The Welsh Coast Pioneer and Review for North Cambria

Memories of Past Days. Notes. OLD WELSH LIBRARIES. The Library of the late Robert youes, oj RothcsiutJic (Continued.) l'ezron (M.), Antiquities of Nations, half calf, II. d. Hiraethog (G.), Emmanuel, 2 vol., half calf extra, Dinbych 1S61-67 Planche (J. R.), History of British Cos- tume, cuts 1S47 Phillips (Sir T.), Life of James Davies, portrait and views. 1852 1.e Godinec (M.), Vocabulaire Breton- Erancais et Erancais-Breton, 2 vols. in 1, calf extra, St. Brieuc 1S60 torik (en Breton), Angoulem 1826 Davies (M.), Salmau a Hymnau, calf ex- tra, Bala 1837 Thomas (D.), Corph y Gaingc, portrait, half calf, Caernarfon 18 Ionawr (D.D., i.e., D. Richards), Bardd- oniaeth Gristionogol (Christian Poetry), half calf, Dolgcllau 1S15 "His last beautiful pieces."—Williams. Dafydd (T.), Hymnau, half calf, Caerfyr- ddin 1765 Morgan (W.), Elyniaeth a'r Fudclugol- iacth, 2 parts in 1, half calf, Caernar- fon 183(5-37 Mills (J.), Gramadeg Cerddoriaeth and Welsh Musical Guide, 2 vols, in 1, morocco, Llanidloes, I85°-44-Roberts (E.), Hymnau a Thonau, with music, half calf, Wrexham, 11. d.—Mills (J.), j Cerddoraetli, with music, Dinbych (3). 1S60 Fox (J.), Am ser a Divvedd Amser, half calf, Gwrecsam 1784 Jones (P.), Mel Awen, portrait, half calf, Llynlleifiad, 1823—Davis (D.), Telyn Dewi, portrait, Llanbedr, 1876—Evans (D.S.), Blodau leuainc, Aberystwyth, 1843 (3) Prys (R. J.), English-Welsh Pronouncing Dictionary, Dinbych 1857 Welsh Sketches by E. S. A. Three series, 3 vols, in 1, half calf, half calf extra. 1S52-53 [CONTINUED.] FIANCIAL RESULTS OF EISTICDDFODAU. -The following table of receipts, expen- diture, and financial results of some of the leading eisteddfodau of the last 40 years will no doubt he read with interest YEAR. PI.ACE. RECEIPTS. PAYMENTS. SUKW.US. £ s. <1. £ s. d. £ s. d. 1862 Carnarvon 2000 1 8 1213 18 4 806 3 4 1876 Wrexhum 3907 3 3 3844 7 10 62 15 13 1876 Carnarvon 3982 0 '2582 o o 1400 o o 1878 Birkenhead 332S 6 8 3120 6 8 200 o o .1880 Carnarvon 2210 7 it 21C9 17 o 4° TO 11 1883 Cardiff 4755 T5 11 4S33 5 7 122 10 4 1884 Liverpool 505s 1 4 49°5 4 3 T49 I7 1 1885 Aberdare. 3252 o 7 3094 2 5 *57 18 2 1886 Carnarvon 2147 Q 9 2087 3 60 6 8 6 1888 Wrexham jo88 '6 U 3258 6 it 830 o o 1889 Brecon 3935 18 5 3740 13 1 195 5 4 1800 Bangor 3404 14 11 2911 19 9 492 15 2 1891 Swansea 5541" 7 5321 7 220 p 0 1893 Pontypridd 4076 8 7 6595 15 10 Deficit of 25i9 7 3 T894 Carnarvon I 3740 o_ o 0 4j!4_o_o_

Queries. I THE Vcnm GROX.—Many months ago I noticed in your antiquarian column some particulars of the resuscitation of "The Vord Gron some 30 years ago, in which the late Sir Hugh Owen and Ceiriog Hughes took a leading part. No doubt some of the members must be still amongst us, and if so I feel sure some particulars of the objects and principles of the order would be read with interest. A MODERN CELT. THE PRINCE OF MANTUA TRIES A JOKE ON THE PEOPLE OF WALES.—About twenty years ago people in all parts of Wales were startled by an announcement that the greatest benefactor Wales had ever heard of had just been discovered in the person of a millionaire Italian noble or prince, of Mantua and Montserrat, who was about to establish and endow a L I university for Wales in some important centre, and the people of Wales, from all parts, were invited to send in claims and memorials for the honour of being chosen as the locale of the projected university. I rather think that a meeting was actually held in Exeter Hall, at which several towns were represented. May I ask whether any of your readers can state anything about the movement ? Of course nothing cam of it, but it may be, perhaps, owing to the offer never having been followed up. T. J. DR. JOHXSOX AXD THE WORD PRY- I)ERI.-In an old North Wales newspaper of ninety years ago, I find it stated that Dr. Johnson had been at some difficulty in finding a derivation 01 the word "prudery." The writer adds that during the great lexicographer's sojourn in vVaJes he discovered it in the old name prvderi. Is this possible ? I have been unable to find any clue to this in anything relating to Dr. Johnson. If so, it must be quite on a par with the classic rendering of Castell Dinas Bran into Crow Castle. Who can explain ? GLAN-Y-DON.

Replies. THE DRUIDIC CROMLECH.—May I offer just one simple observation touching a question which recently appeared in your "Past Days" column as to the old Crom- lechan. of which several still remain in Wales? If they were graves, as some assert, why should they be hollow under- neath ? I think they must certainly have been used for some form of sacrifice, lor every one I have seen has the large upper stone fixed at a good slope, and this slope always towards the south. CRYPTO. "FFAIWEL ITI PEGGY BAN."—The late Sir S. K. Meyrick contributed a lengthy article to the Cambrian Quarterly Mag 1- zine," in which he sought, very ingeniously, to show that this title has reference to Margaret, of Anjou, one of the wives oi Henry VIII. J.

Up and Down the Coast. [BY PERIPATETIC."] THE influx of visitors into North Wales tins Eastertide was quite up to the average despite the laments of those who pro- phesied that the war would spoil the forthcoming holiday season. In fact, the local and through traffic during and pre- ceding Easter week established a fresh record as far as numbers go. the Irish service being unusually heavy in con- sequence of Royalty's "attractions. The prospects of an excellent tourist season are, therefore, bright. It is evident that plenty of money still lines the pocket of theaverage Briton despite the heavy calls made upon him by the patriotic war funds. CONGRATULATIONS to the Rev Thomas Lloyd, of Abergele, who has been appoin ted to the vicarate of Rhyl, recently resigned by the Rev Dan Edwards, in consequence of ill-health. Bishop Ed- wards' selection will prove to be a popular one. The parish of Rhyl is one of the largest and most important in North Wales, and the selection of Mr Lloyd, who is, comparatively speaking, a young man, will afford that gentleman plenty of scope for his well-known organising power. I understand the parochial machinery needs some overhauling. He is also an excellent preacher in English and Welsh. Although his stay in Abergele has proved to be short, his large circle of friends amongst Nonconformists as well as his own flock, testify to the great respect and esteem in which he is held. Mr Lloyd came to Abcrgele from Bala, and it is curious to note that his predecessor at Rhyl, Mr Edwards, was also promoted from Bala. THE St. Asaph Board or Guardians is nothing if not original. Their resolutions of congratulation to Lady Roberts, Lady Dundonald, Lady White, and Lady Buller, upon the relief of Ladysmith, brought in reply an autograph letter from each dis- tinguished recipient, thanking the Board for its kind congratulations. I tried after- wards to effect a private deal with the I clerk for those letters, but he proved inexorable. At the same meeting it was decided to knock off the out-relief, amounting to the gigantic sum of one shilling and sixpence per week, given to a poor woman whose son had volunteered to serve his Queen and country, because, forsooth, she was in receipt of a bounty from the war fund. o THE Prince of Wales narrowly escaped assassination, at the hands of a youth of sixteen. At their last meeting the loyal members of this Union adopted a resolu- tion expressing their desire to join In the nation's rejoicings that His Royal High- ness had escaped the hands of the assassin. In a few weeks, another reply, this time from the future King of England, will be added to the list of missives received from distinguished people which rest in the archives of the clerk's office. My sympathies are certainly with the overseers of St. George, a pretty hamlet lying on the fringe of the hills between Gwrych Castle and Kinmel Hall. The assistant overseer was backward in his calls, in other words, he collected his rates and didn't pay over the money. Accordingly, proceedings were instituted against the overseers for the recovery of the money, and warrants of distress have been issued. At present the warrants have not been put in execution, and if these gentlemen find close upon £ ioo, quick and prompt, they won't be. It is certainly very nice, according to some -people's ideas, to be an overseer, but when some of these officials are appointed they have no idea of the responsibility of their position. In this case, the overseers of St. George find themselves in an awk- ward predicament. If the calls are not paid in due course their household goods and stock can be levied upon by the authorities to the extent of the amount of the precept. COMPARED to some of the previous sittings, the last meeting of the Colwyn Bay Urban Council was a humdrum, tame affair. There was an absence of the usual table thumping," the violent rhetoric, and the impassioned appeals. Doubtless, the pro- ceedings were more in keeping with the dignity of a public body, but, still, the dignified calm of Thursday's meeting was a little trying, coming all at once. The regular habitue could hardly help thinking that it was more like a gathering of the Mutual Admiration Society than a Council meeting. Mr Bevan was extolled by various members for his urbanity of man- ner and the ability he had displayed in the management of the Council's affairs. Mr Win. Davies was quite eloquent on the subject, and mentioned, casually, that the disappearance of Mr Francis Nunn from the Council was a great loss. In return, the chairman thanked the members for the assistance and courtesy they had respec- tively rendered and extended to him during his term of office, and concluded with a resume of the work performed by the Council during the year. I heaved a sigh of relief when the meeting concluded. This House of Lords atmosphere was proving a little too much for me. ■:= THE town surveyor of Colwyn Bay has proved himself a man of resource and ingenuitiy. The Council were summoned before the magistrates for causing an obstruction on a public highway. For the defence, Mr Amphlctt, an advocate of equal resource, denied that the Council caused the obstruction, as they knew nothing about it, and if nothing could be proved to the contrary then the charge could not be sustained, as public authorities were exempt from those responsibilities which fell on the shoulders of private individuals in similar cases. The bench, in spite of the clerk's advice- to the same effect, were obviously puzzled. The chair- man went so far as to state that the Council were taking a discreditable advan- tage of a technical point, an allegation Mr Amphlctt quickly repudiated. The town surveyor then came to the rescue, and extracted his Council out of a difficulty, by saying that he accepted responsibility for the obstruction, and that he neither acted on a resolution or verbal instructions. This cleared the air, and the case was dismissed. RHYL is destined to become the" Black- pool" of North Wales. In spite of much opposition it has been decided to allow the Rhyl and Prestatyn Light Railway Company to run an electric tramway along the entire front of the Promenade, through the main avenue on the site of the old Winter Gardens up to the Marine Lake and down Wellington-road, nearly a mile in length, into High-street, the business centre of the town. The Promenade and prospective line of route is quite adapted for a train line, and although the overhead system of wires does, perhaps, not appeal to one's sense of beauty, yet, after all, what does it matter ? Sentiment is a strong and important factor in human life, but practicability is stronger. The former won't pay rates and taxes the latter will.

Disastrous Fire at Deganvvy. Several Persons Injured. Exciitng Scenes. About three o'clock on Sunday morning last, an alarm was raised through the entire neighbourhood of Deganwy, that the house of Mr W. E. Bottomley, Rowel iff e, Deganwy, close to the Castle Hotel, was on fire. The inmates were unable to get down as the flames had caught the staircase. The fire, having obtained a hold, quickly spread. as the wind was blowing a gale across the Conway river, which the house overlooks.. In a very shoit time a considerable number of persons were on the scene, all. most anxious to render assistance, but amidst the excitement it was noticeable that there were far too many persons shouting out their orders in all directions. Mr and Mrs Bottomley, their son. and a nephew, together with two visitors, Mr Powell and Mr Hawkes, and the servants were in the house at the time. Finding that they could not get out by the door, they rushed to the second floor, and from one of the windows Mr Bottoailey's son jumped to the ground with his cousin in his arms. Both were injured, the former spraining his back, and the latter fracturing his left arm. Mr Powell made his escape by walking along the roof, which he had reached from one of the upper windows, towards a window of an adjoining house, where he was assisted by the occupants. Meanwhile Mr S Hamer, living close by, had obtained and placed a ladder to the second Hoor window, and Mrs Bot- tomley, Mr Hawkes, and the servants were safely assisted to the ground. Mr Bottomley himself was discovered 011 the floor of one of the rooms in an unconscious condition. He was found to be suffering from shock and partial suffocation, and had also a few slight burns about the arms and body. The Conway Fire Brigade arrived on the scene about five o'clock, under Captain Lloyd Jones and Lieutenants D. Davies and R. Roberts. The new steamer of the brigade was drawn by horse and men across tbe railway to the beach, and as it was low water over 300 yards of hose were needed to reach the burning house. After the steaner had been at work about three hours, the fire was extinguished, and the brigade were successful in preventing the fire from spreading to the adjoining houses. It should be mentioned, however, that though all the members of the brigade did their level best, a few lessons in discipline and obedience to orders may be useful amongst some of the members. Amidst the excitement of a fire, of course, every man is most anxious to do something, but it will never do to have every member wielding authority. Every man should know that it is his duty to obey orders, which should come only from one man. Some of the household effects ar.d valuables had been hurriedly removed soon after the fire was discovered, but damage to furniture and effects is said to have been done to the extent of £ r,000. This was not covered by insurance, but the house, which was completely gutted, is insured. The lire is thought to have originated from the bursting of a paraffin lamp in the dining-room, which may not have been properly extinguished when the inmates retired to rest. o

The Viceroy's telegram states that tlic number of persons in receipt 01 relief In India is 5,149,000. —— The death is announced from Leytonstone, Essex, of Professor Pepper, the inventor 01 il Pepper's Ghost," and formerly for upwards of twenty years honorary director of the London Polytechnic. Mr Humphreys-Owen, M.P., speaking at Llanbrynmair in support of the Welsh military hospital and the county war fund, said it would be the greatest of victories if at the of the war we were able to point to the Transvaal and the Free State as being as loyal and integral a portion of the Empire as Canada, Scotland, or Wales. At Bangor, on Tuesday, a student, named Samuel Jones, Hill-street, Upper Bangor, was charged with furiously riding a bicycle in the public streets. He knocked a child over, but did not stop to ascertain whether it was injured. The defendant denied that he was travelling at an excessive rate, and the accident to the little child was unavoidable. He was fined ros and cc sts.

Educational. COUNTY SCHOOL, ABERGELE. HEADMASTEX; CHARLES A. WILLIAMS, M.A., Ph.D. The next Term begins on Tuesday, 1st May. Perms IROM A DISTANCE IIECCIVK TJJAIX on LODGING ———" Application rorms and all information to be obtaincll from the Headmaster. 12U:J ART CLASSES. ———— 63 MISS HOLMES, Certificated Art Mint-re* South Kensington Exhibitor at Manchester, Liver pool, SOIlO/port, d'c. Member of the Gioynedd Ladiex' Art Society, Conway; & Instructress to the Technical Classes, Coiivyn Bay. RECEIVES PURILS for instruction in Drawing, Shading, Painting in Oils and Water Colour from Models, Casts and Natural Objects Sketching from Nature, Modelling and Desipn. Class Days: Wednesdays and Saturdays. Special arrangements made for private lessons and for visitors Studio, Bank Chambers, Abergete Rd., Colwyn Bay. VIOLIN LESSONS. Mr. W. CLAXTON, Solo Violinist and Teacher, AND Miss CLAXTON, from the Conservatoire, Brussels, VISITS COLWYN BAY EVERY TUESDAY and FRIDAY. Visits tlanrwst, Trefrhv and Bangor. FOR TElnm APPLY TO CLAXTON'S MUSIC DEPOT, LLANDUDNO. 49< Mr. J. W. P. ARROWSMITH, A.Mus., L.C.M., A.T.S.C. (PENCEBD3> J}LI.KCeXIUJV1), Professor of Music. ORGANIST OF ALL SAINTS' CHURCH, DEG ANWY. Gives Lessons in Singijig,Harmonv,Piano,Organ.&c. Successful for all Music Examinations. For terms, apply VALE VIEW TERRACE, LLANDUDNO UD, 0 JUNCTION or Mr. A. J. FLEET, Music Warehouse, COLWYN BAY. 870 CONWAY COLLEGE, NORTH WALES. Headmaster: T. C. E. DANIELS, M.A., Assisted by experienced University Tutors. Boys prepared for the University Local Examinations, College of Preceptors, &c. BOYS ARE ADMITTED EPOM SEVEN" YEAItS OF AGE. Classes are small, and each Boy receives much individual attention. SPECIAL ATTENTION IS PAID TO THE PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE BOYS. 773, VIOLIN. PIANOFORTE. VOICE PRODUCTION. Mr. W. DAVIES, Professor of Music, Prepares pupils in any of the above subjects for Profession, or (if necessary) for Degrees or Diplomas, at all the Musical Colleges and Universities. FIRST-CLASS TUITION. LESSONS IN HARMONY ALSO GIVEN. COLWYN BAY, on SA TURDA YS, at iHr. Fleet's Music Warehouse. Terms Moderate; and to he obtained personally, or by letter, at Mr. Fleet's or at Hafod, Deganwy. Send for W. Davies' latest and most popular Song, The Angel's Answer," in teys to suit all voices, post free 1!6. 72fi MISS MALDWYN PRICE, I.S.M., R.A.M (CERT.), gives Lessons in Voice Production, Solo Singing, Piano, & Theory, every Thursday, at Mr. Fleet's Music Warehouse, Abergele noad, Colwyn Bay and daily at Trewen Woodlands, Conway. 705 VIOLIN LESSONS. Miss ISABEL HEWITT GIVES LESSONS IN COLWTN BAY AND NEIGHBOUEHOOD. Bodafou, Bangor. 637 A. J. FLEET, MUSIC WAREHOUSE, COLWYN BAY. Pianos, Organs, Harmoniums For Sale or on Hire. First-class Tuning and Repairing. Tuner to tie Pier Pavilion and Riviere's Hall, Llandudno. VIOLINS. S IKING a of finest quality. Good IRON-FRAMED PIANOS from .£16 new. PREPARATORY SCHOOL For GIRLS and BOYS, from ago of 4. CHILDREN RECEIVED for the HOLIDAYS Careful Grounding. Gloucester House, Hawarden Rd., Colwyn Bay