The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-06-20
CHORAL SINGING
in GWALIA WEN
The Dowlais and Merthyr Choirs En-
gagged in q Majestic Contest.
DR.. RODGERS MAKES WRONG AWARD
Which Causes q Great CONSERVATION
and Almost a RiOt..The Police In.
terfere and Order Is RestOred..Dan
Davies Crowned the Choral King.


Porth, q small town in Glamorganshire.
Some of the finest choirs In South
Wales participated in the brilliant con-
tests. The two giant choirs or Mer-
thyr and Dowlais opposed each other
and mistake in the announcement ci
the award almost precipitated riot.
which, undoubtedly, would have taken
place had 1t not been for the timely In
reference of the police. The following
report of the contest will be read with
interest: With commendable promp-
titude Mr.. William T. Samuel rose TO
give the adjudication. Speaking in
Welsh, he said that the competition lay
between two choirs-the two that were,
they were pleased to say, going to the
national eisteddfod. He had heard
both choirs before. but both had risen
fifty per cent. In his estimation b. that
days showing. One of the choirs had
possessed the finest tenors he had ever
heard in any choir. and had it not been
for a fault in the intonation one OF the
choirs could have won easily. Dr. Rog-
ers said he must congratulate the choirs
on the great pleasure they had given
him that afternoon. He would take the
opportunity of once more condemninS
the constant selection Of the same
choruses at the eisteddfodau. The
chOruses selected were no doubt cry
fine, but nothing was to be gained by
repeating them constantly. As to the
competition to which they had just lis
tened he said the first choir ,MaesteE)
possessed a very good body of voices, the
tenors and sopranos being especially
good The pronunciation, however, was
not so good as might have been en-
pected, and the word roar" was an
exaggeration. The runs in the flgIe
were not clearly done, and the last en-
try of the bass was lacking in power
throughout, in fact, the bass was weak.
The second choir (Dowlais) had a mag
niiicent body of voices, well trained,
we'll conducted. and beautifully bal
anced. They were accented in time
and notes, but twice the pitch was
slightly at fault. With this exception
the rendition was q magnificent one.
The third choir (Merthyr possessed all
the good points Of the second one, and
the intonation. although not absolutely
perfect, was better than that of the
second. The coloring was not over
done. The fourth choir (Aberdare) was
dismissed with few words. Conclud-
ing the doctor said he was sorry he
could not divide the prize in the propor-
tion of, say, EGO to one and GAO to the
other, although even that would show a
greater difference than really existed
between them. AS. however, q distinc-
tion must be made the prize must go to
the second choir.
Upon this there was a tremendous
outburst Of applause from all parts Of
the marquee. However, 1t could be
seen that DR.. Rogers and the eisteddfod
officials were frantically appealing for
order, and In few minutes 1t became
known that DR.. Rogers had made a
mistake. and that he really meant to
give the prize to the third choir Rep
resentatives Of both the Dowlais and
Merthyr choirs ascended the platform,
and for time the most violent alterca-
ton took place. When the audience
learned what had been done. the friends
Of Merthyr cheered, while the support
ers of Dowlais hooted most vigorously
and shouted Shame" For several
minutes the widest confusion prevailed
and 1t could be seen that Dr. Rogers
was having warm quarter of an hour
with the numerous friends of Mr.. Harry
Evans, who were pardonably incensed
at the mistake Of which he had been
made the victim. for when the award
was first declared MI. Evans had ascend
ed the platform to receive the laurels
he had won. Every moment the scene
got more exciting. and it appeared as II
a riot would ensue. Finally, however,
the police ascended the platform and
removed the disputants amid a perfect
Babel Of discordant cries. When Mr..
Dan Davies left the platform he was
cheered by his supporters and hooted
by the champions of Dowlais. The vio-
lent scene, which had lasted for long
time, then terminated.
While being carried through the
streets Of Merthyr Mr. Dan Davies, the
victorious leader, was brutally assault
ed by being hit on the head by a large
stone, and had 1t not been for the hard
derby hat he wore on the occasion the
result would have been a very serious
one. The perpetrator of the dastardly
crime should be severely punished. 1t
is to be hoped that he will be captured.
ADDRESSES IN WELSH.
A correspondent in the South Wales
Daily News recently wished to be in
| formed as to the exact date on which
Welsh addresses were presented by the
late Mr.. L. w. Dillwyn. F. r. s., of
Swansea, and printed in the London
Gazette. We can do no better In reply
than to give an extract Of this incident
| as recorded by the presenter himself in