Welsh Journals

However modern Swansea may become-and in some respects it is becoming appallingly modern- it is too much involved in its past ever to shake off its influence and live entirely in its present. Professor Lloyd, in his history, speaks of that remote period when Illtud lived in holy seclusion at Oystermouth and-permitting himself the joy of an excursion into a purple patch-" Swansea was in all probability but a stretch of sand, the haunt of sea-gull and plover." We are slow to follow the lead of the his- torian, claiming for Abertawe an antiquity of which the professor does not dream. believing with Mr. Gamwell, a notable Swansea poet and editor, that dis- coveries of ancient memorials lend truthful colour to the belief that the power and civilisation of ancient Rome were felt even at Swansea, and that there was sorrow among the natives when the legions were finally recalled about 400 A.D." And walking our streets, which are slowly and painfully broadening to the accompaniment of much ratepaying tribulation, the streets in which commercial palaces that sing their modernity look down upon shamefaced eigh- teenth century neighbours, this we will maintain in spite of all professors in Wales. Whether we existed in Roman times, or were but a stretch of sand," we will not lightly allow the higher critic to deprive us of our years For Swansea is a town of nine charters, no less, and even in the comparatively remote days of the Protector he called us" an auntiente Porte Toune and populous" which tyme out of mynde hath been a Toun Corporate." We had sown our wild oats early and settled down to peaceful ways by that time, doing most of our fighting with the mouth, paying officially for bell-ringing in celebration of Royalist victories in the time of the Civil War, and then, with diplomatic impartiality, entertaining the conquering Crom- wellians. This appears to be the definite beginnings of Swansea, which saw itself growing great by sea- power, by industry. For Cromwell's charters were very liberal, conferring more generous privileges upon burgesses than can be obtained by Act of Parliament to-day. They even enacted that the burgesses were to enjoy as large liberties of trading throughout the kingdom as London itself possessed turning the Portreeve into Mayor and allowing them to elect their own magistrates. A turn came in our fortunes with the restoration, the Charter being restricted and its benefits limited but although the Portreeves were again to rule,and to rule over stormy periods when local debate was often en- livened by fisticuffs-the town came once more into its own. It took the lead in Welsh commerce, it covered its valleys with works, to its doors came the ores of the world. The docks were constructed to meet the growing tide of its trade first the South then the North, then the East, then greatest of all, King's. Coal has rivalled us in the East, but every Swansea man has one absolute article of belief that the port is built up upon such secure foundations, that not many years shall pass before it will be pre- eminent in the Channel. But about this elusive personality of ours I All this talk of history and commerce may help to discover it. Before the docks and works were built it was distinct enough. Swansea then had a soul. Swan- sea flattered itself upon its intellectuals. After the building of the docks and works -? Let me be careful here, for while appreciation or depreciation of the past is safe enough, a rough generalisation about the present may be unjust-and unsafe. I think however one can venture to say that, until the last few years, Swansea has been too busily engaged in making greatness and money, to bother overmuch about its personality. It has been establishing itself, making strong its walls and its armaments. It is an unmistakable fact that most of its merchants and managers have kept themselves and all their energies inside their own camps, and have contributed disappointingly to the real life of the town. We have passed through lean years of social activity, fat years of money-making-with the shadow of the past however upon them I There is a distinct Welsh atmosphere pervading the town, more apparent to the visitor they say, than to the citizen. There is a warmth, and homeliness about Swansea, which accounts for its habit of retaining these visitors permanently. A friend of mine, who knows the life of North and South intimately, brackets Swansea and Carnarvon. And, as Carnarvon is to him the centre of culture and the home of nationalism, the tribute is no small one. The figure of the opening passage in this article must not be pressed too hardly, but it will serve again as a helpful illustration. These are the critical days out of which vast consequences will come. Swansea has to develop anew its personality. I think we are somewhat bewildered at the changes that everywhere meet us. Our commerce is swelling yearly. The fingers of the town are greedily clutching the country- side. Where once the young men of to-day played their boyhood games are now the trim rows of suburbia. J Where once the young married couples walked, in sweethearting days, through lovely lanes far from the noise of the town, are now long terraces. and gas lamps. Sketty has been swallowed up. The