The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-28
The ]BcautifulA Nlaid Q
OF GrO1lgar lH[ill
By JOHN COURIER MORRIS.

s'Grongar Hill invites my song.
Draw the Landscape bright and strohg'
Gronger in whose mossy dells, |
Sweetly musing Quiet dwells; |
Grongar, In whose silent shade,
For the modest muses. made,
SO oft have |, the evening still,
AT the fountain of q rill,
Sat upon a fiowery bed
with my hand beneath my head
While, Strayed my eyes Ger Towy noou'
Over mead and over wood, 80,
From house 10 house. from hill TO hill
Till Contemplation had her fill"
The Vale OF Towy, South Wales. EN-
braces in its winding course OIL nIteen
miles the grandest scenery IN dne bri.is,m ,
Isles Its woodland views are matchiess!y
beautiful and romantic. The neignpor-
hood Is historic and poetic ground. FROM
Grongar Hill the eye discovers traces OF a
Roman camp; Golden Grove, once tne
home of the immortal Jeremy Taylor, Is
on the opposite side of the river MerhIi
chair recalls Spencer, and a farm not iar
away brings back the i memory S,n,s o, It's o''''
-WM. CULLEN BRiANTS Library o.
Poetry and Song
In the year of 1880, the historic farm
here mentioned was owned and occu-
MED by wealthy gentleman farmer
named Henry Gwynne Jones, a man OF
much force of character, and, IN many
respects of noble nature. He was prouu
of his lineage, and could trace it back
for generations. Yet, in point OF aristo-
cratic blood. he was not regarded the
equal of the Cawdors or the Dinevors.
lie was what was known in those days
!: prominent individual of the miudie
class So he paid homage to the cav
,lors and the Dinevors, and was always
inexpressibly proud of every opportuh-
ity to sit with this "blooded stock on
the magisterial bench of the ancient
town of Carmarthen, and was fuiiy
satisfied with this life in this dlstih-
guished honor. He was never happier
than when addressed by the Earl or
Cawdor, as "E.suuire Jones, of Paradise
Hall" The Squire was married ana
was the proud father of four beautifui
children, Caractacus, Sylvia, BronWen
and Harry Gwynne. Mrs. Jones, an es-
timable lady, was very proud OF tne
genealogical tree from Which she
sprang, So proud, indeed. that she was
wont to remind her interiors of her lofty
lineage. A generous woman she CAV
freely to the poor, but she was vain ana
susceptible to fattery. and those or her
beneficiaries who We're the most laNlsn
in praise enjoyed her greatest num-
ficence. She had received fair edu-
cation and could speak the EnSlish
language with greater tluency ana cor
rectness than many other ladies or the
beautiful Vale of Towy in those days.
She was an excellent disciplinarian
gentle in her manner toward her child
rem, and not only strictly moral but
deeply religions in her teachings. This
could be noted in the children OF Para
disc Hall at an early age. They were
refined, amiable and courteous; but IL
was instilled into them early in life that
they We're far above the commohaltE,
that they came of a superior stock, ana
they were frequently admonished that
association with those of inferior social
standing would not be tolerated. Such
were the conditions of caste in little
Gwalia fifty years ago.
ON the nOrtherly side of the macadam-
lied highway leading from Grongar
Hill to the beautiful town of Carmar-
then, and at the foot of the spacious
and well cultivated grounds of Paradise
Hall stood an old fashioned hosiery.
The sign that hung over the low narrow
door informed the traveller that its
name was the "Royal Prince" that its
proprietor was Jenkin Lloyd Thomas.
and that the law of the land licensed
him to sell malt and spirituous liquors.
There were no railroads winding their
course through the beautiful valley in
those days. and all the travelling was
Done eltneT Dy loot, So tHnl
the "ROyal Prince" sheltered many a
foot sore traveller, Notwithstanding the
fact that it contained only five rooms,
which, however. We're spacious. The
home brewed ale of the Royal Prince"
was known the country over for its de-
1icious and invigorating qualities. Earls
and Lords, judges and barristers, high
sheriffs and esquires. and bishops and
clergymen had frequently partaken of
Il racl,iA RI
bread and cheese, and home brewed ale
of the Royal Prince" under the roof
of which excellent hostelry intoxica-
tion was unknown, and never in its his
tory had anybody indulged his appetite
to excess in this direction. Nor was
Jenkin Lloyd Thomas Il man who would
tolerate such u thing under the sacred
roof of the Royal Prince" He was
h typical Welshman of fifty years ago
magnificent specimen of rugged man
hood and hard common sense. lie was
honest simple in habits. stern in his
political beliefs. true to his friends, and
had an abiding faith in the gospel as cpl
tnmized Oh the Mount. All the books
ne ever read, and read them often
were the Great Book, Bunyans Pill
gi,im's Progress and the sweet hymns OF
Wales's great hymnologist. together
with the grand old fashioned poetry
Of the immortal Vicar Prichard-a
richer library of treasures than which
no divine Of modern times ever pos
-sessed.
No meals were ever eaten at the
;;'Royal Prince" but were preceded by a
fervent prayer.
However. Jenkin Lloyd Thomas spent
hut very little of his time at the Royal
Prince" He was Overseer of the farm
laborers at Paradise Hall. and was in
high favor both with Squire Jones and
his estimable wife. Consequently Mrs
Thomas had full charge of the business
of the hostelry.
Gwladys Thomas, the only child O
the proprietor of this roadside inn, was
now In her tenth year and was very
handsome and intelligent little girl
modest In manners and amiable in dis
position. She was always dressed very
neatly in material of better quality
than the children of the ordinary peo-
pie Of the district, and she was the Idol
of her parents. Being also the pride OF
the neighborhood, the doors of Para
disc Hall We're always open to pretty
Gwladys Of the Royal Prince" who
in after years, became known as
"Gwladys, the beautiful Maid Of Gron-