of the angels of hono of Cymru Fydd upon the brows of the hilL of G-valia. "Eos Dar," the penillion singer of the Gorsedd sedd, sang:— Yn yr Orsedd, hen ei Dn, Adrodda'r meini bennod. Ar henafiaeth Cymru Wen, Pan oedd yn ben awdurdod. A holl fyd yn talu parch I'v ddeddl ac Arch Eisteddfod. (Composed for the penniliicn singer by "NATHAN WYN.") Tra bo cylch ar fin yr aig, A thra bo craig yn crogi, Tra bo tonau'r Werydd maith, Ar fin y traeth yn tori, Bydd Awen Cymru lan ei gwedd, A'i Gorsedd yn rhoi gwersi." "Cadvan" and "Dyfed" then proceeded to make references to the death of two of the Gorsedd bards, viz.. the Ven. Archdeacon Grif- fiths and the Rev. Dr. Roberts ("Dewi Ogwen"). The remarks made were received by the large assembly with the most intense respect and reverence. The Archdruid created some consternation amongst Cardiff people by calling upon Alder- J man David Jones to speak, but in doing sc—in Welsh-shouted, "Yr Henadur Dafydd Jones." [CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE,)