Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-26
VOICES OF THE WELSH
Blend Once More in the Glories of
the Christmas Eisteddf0d.
THOUSANDS ATTEND THE FEAST.
A Perfect Rendition of Fanning's Great
Song of the Vikings.
HOMESTEAD WON THOUGH ITS MASCOT

afternoon there was good crowd, ana In
the evening fully 1000 people listened to
the great musical contest at this time
honored festival Over $500 were given
away in prizes, and though the entire
country was admitted nearly all the prizes
were carried off by Pittsburg and McKees-
port people.
Out of this meeting is destined to grow
an organization which will shed more honor
on Western Pennsylvania. A great choir
is to be formed, which will take part in the
International Eisteddfod to be held in Chi
cago during the Worlds Fair in 1898. To
this end last night President Albert J. Ed
wards, of st. David's Society, appointed
the following committee to perfect the
organization: D. W. Llewellyn, Chair
man. Will J. Jones, Secretary; T. W. Nor
gan, Prof. John Pritchard, David Francis,
Joseph D. Jones. David Roberts, Owen
Jones, Ivor Zacharlas, William J. Davies,
Fred w. Edwards, Morgan Davies, Row
land Jones, Samuel Ingram and Robert H.
Davies.
Not Time for All Aspirants.
The number Of the contestants was so
large that in the morning the adjudicators
had to cut out many of the weaker aspirants
in order to complete the programme with
out the necessity of an all night session.
The judges were d. Gordon Thomas, of
Philadelphia, music; G. H. Humphreys, Of
Utica, N. Y, poetry and translations, and
Rev. D. R. Richards, Sharpsburg, recitation
and speeches. John Prichard was the ac-
companist At the afternoon session J. L.
II Aho.r
was to have been conductor, but owing to
the ill-health of his wife his place was filled
by A. j. Edwards, who also occupied that
position in the evening. After an address
of welcome by President Edwards, Chair
man Lewis made the following speech:
To me has been assigned the pleasant duty
Of expressing on behalf of st. Davids Be-
nevolent Society a welcome to this the
annual Eisteddfod of the Welsh people of
this locality Therefore we who live here
give You greeting and warmly welcome you,
either as performers OF spectators. in this
friendly rivalry, this contest in defamation,
poetry and song, which an institution had
its origin in unrecorded days. Its observance
has been among the pleasant things in
Welsh practice and is useful in preserving
the history, traditions and fables OF people
who are renowned for their love OF home,
for their instructive religious character,
for their patriotism and warn, friendship.
AFeature OF Welsh Character.
The love of the Fatherland, which is so
dominant in the German heart, is none the
less q feature of the Welshman's character,
and surely every generous personof what
ever nationality, if lie has any poetry or
music in his heart, must sympathize in the
sentiment which prompts a people to keep
alive the lovely traditions, the beautiful
stories and the poetic customs of their
country. Within the past 90 days had the
immense good fortune to have enjoyed,
along with my wife, a coaching trip through
Wales. Our drive took us through II of the
12 counties which constitute the principality
of Wales. and l now possess a memory
stored with precious recollectionS of scenic
beauty. loneliness and thrift.
Still do l see before me Rhyl, Landudno,
the vale of Clydd, the vale of Conway,
Bettys-v-coed, the pass of Llanberis and
that most lovely of all vallevs renowned in
song and story, viz: the Vale Of Llangollen.
l also retain vivid memories of the lovable
old town OF Aberyswith. the delightful
towns of Newtown, Brecon, Builth and many
Others even down to Cardiff and these are
five. While travelling through that
wonderously beautiful country, where
the melodious numbers of thousand
lyric poets have flowed with the
of the Clyde, the Dee, the Wye and the Usk,
I was so thrilled with the beauty of the
scenery and the pleasant, social manners of
the people that, next to America, nowhere
on earth would rather claim a land as my
birth-land than old historic, poetic, musical
and patriotic Wales.
Friends. on behalf Of St. David's Benevo-
lent Society, we extend to you who have
come from distance the hoepitable wei
come Of brethren. We bid you join with us
good fellowship which have always
Welsh at their Eistedfodds. Come.
intellectual table which is this day spread
and when we have separated let this senti-
ment thrill our hearts, that next to the
gorioTs land vi where eT;,s, We now are and WHICH
laws, opportunities and possibilities, our
hearts turn fondly and lovingly to the songs
and stories, loves and friendships of lovely,
green Wales.
First on the Programme.
The opening song, bass solo by Morris
Stephene, was an able effort. Next came
the competition on the baritone solo, ''Song
of Hybrias. the Cretan,'' and the S. prize
was carried off, as we'll as the praise Of the
audience, by Henry Rees, of Soho. Several
bright poems on obedience" were pre-
sented for prize of IS, which was won by
David NJ Lewis, of Alliance, o. Ma
thaniel Williams, of Pittsburg, recited
"Cleddyf yr Arglwydd Gideon" and
carried off prize of IS from four compet-
itors. The competition in the baritone and
soprano duet 'I Feel Thy Angel Spirit"
Thomas, of the Southside, carried off the |
prize of $40.
The next competition was in an oration
on ''Ymreolaeth Gymtu. which by inter-
probation means "Home Rule for Wales"
The prize was S. and was carried off bv |
Owen Thomas, of Sodom, O., who reflected |
honor on the people of Youngstown by his |
competition yesterday. Besides the one he |
won he stood second in four Others Mrs.
Samuel Ingram, of the Southsde won the |
prize in the alto solo ooh Promise Me-"
Mrs John Evans, of Allegheny, was the |
winner in the competition on "Darllen |
Byrfyfyr."
The Contest Of the Afternoon.
Then came the great contest of the after |
ition of Fanning's "Song of the Vikings"
The competitors were the McKeesport |
Choral Union, D. Harry Davis, director; |
Superior Choral Union, Woods Run, John |
Richards, director; Mansfield Valley Choral |
Union, 7. L. Rees, director; and Soho |
Choral Union, William Morgan, director. |
They battled bravely to win approval from
the muse of song and the adiudicators and |
every bit of life and passion in this famous |
composition was brought out. The Nc |
Ksesport choir sang first and there was but |
one voice 1t was as if the,vast wealth of I
melody came alone from the directors |
baton, so perfect was the unison, and on |
each swell of this grand song the audience
half rose to greet it, and when it passed, |
felt sorry at the going The others took |
their turn, but the nearest one was the |
Soho choir, which stood second.
During the afternoon Prof. Thomas gave |
several solos and each was enthusiastically |