The National tribune., 1894-09-27
LAND OF TIE wELSHMEN.
Some Curious Customs that Arc Still OBJ
served.
TWdshSu0teu SfoS.1

served.
[WashssSsen Ssas.1
The quaint little village of Dinas Fowls,
Wales, is quite outiof the beaten track Of
tourists. 1t has no car or railroad commu-
nication, though within eight miles of one
of the large commercial centers of South
Wales. The people, are interesting and
have some peculiar customs of very ancient
origin; but they are strangely ignorant of
the great world whose heart throbs are
sounding almost in their ears. Desiring to
mail letter to South Africa, wendell my
way to the post Office, which is kept by the
village tailor. John Thomas and I are
quite old friends, so, after little chat, I
asked for a stamp for Cape Colony. The
| good man looked at me in amazement.
where Gid you say, sir?"
"Cape Colony, South Africa"
81 never heard of that place before, for
sure"
We'll, never mind, John; let me have a
six-penny stamp" said, highly amused.
What for will you be wanting to pay so
much for a stamp"
| Then bright idea struck him, and, smil
ing broadly, he informed me:
at costs two-pence half-penny to send
letter to America, and when it gets there,
maybe they can send it to that other
| place"
~ believe they could" I said, "but /
want it to go direct, so / will take six penny
ones that will do as we'll"
When / got the six stamps across my let
ter, honest John did not seem quite salts
fed
st would he safer, sir, to send it to
America; they're uncommon smart folks
over there. Mistress Harry's son is in
| America, and he would see it went all
right"
Poor old John! Foreign postage was not
much in demand in Dinas Fowls, and he felt
the responsibility of his position quite over
towering, while his conception OF America
was of the vaguest description. Thanking
him for his suggestion, l assured him that
the letter would be all right.
StrOlling along / met little maiden, who
dropped me curtsey as she wished me a
pleasant " Good evening, sir"
Good evening. How are you, my little
mad?"
Famous, sir" with smile that showed
her dmples. Old and young greet strangers
in pleasant, homely manner, while the
children curtsey to their elders in a quantity
pretty fashion. The language is not so
difficult as it appears, with so many double
consonants. The double "l"is not gut
tural, but a pretty liquid sound resembling
the Spanish lIanO, III being the nearest
English equivalent. Double ed" has the
sound of thu; for instance, any great
trouble or distress is compared to
THE sigh of GwyddnO Garanhir,
When DER his land rushed waves severe"
Gwyddno Garanhir is pronounced as if
spelt Gweethno Garfauhir. The houses are
painted yellow, and, with the red-tiled
roofs. make very effective bit of color in
the landscape. Inside they are dirty and
untidy. 1t is a marvel how such scrupu-
lousy clean-dressed women can come from
these dirty houses. The garden gate is a
curiosity. Two pillars Of stone about four
feet high, with grooves in them, are set
upon each side of the path then a slab of
stone as large as flagstone is dropped
iEto the grooves, effectualy closing the gate
way. Or course, this stone cannot be re-
moved each time entrance or exit to or
from the dwelling is required, so the in
babitants solve the difficulty by climbing
over.
Ladies visiting the cottages find this
rather troublesome performance. / saw
Tie JOuuS VI Juo flitdSc !
stranded on top of one of these inhospitabIe>
gates with basket of good things for
some sick one within till the housewife
came to her assistance, with merry laugh
ter on both sides at the young lady's di-
lemma.
We wonder at the description of odd Gus
toms and curious ceremonies IN iar-oH
lands, overlooking those still prevailing
among people speaking our language and
closely akin to ourselves. Especially among
the Welsh are to be found practices whose
origin can be traced to the highest an
tiquity. Among others rapidly disappear
ing is the bride chase. On the wedding
day from 10 to 20 of his best mounted
friends accompany the bridegroom to the
house of the bride, to demand her from her
friends. The lady and her relatives pre-
tend to be very unwilling to comply with
the request and great deal of Welsh
poetry is employed by way of argument,
the party within the house and those with
out abusing each other heartily in lam
guage more forcible than polite. Orations
are delivered and replied to by persons
appointed to conduct the nuptial negotia-
ton.
At lengthSthe brides father appears and
invites the bridegroom's party into the
house. They alight and partake of some
refreshment, then all proceed to the church.
The bride is mounted behind her father,
on the swiftest horse that can be got, and
gallops off, bridegroom and guests riding
after them in full chase. Over the hills
and far away they go, till the girl or her
horse grows weary, when she allows herself
to be captured and led quietly to church
This strange remnant OF ancient days is
still in vogue in some districts.
The sale of the wedding presents, con-
sisting chiefly of butter, cheese and crock
cry ware (the latter is not sold), often brings
from 500 to $3.50, and is a considerable help
to a young couple not overburdened with
this worlds goods. Crockery is very dear
to the heart of the Welsh woman; on her
shelves you will find rows of bright-colored
pitchers, bowls, teapots, etc. These articles
are handed down from mother to daughter,
and are as highly priced as antique silver is
in America.
Old superstitions are dying out, and are
being succeeded by severe religious notions,
almost amounting to fanaticism. The
Welsh scenery, especially the mountains,
is so grand no pen can do it justice.
d I :: III ] s