The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1877-10-25
WHOLE NO. 1888.
The welsh EisteddfOd a, Scranton.

lay IN Wales they form proceahiuns and
AIRY the iesk. the national emblem.
.Hw Ia gruwing at Scranton. very much
Ike the onion whom standing On this
lay in Wales they also have meetings for
literary pursuits and for vocal music.
bang = great singing nation. 81 DAvida
Day is stiii observed In some American
cities. bot among the people a large the
celebration has died out here Christ
mas u great day among the Welsh. aud
- observed by meetings of the Eaafef6fef,
a very ancient national gathering which
can be traced back Tor nine huBdred
years. Tho word means an assembly.
md y pronounced Ier feiA rad, the ID be-
fnR like "A IN hse
These gatherings are literary and mu-
-ical At Hyde Park ID u announced In
the Welsh paper. in the spring OF the
wear. that the Philo.ophical society will.
q the ensuing Christmas. give pFiHsa for
h~ best essay or the brst poem on given
.ubjects. and The best piece Of original
mu.ie for given words. alao for singing
and recitation. Bot although. - have
stated. these meetings are generally held
ON Christmas, yet sometimes = nriEhhor-
ing town may prefer 10 hK upon New
Year, thus enabling parties 20 attend
both aud 81 Dasids Day u sometimes
celebrated by an eistsddfod From the
exercises Of these gatherings women are
not excluded The sisteddfads arc very
generally attended ~ the Welsh. and
afu held Ia some large public ball. the
great part of the performances being in
the Welsh language some of The OBJ
servances are described to me IN simple
language BY one who has been = miner.
IL Gays that church choin attend the
eist~ddfods, aud some very difficult piece
= selected Tor them 70 sing the pFIne
bring about sixty toFiRhty dnllafa Then
there are sinR~Fs alone. aud IN parties u
three. They set their poets there.
they meet on Christmas morning about
ten. and adjourn abnut twelve. aud then
give out subjects ior the posta-likeiy
The LackawaunA River. or some suhi~ct
they bad never thuuEht of before 40
two oclnck thesv poets will b. called up.
ga 70 recit~ their v~fses-twa p-Fhaps-
md small priAr i given (sbout = dulisFl.
principally iur amu.rmt Again. they
rsil FOR competition tn music on some
&ivsu suti.ct They must D.. sent in hs.
ufshsud. nbput twa wvsks hsinre tho
s'.t' dhi"i with th~ proper name under
= seal the iudErs hsins ailnwri uuly 10
.~s ths heJitinus name Ai.a they rrad.
aud the br.t fsasler gets a small pfiHe.
where "a J. rad Another thtns causes
great deal ~ laushtst-th.y ask sho
all volunteer 20 stnF e musical compnsi.
tun from thr notes some bait duaeu
Niil thrnN in their names (hrtttiuus). and
then one will b. called uut-psrhara
Grr~nhurn' the other hve will retire
rom the room. while ho picks 40 the
difficult piece. mnd begins a. clear biz
throat nnd show hia embarrassment.
which J. a suhiwct ~ amusement a. the
spectators. then the second cnnrs on.
p.fhaps squslly unskiilfui and when all
have finished. the rsmarks 81 The Judge
upon each performances IRE also very
amusing. ths prize being only shout hity
cents Ia order 90 avoid the singers be-
ing previously acquainted with the piece.
sometimes a psrsnn may b. sent out half
an hour beforehand 20 compose one The
piece chosen u generally one very din.
cult 10 sing They hold these ristedd.
leds ia Wales The Welsh hards hava
'or centuries back been accustomed 20
invited. ! think. nearly al the musicians
~ Europe 10 sing on a certain day. 81
nationalitiss. for prize Of flUpn-A ~.
yer cup. There came a choir ~ singers
from Wales 20 cnmpste With ths bet tai.
ent they bad in EnFland The Lords and
menabs.rs nf Parliament we're there. The
English selected some of their most cui.
tivRted people. and the W~l-h singers
w~rr min-f- and men Of very little rdu-
cation. and they hsd to go from their own
country hot they won the prize by
great distane~. and then sang through
a tfrrent town aud cities ia EnFland =
There wss money raised here in HYDE
Park 10 support them While they we're
training. aud 60 take them up 20 London"
A minister q the Welsh Congregation.
NJ church In hyde Park gave me some
explanation Of this subject lie naid that
= company Of musical persons CONNECTED
with the Crystal Palace offered = prize
Tor competition for vocal choirs the ~.
ward bring a silver cup worth GiO0o In
1872 a choir of 500 persons from south
W ales. called the South Wales Choral
Union men. women. and children prins
cipaliy miners and their children. ap-
prArrd, and took the prize without CON.
petition The next year. ls11 . trained
band of Enrli-h musicians. $50 IN numa
bsr, sFprnred 10 compete for the prize.
but without HuCceMH. for the welsh won
u sRzin The English were from London.
aud were called the Tonic Sol Pa Asso.
cation
| brard nothing Al Scranton. however.
1T the harp. once thought indispensable
~ the hardr two men on the street at
u, d. Park With pipe and haepipe being
the only peculiar Instrumental p.rioFm'
sr- that I f.aua~utis~r -FHaHE GIrnoxa.
90 Hagper Mgga=ine for Aerlabu