Welsh Journals

"Banyan: Yesterday and To-day. By W. Glandwr Morgan. DoIgelWy; Printed by Hughes Bros., "Dysgedydd" Office. 1913. Pp. 80. Price 1/6. So much has been well-written about Bunyan that one ought to make sure before venturing to add to the literature that there is something really new to say or that what has been said before can be said much better. The present volume reminds us of the unfortunate fowl of the Hebrides on which Dr. Johnson dined, and which he afterwards described (we quote from memory) as illbred, illfed, illcooked and illserved." The type is poor and uneven and the ink pale. With the exception of Dr. Clifford's one paragraph Foreword there is little in the book that is readable. It is written in a sort of precis style and drags in much that is irrelevant. The Story of Portmadoc." Hanes Porthmadog," ei chrefydd a'i henwogion, gan Edward Davies. Penmorfa, Caernarfon Cwmni'r Cyhoeddwyr Cymreig (cyf.). Swyddfa Cymru." Pp. 236. Portmadoc is a small town in the Commote of Eifionnydd in Camarvonshire: it stands at the mouth of the Glaslyn on what was one hundred years ago a sandy waste, but it can boast that it has taught law to David Lloyd George and reared Eifion Wyn, the greatest of modem Welsh lyric poets. The half-crown volume before us is full of interest It tells how the indomitable and resourceful spirit of W. A. Madocks, M.P., who flourished in the early years of the last century and was a friend of Shelley, fought and robbed the sea of thousands of acres at the mouth of the Dwyryd and Glaslyn. We are told how first of all Tremadoc and afterwards Portmadoc grew, of the sacrifices made there for religion and education, of the three historic Eisteddfodau that were held in the town during the century, and the distinguished men that conducted them. But the most interesting thing in the volume from the economist's point of view is the light it throws upon the Festiniog Slate Trade. The Shipments of Slates for every year between 1825 and 1912 are given and the sad tale of the famous industry is reflected in the figures. In 1828, 9940 tons were shipped 43,832 tons in 1845 112,485 tons in 1875 53,837 tons in 1892 90,435 tons in 1906 and 72,703 tons in 1912. The book is written in good literary Welsh the purist will probably find fault with some of the forms and constructions used, but on the whole the work is remarkably free from lin- guistic blemishes. It is printed on good paper and bound in cloth. It contains several interesting pictures and the last chapter is a small dictionary of biography. The most renowned men that were ever connected with Portmadoc are the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Eifion Wyn. Why were their portraits not included ? Alawon Gwerin Cymru." Welsh Folk-Songs arranged for Schools by J. Lloyd Williams and L. D. Jones (Llew Tegid); issued with the approval of the Welsh Folk-Song Society. The Educational Publishing Co., Ltd., Cardiff. Price 2/6 net. This long-desired collection of Welsh Folk-Songs, the first of a series. will be heartily welcomed by all those who love pure melody and unaffected, simple verse. These songs, unsuspected and unsought until this century, have existed in the hearts and minds of generations of folk-singers living in the hills and dales of our lovely land. and Wales owes a debt of gratitude to the two editors who have discovered and made them accessible to the general public in their present form. All the 12 melodies have appeared in the Journal of the Welsh Folk-Song Society with their traditional words and with explanatory notes, many of which appear in this edition by permission of the W.FJ5J5. It is to be hoped that the opportunity of perpetuating these beautiful survivals may be seized by the teachers of Wales, and that they will implant in the rising generation a love of these pure, gay and tender folk-songs. Children learn them quickly by heart and love them, and are not likely to be satisfied afterwards with the second and third-rate music-hall inanities, brought into Wales by outsiders. There is considerable variety in the selection; the exquisite modal melodies of Y Glomen and Cerdd y Gog Lwydlas with its delicate, haunting accompaniment echoing the cuckoo's notes will appeal to some, while others will prefer the rollicking strains of Cyfri'r Geifr and Y Saith Rhyfeddod." In each of the 12 songs there is a distinctive charm. The arrangement of the songs is excellent as it provides for the rendering of them either as solos complete in themselves, with sympathetic and appropriate accompaniment, or as songs in unison or in harmony, and it is true, as Dr. Lloyd Williams says in his Introduction, that children enjoy harmony singing in parts furnishes them with excellent opportunities for ear-training as well as valuable preparation for part-singing in adult choirs." The verses which have been added are admirably in keeping with those that are traditional in each song where this has been necessary. Wherever possible the Welsh words should be sung. as the language, with its pure vowel sounds, is better for the voice but where this is impossible the English words will be found to be good translations. The introduction to this collection is most valuable and illu- minating. It should be read and acted upon by all who have the cause of music in Wales at heart, and there are numberless enthusiasts who will acknowledge the force and value of Dr. Lloyd Williams' suggestions. Next St. David's Day should resound throughout the country with the sweet voices of children singing these beautiful old folk songs Y Beirniad," cylchgrawn chwarterol dan nawdd Cym- deithasau Cymreig y Colegau Cencdlaethol, a than olygiaeth J. Morris Jones. Lerpwl Hugh Evans a'i feibion, Argraffwyr, 356, 358. Stanley Road, Cyf. III. Rhif 4. Pris I/ The last number of Y Beimiad reached us just a day too late to be reviewed in our first number. Y Beirniad," from its birth, has maintained a high standard of literary excellence; the pages of no other Magazine published in the Principality afford the reader the same rare pleasure as those of this child of our University. This number well maintains the high tradition of its forerunners. Professor Miall Edwards leads with a masterly analysis of Bergson's philosophy, and is followed by Mr. I for Williams with an original contribution on Rhys Goch ap Rhiccert. His conclusion, that the songs attributed to Rhys Coch. who is supposed to have lived in the 12th century, belong really to the 16th century, will probably be challenged by the men of the Old School. Mr. H. Parry Jones gives us the fruit of much serious thought on the relation between the Welsh Language and Welsh Nationalism, and at the end propounds a question which he promises to discuss in the next number of Y Beirniad," namely, Can a nation save its soul and lose its language The article by Mr. D. J. Jones of Cambridge, on the spirit in which religious subjects should be treated, ought to be read thoughtfully by all who have the welfare of religion in our land at heart. Gwili's short elegy on Lady Rhys is dignified and full of true poetic feeling. The massiveness and literary excellence of Y Beirniad 's contents reveal the secret of its success and we are not surprised to find that the intelligent collier and quarryman buy it, and that it finds a place with the Bible and Hymnbook in the rural labourer's cot.