The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-04


the Hearts of New EndeavOrers."
Proprietor of the Largest Daily
in Wales.
The life story of Daniel owen. Of Ash
Hall, is one of deep interest. and should
serve as much as any romance that was
ever written ito fire the hearts of new
endeavorers" The proverbial SILVER
spoon was absent at Mr.. Owens ma
tivity, but it was more than replaced
by the sterling qualities. the grit. the
energy and the determination that
combined to raise Mr.. owen from the
lowest rung of the ladder to position
of affiuence and honor in the ranks OF
his countrymen. 1t is a thousand pities
Mr. Owens life has not been given in
extenso to the world. for many of its
earlier episodes read much more like
pages from a novel than the sober mar
ration of q matter of fact career.
Daniel owen was born at the farm or
Trenos-uchaf, Llanharran, Glamorgan-
shire on May 27, 1929, and the deceased
gentleman had thus entered upon his
sixty eighth year Little Daniel did not
remain long at Trenos-uchaf. but In
later life he still retained vivid recol-
lection Of the place. On the last day or
1885, when the lad was years old. his
parents removed to Merthyr. passing
on their way a huge monster, which
greatly disconnected Daniel, and proved
to be nothing else than Trevethick' 3
unwieldy steam engine, which, as ev-
eryone knows, was a pioneer amongst
locomotives. The Owens did not stay
long at Merthyr, but removed thence to
Pontypridd. where little Daniel became
the pupil of one Of those old soldier
OLD SOLDIER sCnOOLMAsTER.
schoolmasters so common in board
school days. OF Daniel MacFarlane all
his scholars stood in wholesome awe
When q lady transgressed. MacFar'ane
would remark: Come here. M'anwyi,
and would then produce for the urchin's
education a leather strap two inches
wide and with the end split up into five
or six thongs a foot or eighteen inches
long" 1t was by such means as this
that our forefathers grew IN to be
manlicr men than we are likely to see
in q more sentimental age.
Il can imagine" remarked Mr.. owen
my hand smarting even now from the
effects Of this terrible instrument Of
torture"
At nine years of age Daniel owen had
bid adieu to the primitive education of
the period, and commenced to earn his
own living. 1t was at Il woolen factory
which is still In working order at Ponty-
pridd and on Oct. 9. 1889. the self-same
day on which the first dock at Cardiff
was opened. Daniels first wage was
two pence per day, afterwards increased
to four pence; but what was lacking in
money was made up in hours-fourteen
Of them for every day, with three half
hours for meals. A year later Daniels
mother died, and the event made on the
boy q very painful impression. II took
my little sister in my arms to the room
where our mother lay. She was white
and weak, and there was a world of
grief and pain and overwhelming mis-
cry in her poor broken voice, as she
walled out of her heart: 20 fy mhlant
anwyl, beth ddaw O. honoch!" How I
sobbed. 1 was only IL years of age, but
the death of my mother made the world
grow dark, and my heart was racked
with our first trouble"
OFF TO THE ANTIPODES.
After some years apprenticeship at
Llanharran and Pontypridd, the out
break of the gold fever turned young
owens thoughts. like those of so many
other Of his fellows, to the Antipodes.
His health was far from good, and he
was advised to try his fortune in Aus
tralia. He determined to do so; but his
father opposed 1t with all his force. He
begged and implored, he brought his
son the savings of his life -f7O or $50
offering Daniel every penny II he would
only relinquish his intention. Little
did the heartbroken father imagine that
win wealth and honor, and by and by
return to him to be the pride and COM
fort Of his old age. Tears and entrea-
ties were unavailing. and at length
Daniel left for the sunny SOUTH" taking
boat from Cardiff to Bristol. and leav-
ing his sorrowing parent on the landing
stage in the sad assurance that he
would never see Daniel again in this
world. At Bristol the young emigrant
aad to wait a fortnight for his ship,
following the easy-going fashion of the
lines, and he left us vivid account of
Me outward voyage, which he made in
,ompany with a friend, one John
rhomas, of Llantwit- Major.
It may be noticed as a curious Incl
dent that on leaving Pontypridd with a
Jar Of butter, young Daniels remarked
TO him: "There, Mr.. Owen, be sure to
bring back the jar to Wales, filled with
gold" 1t was a dream then, remarked
the narrator. but in the course Of time
1t was realized, and later years I had
the felicity of having the congratula-
tions of my old landlady on having ac-
complished what seemd at one time
unattainable-the jar was filled to the
brim with gold. The outward passage
was slow and unpleasant, and 1t sufiices
to say that. at length, Daniel Owen and
his friend landed at Melbourn. the date
being January 90. 1858, the voyage
having been accomplished in 159 days.
(Mr. Owen. 1t may be remembered,
seemed incapable of forgetting a date. }
The youths lost no time in seeking en-
-----------------------------