r BflROIC CONGRESS OF WALES First Established for the Welfare of the Community, ANTEDATES CHRISTIAN ERA r the First Fdsteddfod Wos Held Centuries Beforo the Christian Era, and ' ' Its Exercises Similar to Those of Today. 3. Humphreys Parry, the editor of "The Transactions of the ; CymrodorN ons, or Metropolitan Cambrian lnBtltu tlon," a learned antiquarian and ele gant writer, a native of North Wales, at the beginning of the present century, who had' a university training, and gained the admiration of his fellow countrymen bythe publications of the Cambro-Brlton, a most valuable mis cellany, in which Is contained a mass of Information respecting the history of Wales, writes of the Gorsedd lnsti. tutlon in the following manner: ' "The Gorsedd, or Congress of Bards," lie says, "owed Its birth to the liardic or Druldical Institution. It was at . tlrst established for the promotion of objects connected with the moral and political welfare of the community, as well as for the minor or subordinate purposes of cultivating -the arts of music' and poetry. The most ancient notices of It now extant occur In the Triads, of the social state, which are ascribed ' to Dyfnwal Moelmud, who lived three or four centuries before the Christian-era. In these ancient records, the Qorsedd y Belrdd, or congress of bards, is num bered among the "national privileged meetings of the Cymry." It was held t stated times, In some central or ex posed part of the country, or according to the bardic maxim, "in the face of the sun, and in the eye of light." Such was the primitive character of the ancient convention; but how long-it was re tained there are no means of ascertain ing with any degree of precision. The long internecine wars consequent on the successive Invasions of the Romans and Baxons, as well as the introduction of Christianity, by destroying the politi cal and religious ascendancy of the Druids, must have deprived the Institu tion of Its primitive Importance, and from this period there Is no' doubt it gradually departed more and more from Its genuine character. . The Qorsedd In its earliest stage, we have thus seen, was of a very different nature from what it has since become. In its next gradation It appears to have been devoted to the more partculalr en couragement of the musical and poetic al talents of the country, as well as to the perservatlon of the ancient or dinances and traditions of the bards. The earliest congresses of this charac ter of which we have many memorials are two which took place In the sixth and seventh centuries, under the pat ronage of Maelgwyn Uwynedd and Cad waladr, last kings of the Britons, at which several poets and minstrels at tended. From this period we have no further memorials of these national fes tivals until we arrive at the time of Bleddyn ab Cynfyn and Qruffydd ab Cynan, when the original designation of the Qorsedd seems to have been tlrst exchanged for that now in use, of els-,-teddfod or session. At the elstedd- fodau holden during the reign of Qruf fydd ab Cynan, In particular, many alterations or amendments were made in the Bardlo laws, and the national music and poetry were subjected to a varietyof Important regulations, which have wen In operation more or less ever Blmce. In thl early part of the twelfth cen tury Ctfuwgan ab Bleddyn ab Cynfyn followeBthe example of his father In the encouraffment he gave to these na tional conventions nd he waa succeed ed by JU"y ap Qruffydd, generally Look for CASEY & KELLY Brewing i Company's Extra Fine Lager Beer at all the hotels and saloons. On sale today. The Finest Beer ever brewed called Lord Rhys In South Wales, dur ing the latter part of the same era. From the period now mentioned for nearly three centuries we have no particular records of the eisteddfod. But the conquest of Wales by Edward in the Thirteenth century, and the sanguinary events preceding and at tending that enoch are sulllcient to ac count for the temporary suspension of the practice. The ascendancy which the bards had acquired over their .coun trymen could not fall, besides. In ren dering them objects of jealousy to so politic and ambitious a monarch as Ed ward. He accordingly deprived them of the public privileges they had enjoyed before and it was only after a long in terval that they recovered any sem blance of their ancient rites. The first instance of the revival of the national usage under consideration, after the conquest of Wales, of which any me morial has reached us occur about the year 1450. when Qruffydd ap Nicholas, a distinguished patron of the bards, ob tained the sanction of Edward IV. for holding an eisteddfod at Carmarthen, which has been called by way of emin ence, the great eisteduroa or Carmar then. To this succeeded another one in the reign of Henry VII., convoked also under royal patronage, but of which no particular details are now extant. The next In order appears one to have been an eisteddfod that took place at Coerwys, in Flinxshire, in the year 1523, under the immediate auspices of Richard ab Howel ab Ieuan Vychan, Sir William Qruffydd and Sir Robert Salisbury, and at which Tudur Aled and many other distinguished poets were present - After this another was con vened at the same place, on the 26th May, 1567, by virtue of a command granted by Queen Elizabeth to several gentlemen of North Wales and the Marches, most of whom attended on the occasion. Other congresses- also assembled dur ing the same century in South Wales under the patronage of Sir Richard Neville and William Herbert, earl of Pembroke, for the express purpose of collecting and consolidating what yet remained of the ancient bardic Insti tutes and traditions. In the year 1580 an eisteddfod also took place in the same division of the principality, un der the presidency of Sir Edward Lewys.at which the collections Just al luded to were considerably augmented; and these were again thoroughly re vised and arranged at a congress which took place at Bewpyr castle, In Glamor ganshire, in 16X1, under the auspices of Sir Richard Bassett. This appears to have terminated the second stage of the bardic congress, or session, in which for more fhan six centuries, even ac cording to our Imperfect records. It had continued the means of rescuing from oblivion the ancient ordinances and traditions of the bards. Since the period alluded to it has been regarded more as a festival for the encourage ment of the national music, poetry, and general literature. From the time of Sir Richard Bassett until the year 1819, when the first meeting of the Cambrian society in Dyfed was held, the only ef forts to revive the ancient custom ap pear to have been those that were made under the patronage of the Qwynedd lglon at different places In North Wales, where appropriate prizes were award ed to the successful cundldates in mu sic and poetry." Such Is the outline of the history of the eisteddfod from Its earliest dawn until Its late auspicious revival. Originally, as already ob served, the design of this nutlonal meeting, when existing under a differ ent name, and under the auspices of the Druldlcnl Institution, was of a higher nature than at present. It had for its various objects. In Its primitive char acter, the reformation of manners and customs, the support of ancient privi leges, commemoration of remarkable occurrences, the maintenance of public tranquility, and, finally, the general promotion or science, morality and re ligion. It was accordingly In the dis tant ages to which this observation has reference, connected In an Integral manner with the public welfare of the country. It was the great political en tr - glne by which the general prosperity of the state, as well as the Integrity of Its several social relations, was upheld and secured, for It must not be for gotten that In older times the bards were the public conservators of the laws, the literature, and the religion of the country; they were Its legislat ors, Its philosophers, and Its priests. Alderman Thomas Rees Is opposed to robes for alderman, and he is surprised that such a "great girlish propiBition should be made In this the latter end of an enlightened century. When it was sug gested to Alderman Rees that at one lime ha hud worn the mavoral robes with much pride, the worthy city father said he had done so only afer a lot of pressure and much against his indignation. The bishoo'a residence at Ltandaff was. it appears, built for Rear Admiral Mathew during his absence. It is a large three story building. The old veteran, when he camo to see It, Is said to have given vent to his feelings alter this tajthlon: "What! a three-decker! I have spent too many years or my life to end them in this!" und he didn't. The only Welshman who ever tried to speak Welsh as "she Is written" was Caledfryn. But Caledfryn was no ordi nary man. He used to boast that he wrote his "Kothsay Castle" with the same pen and was willing to exchange all his poet ical works for one line of Anne Griffith's hymns. Professor D. M. Lewis, of Aberystwlth, hold heterodox views on dialectic Welsn, Is the opinion of Welsh purists. The pro fessor maintains that spoken Welsh may be better Welsh than of literature, not withstanding Its being impregnated with English words. ItB superior merits consist In its being more racy and idiomatic. . The bishop, the dean and the archdea con of Cardiff have long passed the allot ed span of life three sere years and ten but they are almost Infants compared with Canon Hawkins, who has passed his ninety-sixth year. Early In the century Swansea had quite a reputation as a health resort, but a no tice appears in one of the magazines for the period that the high-priced of he lodg ing house keepers effectually frightened customers away. One of the Welsh coal owners died a short time ago at Cheltenham In the per son of Mr. Shepherd, who was for many years cashier at Cyfarthfa. In 1847, in con nection with Mr. David Evans, Brecon Bank, Merthyr, and others, he sank a pit at Cymaman, but after a time sold out to Powell Duffrln. Durln the term of Shepherd and Evans there was a run of good times, but the colliery was not a prosperous one until taken in hand by Powell Dufferln, who made it one of tl best In the district. In the good times ev ery car of coal that came up meant a guinea for the company. It has been announced from a Swansea pulpit that "the Oalatlans and the Welsh are of the same family, and are allied in nil characteristics." Of course, this Is sim ply flaunting the red flag before the eyes of Morten. There Is an Ingenious man walking the streets of Cardiff. He never gets up till noon If he can help It, and It used to break him up to find out at night that he was a meal behind. So he now, as he argues, contrives to keep square by having his breakfast and dinner together on the same plate, as follows; namulv: Eggs and bacon on the left half of the plate, and beefsteak and vegetable crowding the other half. Moreover, with the left half he drinks a cup of tea, and with the rlgnt a glass of beer. So far, the authorities have taken no action, the man being a musician. An English traveler gives his traveling cxperlem-e In Wales in the following way: "When touring In Wales one summer, not long ago, I stayed awhile at a little Inn In an outlying part of the principality. Tho churctf was old and interesting, and I went to inspect It. Finding the door open, I entered, and learnt from the broken Eng lish of an old woman churchkeeper that a wedding party from the neighboring vil lage was soon expected. Wishing to see a Welsh country wedding, I remained tor the service. All seemed to go well until the clergyman asked for the ring, and then It was found that the bridegroom had made no provision whatever; Indeed, It was evident that he had never thought of It. The clergyman showed no surprise at what SODeared to me to be an, ntu. ordinary omission, but sent the old wo man for - the church-door key. and the , priuegroom piaeeu uie ring which sq iVi"fli for the key-handle over the finger of the bride, and so she was wed. My curiosity was aroused In regard to what I had seen, and 1 soon ascertained that wedding-rings were quite exceptional among the 'poorer people In that neighborhood. One ring a silver one had done duty iu a hi ice number of instances, and when this ring could not be obtained from Its fortunate possessor the ring of the church-door key was the makeshift, as In the 'marriage 1 had witnessed." Major Wyndhom-Quinn, one of the members of parliament for Glamorgan shire, received an official communication recently from Windsor Castle In answer to the representation which he has been making for the Rhonda Glee singers to sing before -the queen. He was Informed that, owing to the death of Prince Henry of Ballenburg, her majesty has decided not to have any entertainments or concerts at the castle for the next ten months, mid that under the circumstances the queen will be unable to heat the choir at pres ent. He has, however, high authority tor stating that, after this period or mourning has elapsed, it Is more than probable that an Invitation will be extended to he choir to appear before her majesty. Their rep utation has already penetrated court cir cles, and a desire has been expressed In more than one Influential. quarter that her majesty should hear the members sing. Major Quinn, who Is very enthusiastic on the subject, is very sanguine that the wishes of Rhonda people will be gratified In this matter. MANLY VIGOR ONCB MORE In harmony with the world, 2000 completely cared men arc singing nappy praises lor me greatest, grand est and most suc cessful cure for Bex ual weakness and lost vigor known to medical science. An account of this won derful discovery, In book form, with ret. erenecs and proofs, vrill haunt faring men (sealed) free. Full manly vigor permanently restored. Failure impossible ERIE MEDICAL CO., BUFFALO, N.Y. Hotel Walton Bread and Locust Streets, Philadelphia. 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