New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-24
THE EISTEDDFOD At UTICA.
ONE or THE OLDEST INSTITUTIONS OF THE KIM
~ THIS COUNTRY ANTIQUITY OF THE
ElsTEDDFOD.

ONE or THE OLDEST INSTITUTIONS OF THE KIND
IN THIS COUNTRY ANTIQUITY OF THE
EIsTEDDFoD.
Utica Dec y (SpeclaD With A singe interruption
OF four years during the war, the Welsh peop.e have
held an Elsteddfod in Utica annually on the list Of
January for forty years. This year some changes
have been made in the usual programme. but the
gathering January 1885. will have no less inter-
est than formerly for Cymric citizens in ali parts Of
the United States. The first session will be held
on New Years Eve when Josiah Perry Of this city
one OF the most fluent OF Welsh orators. VIII pre-
side. On the morning OF "Dyid Ca.an." the Welsh
name for New Years Day. the pres!1en, VIII be r.
Solomon Grlfiiths. probably the most widely known
Weshman in the United states. The conductorofths
EIsteddfod will be Henry VI. Edwards. law Judge
o. Lackawanna County. Pennsylvania. who will also
adjudicate the poetry. declarations and speeches
The vocalists this year Will be Miss Annie Hope OF
Columbia Wis the c0n;ga,to who was brought 10
America with a Welsh concert troupe and K. Wal
ter Davies Of New-York. the tenor. Five chOlrs
from Vermont. Pennsylvania and New-fork will
compete for the musical prizes. Essays. poems and
musical compositlons y the number OF lis have been
received from contestants FOR Elsteidfoi honora
Some Of the poems are in English. but these are
wre;ched burlesques OF the pure article. Many Of
the compositions are elaborate affairs, and some Of
the essays would make good-szed volumes.
Welsh scholars assert that the Elseddfof dates
urles before the Christian era, originating In tho
early custom OF deciding pubic questions By what
was known as rAalth gwiad WJun;rys voice..
custom 50 generally referred 20 IN ancient British
history and tradition - leave ltle doubt u IT'S
Identity with the T. s'eddtol ~ thu present day. II
was an Institution of gradual development ana
what was once a national congress for deciding
questions OF public importance became IN time an
assembly for fostering literary tastes aai rewafi'ns
literary culture There seems 20 be no room FOR
doubt that an E.sellsol 90 this character was he'd
In ST. and this is probably the earliest that can Do
located with certainty. Eminent Nelshmen %
iconoclastic tend ncies have s.ven % prove mat
the E.s,eiiiod. throne. mystic sign, e'c.' are
things OF comparatively Tecen; origin invented by
romantic bards OF the twelfth century and ampllei
by those Of the sixteenth: but their efforts are not
considered successful the patriotic people o. N.
race Will probably ever hold 70 the more ancient
story OF the EIsieddfod .
The first Elsteidfod instituted on this continent
that OF Utica was founded about the same une
The history OF the latter has Deen ~ @ 49,. ~.
h"it in v,rous States The greatest single session
WAS OF course that held In Chicago during me
tndoub,sdly. the present nourisning state Of he
Welsh language and literature is largely que 20 o s
branch OF the Celtic race and signs are got Nant.
Ing that there will be founded one OF these days
an Ish and ,erarS The Gaelic
has been discouraged. and as recent Vis'Gr ,s ~
-
college said In an address. many o. the lfsn tnr
selves are ashamed OF II. Siil. there are sv peo.
pie TO whom 1t Ia the speech OF eVeiyday Hts o..
80 90 who speak both Irish and EnsHsh bo'n y.
aud PAMPHLETS are being sent out br)aloas, y.
Irelar a. and are spreading amonS ne people 'o'o
FOR the literature o. their i0re'athefs. 1890. A..
A literary curiosity having especial ln'efcst J"
this connection is the diploma 81 SmNnt SgSnau:.
conferred NJ the great royal Eistedc.oi h.id ~
Caerwys Flintshire under The patronage o. $50
Elizabeth in ls6S. The document was a"aIre' "
a commission appointed by the queen ana .o, ,s
rnanded TO reorganize the order ., haTds III .NV''"
Wales The diploma reads Is follows -, 4.
"Kno. all Men bv these Prcaenis that thettr 10 70
, conaress % Bars and Musicians 20 BE- he'd IN
the town OF Cacrwys. In the county 81 / tn,' on
t.c 10Th dav OF May. - the ienth ear OF w
Pelcn ~ Her Majesty. Queen r.H'ort,' rel,nss
Ellis Price Esquire. Doctor OF the 'lN,i l~AN an.
on. O: Her MaiestVS CogNcil In the MaI,.h,s Oh
Wales and before William Mostvn. PerrS Mo-tF..
owen John ar Hywel Vaughn, John NilNam up
Iohn fohr Lewis owen MOr-i Grihth simon
rhelwatt John Griffith SERGEANT Robert Pulesaon'
Evan LLOYD ~ lal and william GlvNn' tsfult',s,.
And that va. the said comm. ssl'nrs oeiH IT,,
Majesty's council do give and grant - H.i," ~
Nychan Bard. the desree 90 Peas"''a am W
order that pe-s,ors receive and Hospitality enter
to receive his perQuisites according 10 me ptI..
statutes in that case made and provided uiNen
under our hands. iu the year l''N . ,s,,.
on these DAYS SimWrt Nychsn would pfopau.
be known AZ = mon Vaughan. He was nN. ot l,,"'
honored with the degree Of fencerid AT ms 'elr-
brated F,steddfod. II IL not hard'c ute uut -
conferred for excellence in vocal music \ hli"n..
OF thls bard's poems. as well as grammar as
still extant In manuscript