Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-07-28
FUNERAL OF A DRUID
STRANGE DEATH RITES ON A LOFTY
HILLTOP IN WALES.

|, HILL lOF TN WALLED.
Impressive Ceremonies Attending the Fina
Leader of the Druids Of wales-Rathe
Mixed Services.
Far away seem the times and the rite
of the Druids; even under the mistleto,
ut yuletide-the time of Yowling. Theirs
was one of the most ancient and print
hive of religions, and its cult is greatly
T, fhrouded in mystery. Yet it is not alto
gether dead. Among the hills of Wales
many strange relics of the past remain
There may be no fragments of forgot
ten peoples" but there are legends and
customs and songs and social and reli.
gious rites preserved unchanged from the
days of Arthur and Merlin and Taliessin.
There are probably not few seers who.
like Glendower, 'can summon spirits
from the Vastly deep" though whether or
not they will come is yet mooted ques-
ton. And as for the Druids, their line is
yet unbroken, and their weird rites are
still celebrated as of old
Tho death occurred at Llantrissant Of
DR.. William Price, who held the distin-
guished Office Of archdruid of Wales.
He was something more than 93 years
old and might have passed for one of the
old time bards who persisted in King Ed
wards reign, so rugged and antique was
his appearance Six or seven years ago,
1t may be remembered, an infant that
had been born to him in his old age died,
and its body was publicly cremated by
him with Druidical rites. For this he
was arrested and brought to trial But
after hot contest in court he was ac-
quilted, and "A decree was pronounced
from the bench establishing the entire
legality of this form of funeral, Ac-
cordingly when DR.. Price himself died
similar ceremony was enacted without
thought of interference.
The ceremony took place on the sum-
init Of high hill at Caerlan, the very
spot where the body of the infant had
been burned. Several hundred tickets
were issued to the friends and former
patients of DR.. Price, emitting them to
enter the Enclosure and witness the burn
ing. The honr first set was noon. But
pubic curiosity rose to so high pitch
'na'' 10 avoid oeing overwhelmed by
hoo ., sightseers, IL was at the last mo-
:, ueo'''eu 10 clahse IL TO o'clock IN
the morning. So in the gray light of
that early hour the strange procession
made It's way to the hilltop. No mourn.
ing garb was 10 be seen. The closest
'iienus oi the deceased Druid were at
Urea III the ancient costumes of the
-" u,Sn people.
ine pouy OF Dr' Price was clothed in
que pr'i'icai robes ne mad worn In life |
iho WAS then placed In coffin of per- |
oraeeu sheet iron. On the hilltop two |
''one walls fiau been built, four feet |
,pai.' eaop oeihs apout ~ feet long and |
ieet hgh' a number OF iron bars ex
euuihg ffom one TO the Other formed
'nde grating between them, some dis
"hoo aooNe the ground, ana upon these
'ars the CONN was placed. the head be-
hs toward the east and the feet toward
ne west
a clergyman OF tho Established church
vas present ana read the ordinary serv-
GO Tor tne uead IN Welsh. The vest
liehts Oh the church contrasted as
''"nse'y Win the Druldical garb worn
y some OF the attendants rs did the
Vorus OF the prayer book with the
trahge rites. Some slight changes were
naue IN the service, such as the body be
ny consigned to the flames"
linen uhder ana over and all around
no conn was piled great lot of wood
erhaps Whoie cord OF it, and to this
'ere ad''ea several tons of coal. Many
aiiohs OF paraiiin OIL were thrown upon
I. thoroughly saturatlng the entire pile.
men, at about o'clock, two of the
Iosese friends OF the late Druid came
'rward rom the throng and applied
'rcnes 10 inc WOOD, one at each end of
10 mass In moment 1T was all rag
" furnace, and the hill literally fiared
A brisk breeze was blowing which