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uHEN WLAD FY NHADAU" IN ENGLISH.
uHEN WLAD FY NHADAU" IN ENGLISH. One of the subjects for competition at Colwyn Bay Eisteddfod was a metrical translation into English of the words of the Welsh National Anthem. Of the 23 who competed, the best was that submitted by Rev. G. E. Rees, Harwood Vicarage, Bolton. Mr. Ernest Rhys was the adjudicator, and in his remarks on the compositions states that of the 23 entries a third were not even rhymed or spelt correctly; another third were commonplace exercises, without a spark of light or fire in them. The rest were mainly good and bad, now delightful for a line, now high- rhetorical; now spirited, now flat again. Only three had sent experiments which showed any quality or temper; not one gave a version which wo aid convince a reasonably lyrical Englishman who cared for a good thing. The disappointing part of it was that those who failed because they did not know common English had none of those uncommon innocences which sometimes sur- prise one in crude art. They were merely dull or ignorant, without any impulsive idea of the tune to which the words were to be sung. It has to be admitted that the heartfelt lines of the original by Ieuan ab la go are not easy to turn into idiomatic singable English. In order to know the difficulty of it Mr. Rhys himself set to work in sanguine mood to make a version of his own, for- getting as far as possible any that had been printed, and using a certain freedom in the lyric equivalent. And here," he says, to give the twenty-two who did not get the prize their fair revenge, is the upshot :— OLD LAND OF MY FATHERS. Hen Wlad fy Nhadau." Old Land, that our fathers before us held dear, Land of heroes, son'g-lovers, that sang away fear To day call their fame from the grave where they For freedom and gave their heart-blood. [stood Chorus Land, Land, Too fondly I love thee, dear Land, Till warring sea and shore be gone, Pray God let the old tongue live on. Old mountain-built Cymru," the bard s Paradise, The farm in the cwm, the wild crag in the skies, The river that winds, have entwined tenderly With a love spell my spirit in me. Chorus Land, Land. &c. If the enemy smote thee, dear Land, as they said, The old tongue hath risen, to speak from the dead; Not a song could the traitor's hand hurt of thy Nor break the small-harp at thy hearth. [mirth, Chorus: Land, Land, Cymru we call thee, dear Land Till warring sea and shore be gone, Pray God let the old tongue live on.
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Miss Leah Felissa, the well-known soprano, was one of the principal singers at the East- bourne Sunday sacred concerts. Her singing was so delightful that she was recalled on every occasion that she appeared. It is with deep sorrow we have to record the death of Mrs. Cleaton, the beloved wife of E. R. Cleaton, Esq., of Hampstead-one of our prominent leaders in the Welsh life of London. Mrs. Cleaton was taken suddenly ill at Brighton, and although an operation was performed, the illness proved too severe, and Mr. Cleaton and his only daughter had the sorrowful task of following her remains to their last resting place during the past week. The sympathy of their many friends in Welsh circles will be extended to them, we feel sure, in their hour of terrible grief. Hanover Chapel, at the corner of Rye Lane and High Street, Peckham, is about to be demolished. For the past one hundred years it has been one of the principal Non- conformist edifices in South London, and its pulpit has been occupied from time to time by many eminent divines. The present pastor is the Rev. J. Hugh Edwards, the ardent Welsh Nationalist. Tradition traces the origin of the church to 1657, but the building on the present site was erected about a century since. Several Welshmen have been pastors of Hanover Chapel, and it is recorded that the Duke of Kent (father of Queen Victoria) used to be a regular attendant here under the ministry of a noted Welsh preacher of that day. The Rev. D. R. Jones, M.A., who has shared the chief literary prize at the Welsh National Eisteddfod, is pastor of Bethel Welsh Con- gregational Church, Cardiff. Mr. Jones, who is a native of Tonypandy, is an able preacher and a rising Congregational minister. He had a very successful college career, and has been pastor of Bethel for over a year. Mr. A. Cove, the famous elocutionist, of Treorky, is doing all he can to further the Welsh drama. Mr. Cove is of opinion that Wales offers a rich field in this respect. He deserves support, and we hope he will get it. Of a truth, this is a curious world Welsh is a compulsory subject in the Irish Uni- versity, but it is not compulsory in the Welsh University Again, the Dublin Irish Ladies' Choir sang in Welsh at the National Eisteddfod, but the Welsh Ladies' choirs sang in English Madame Hughes Thomas's Royal Welsh Ladies Choir gave a farewell concert at the Tabernacle Chapel, Cardiff, on Thursday night in last week. Needless to state, their singing was brilliant. The choir left Cardiff for Liverpool this week, from which port they sail to Canada to give a series of concerts. They are not expected back to dear old Wales before next March. Sir Frank Newnes, Bart., has parted with his interest in the Cambrian Daily Leader, Swansea, and the business is now the pro- perty of Sir Alfred Mond, Bart., M.P. A town that has greatly improved within the last five or six years is Merthyr. The town council have carried out some excellent improvements, and new shops have sprung up on every hand. In Cyfarthfa Park Merthyr possesses a most beautiful "lung." There is a lake, with boats, and an art gallery has been established in the castle building. A fine Y.M.C.A. building is to be erected in the main thoroughfare, and an electric theatre is to be constructed. Welsh Nationalism is also thriving at Merthyr, and the local Cymmrodorion Society is strong and powerful. A very important decision was given by the Revising Barrister at Llanelly in refer- ence to lodgers' votes. He ruled that lodgers in houses of less than £ 8 rateable value were not entitled to a vote. As a result of this action the names of 610 Liberal and Labour lodgers were struck off the list for East Carmarthen, which is at present represented by Mr. Abel Thomas. A lecturer of the Roman Catholic "Truth Society" has been telling a South Wales audience that there were workhouses at the time when England and Wales were Catholic." Whether that was so or not, it is a truth that there are more Roman Catholics in South Wales workhouses to-day, in proportion to their number, than there are of Protestants. The majority of the occupants of the worst slums in Cardiff and Swansea are also Roman Catholics. These are simply official facts. An association worthy of every Welshman's support is the Welsh Industries Association. It is doing excellent work in reviving native industries, and that means more employment for Wales. In a capital speech at a garden party, held in furtherance of the Association the other day, Miss Mabel Hill (who has worked very hard for the Association) ap- pealed to all Welshmen and Welshwomen to buy Welsh products. Why, for instance, should so many Russian eggs be bought? Let them purchase Welsh eggs; and Jet them buy real Welsh flannel, which was without a rival for excellence and wear.
Advertising
WILTON SQUARE WELSH CHAPEL, NEW NORTH ROAD. RNNUHL TEll MEETING AND •d CONCERT D. Thursday, October 6th, 1910. y. ARTISTES: Miss NELLIE EVANS. Miss WINIFRED LEWIS. Mr. JOHN ROBERTS. Mr. IVOR FOSTER. Elocutionist: Miss CEINWEN PRICE. At the Piano: Mr. IDRIS LEWIS. CHAIRMAN WILLIAM PRICE, ESQ. Tea from 5 30 to 7 30. Concert at 8 p.m. TICKETS: 2/- and Is. To be obtained of various members of the congregation, and of the Hon. Secretaries :— Mr. R. J. DAVIES, 55, Poet's Rd., Cononbury, N. Mr. HOWEL WILLIAMS, 62, Inderwick Rd. Hornsey, N. All Communications to the Editor or to the Publisher should in future be addressed to KELT OFFICE, 302 GRAY'S INN RD., LONDON, W.C.
THE CITY OF BUNYAN.
for 12 years. He was arrested a second time, in 1675, and confined to prison for six months, when he wrote "The Pilgrim's Progress." He died on August 31st, 1688, having lived nearly 60 years, and been for nearly half his lifetime an earnest preacher of the gospel. He was buried in Bunhill Fields, City Road, E.G., and a handsome tomb erected about 40 years since marks his grave. Bedford gaol, in which Bunyan was confined, was demolished in 1801, and the bridge upon which stood the town prison, in which he was incarcerated for six months, was taken down long since, and the existing bridge constructed in its place. The old meeting-place in Mill Street was founded in 1650, and taken down in 1848, the present church, with sitting accommodation for 1,100 persons, being erected on the same spot.