San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-09-03
WELSH EISTEDFODD.
GREAT FESTIVAL OF SONG IN
AUGURATED IN DENVER.
Is in the Nature of Great Fair as Well
Description of Oambrian Life In
Cluded-Large and Varied
Attendance Of Visitors.


define the word "eisteddfod" it would
be safe proposition to offer long odds
in a correct answer to either proposti-
ton. The word is like most of these
Cambrian jawtwisters that seem i'm
possible to reconcile with common
sense, but the fact is, like all other
Welsh combinations, it is as simple and
as palatable as a rarebit. The mean
ing is equivalent to a bumper of happy
recollections and a general good time,
for which there is no>word in the En-
glish language that is Sufficiently COM
prehensive to meet the requirements of
a literal translation.
For the past three months nothing
has been heard in educated and musi-
cal Welsh circles, from the Pacific to
the great lakes, but references to the
Western Eisteddfod, the sessions of
which are now being held here. While
known ostensibly as a musical festi-
val, there is scarcely a feature of do
nestle or industrial life that is not re-
presented somewhere in the exhibits.
There are prizes for everything from a
quilt to a composition for thirty har-
pists on that famed instrument of roy
atty, and to which the Welsh cling
with all the veneration they pay to
tradition concerning their language
and habits. Compositions in prose
and poetry come before board of ad-
Indicators selected from among the
leading Cambrians of the continent
and even Europe sends three of her
bards to pass judgment on the lyrics
of the rising generation that found
A. fYnt, hn
time honored hearth where the wor-
shippers of st. David are wont to con-
gregate. To the festival will come
choirs ranging from so to 300 voices,
excepting the monster chorus from
Salt Lake City, that with its 500 threats
blending in a melodious tribute to the
national masters can not find rival
to enable them to enter the COMPETE
| ton, for there is not another organiza-
| ton Of such magnitude anywhere else
on the globe. They come as a compli-
ment to the members, a majority of
whom are of Welsh extraction, and
whose musical education is the out
come of centuries of training, until 1t
seems as If all the sweet sounds of life
were concentrated in the voices Of this
gigantic choir from the Mormon Taber-
nacle. Chicago knows what it sounds
like to hear this aggregation, as the
same chorus participated in the choir
contests at the Worlds Fair.
To the everyday American the pro-
gramme seems a formidable document,
bristling as it does with a plentitude
of consonants and famine of vowels
that lend a distressing color to any
attempt to master the secret of the
Cymri, who, to appearances, have
striven to entomb their thoughts in de-
scription that cannot be penetrated by
| minds other than those trained to the
| art of clairvoyance. Take for in
stance the sentiment, Dan Nawdd
Duw al Dangnef''-under the protec-
| ton of God and his peace it is repel-
| liant for the initiated, but they are
| lofty thoughtful people, and are not so
nervously excitable as their North A
merican brethren. Following this
there are English recitations and COM
positions in Welsh and translations of
the American national hymn into En-
glish. In the arts and sciences there
are premiums for the best water colors,
china painting, crayons, architectural
designs, embroidery, needlework, col
work, crochet, sculpture, wood mold
ing, inventions, sloyd, repousse, house
hold inventions, while all kinds of agri-
cultural and horticultural products of
the members of the Eisteddfod will be
on exhibition. Such a ramifed assort-
ment of ideas show that the Cam
brians are not a race of a single idea,
while the diversified scope attests the
confidence of the promoters in their
countrymen. The conditions of the
contest prescribe that the entries shall
be made one week ahead of the open
ing performances, so that the judges or
adjudicators may be posted as to the
merits of the several individuals, and
not be embarrassed by a surfeit of
riches at the eleventh hour. In the
arts and music the successful compet-
itors have the privilege of presenting
their compositions to the public during
the progress of the Eisteddfod, and
those who write or prepare songs can
select their own accompanist to insure
the most perfect Interpretation of their
thoughts,
There is a ladies' board of managers
to look after the knitting, crocheting
and other branches Of domestic econo-
my, and there is a subdivision Of the
labor, so that none Of the supervising
committees will be hampered by the.
multiplicity of their duties. This ar
rangement secures the happiest work.
ing force, where there will be no petty
jealousies to detract from the merits
of the festival.
The promoters say that the attend
ance will be not less than 10000, drawn |
mainly from the country west Of st.