Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-02
WALES BRIGHT SONS
And Handsome Daughters Honor the
Anniversary of st. David.
A NUMBER OF NOTABLE GUESTS
Proudly Relate the Achievements of Their
Fel!oH-Countrymen.
CLAIM The DISCOVERY OF AMERICA


Avenue Hotel last evening brought to-
gether many of the patriotic and liberty
loving Welshmen in Pittsburg and vicinity.
About 200 people were present. Delegations
came from Homestead, McKeesport, Mans.
field and other nearby towns. The women
are as loyal to old Wales and its traditions
as the men, and they were well represented
at the feast. 1t was the birthday of St.
David, the Welsh patron saint. and the
annual banquet is given to commemorat.
his memory and to perpetuste good feeling
and love Of country among Welsh Amer
leans
Similar banquets were held last evening
| in Chicago, Denver, New York and other
cities. Some of the invited guests could not
be present, because they had the celebra-
tions in their own towns to attend. How
ever. the Pittsburg feast did not lack for
brains or beauty, and it was decided sue
cess. Much credit belongs to W. J. Jones,
D. D. Roberts, 7. w. Morgan, T. E. Jones
and r. Fl. Davies, who made the arrange
| menta
An Elaborate Repast Served.
| A. ]. Edwards, the A A-sistsnt Postmaster
and President of the society, fitted around
among the guests, and acted as general mas
| ter of ceremonies. He soon put everybody
at ease, and led the column into the dining
/ hall. The feast in Its details was like all
| others. The menu contained ail the deli
cacies of the season.
Letters of regret were read from Judge
Noah Davis. United States Senator John p
Jones, of Nevada, Jacob Reese, Ellis Fl.
| Roberts. Rev. d. Parker Morgan, President
| of the New York St. David's Society, e1-
| Postmaster General Thomas L. James,
John Jarret, Consul to Birmingham,
| T. r. Morgan, ST., of Alliance and others
| Mr.. Morgan was expected to deliver one of
the toasts, but at the last moment he was
| taken sick. Judge Wickham was discov-
cred in the lobby of the hotel by Mr. Ed
wards, and was given q place of honor at
| if he were born Welshman.. Among the
guests from a distance was Rev. DR..
| W. C. Roberts, a prominent preacher of
| Chicago. He betrayed his residence in the
| Windy City early in his speech, but then
his pride in Chicago is pardonable. Every
man in that city has right to boast that
the Worlds Fair, the greatest exposition up
to date, will be held in Jackson Park. The
Doctor Is guest of T. c. jenkins, and dur
ing the afternoon the Presbyterian minis
tiers of the city gave him a reception at Mr..
jenkins home in Allegheny.
The Address of Welcome.
After the feast President A. J. Edwards
made a short address of welcome. Among
other things he said:
We meet, not so much to honor the men,
ory of a man who was canonfZed by the
Pope of Rome several centuries after his
F1nnfb IN hr1f hnr m ff0of "a
and devotion to the enduring principles of
religious freedom and civil liberty espoused
and fostered by our forefathers from time
beyond memory We meet to reiterate our
attachment to truth, equity and justice, and
with pardonable pride to remember the
patriotism and noble accomplishments OF
our people who have passed into the great
beyond. With an earnestness compatible
with our race, the members of st. David's 3
Society endeavor to perpetuate their good
deeds and to emulate their best qualities.
the elevation and advancement of Cam
brians in general, and their most cherished
hope is that oil may become useful and hon
orable American citizens. There is no land
on the face of Gods footstool where the
liberty-loving Welshman can find the free
dom for which his whole nature Graves like
unto that of these free American States.
D. W. Llewellyn acted as toastmaster,
and he performed his difficult task with
cleverness. He introduced every speaker
with witty and appropriate speech. The
first orator was Dr. W. C. Roberts, of Chi
cago. He is good talker and a very
scholarly man. His subject was "Cambrian
characteristics and Customs"
Civilizing the Entire World.
He defended the language of his native
country, traced the origin Of his people and
pointed out how the Welsh had assisted in
promoting the civilization of the world. In
general, DR.. Roberts said:
It is not necessary to tell you who the
Welsh are. According to some we are gen.
utne Troians, descendants of the people of
Troy. The true theory is that the Welsh
are branch of the Aryan family, a part Of
that civilization known as che Celtic, and d
Wales.
Our dear old tongue has been laughed at
on account Of Its deep gutteral sounds and
Of sSs
of rythm, as rich as the Italian. We haven't
more gutterals than the Germans. We have
an abundance OF liquids and soft sounds.
The best Welsh writer's pay more attention
to balancing sentences than Lord Macaulay.
The language Is full of sentiment and
Eathos. One of our most marked customs is
the Eisteddfod. All ancient nations retain
some customs which distinguish them from
their neiShbors. The Eisteddfod was es-
tablished In the fourth century. The Welsh
have kept up their love Of letters and
the custom are numerous. 1t transmits to
our youth love Oh educa tion and music, and
keeps them out of the saloon and away
from other evil places.
The doctor then spoke of Welsh Prince
who sailed for America 300 years before
Columbus was born. He landed in New
foundland, and the American Indians are
supposed to be descendants of his followers.
In some of the Indian dialects are number
of words that show they are of Welsh
origin.
The Welsh as Citizens.
c. L. Magee was next introduced, and he
spoke of ''The Welsh as Citizens" He said
lie was not speaking to strangers, and was
indebted to the Welsh people for many acts
of kindness and material assistance, for
which he was grateful and would never for
get. He valued the friendship of old Will
lam Reese, Joseph Jones, John Gray and
other Welshmen. Continuing, he said:
have had as good opportunities as most
men, l think, to learn something of the
Welshman in Pittsburg as citizen. / have
found him active, intelligent, independents
and public spirited. There is rarely
question OF importance to the community to
which he does not give his own thought, and
or which he does not deliver his own vote,
rain or shine on election day. Whoever is
careless of the public interest or encrossed
cannot be said of the Welshnan. lie is
citizen by nature as certainly as he is
man. believe in the Inheritance Of virtues
from our ancestors rs well as their more
material and more perishable wealth, and l
think we can see in the history OF the Welsh
people ir. the past some of The causes t,as
worked To make the American Welshman or
to-day.
Delayed by Wreck.
Judge David F. Pugh, of Columbus, fol-
NJ a..