The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-08-01
CYMRAEG Y
CERRIG Caleb
" Universal Brotherhood the Chair
Subject In 1897.
THE NEWLY.PUBLIsHED PRIZE LIST

THE NEWLY.PUBLlSHED PRIZE LIST
The Programme is the Best, the Most
Interes ing and Most COmprehcn.
sive that Has Ever Been Published
Under the Aegis of the National
Eisteddfod.
For the first time in its history New
port next pear will be the locale Of
the National Eisteddfod, and there is
| every reason to believe that the local
committee and the town will rise equal
to the occasion. The committee has
already shown a large amount of pub
lie spirit in connection with the under
taking, in proof Of which we may refer
| to the handsome amount which they
have guaranteed. This has reached a
| figure considerably above three thou
sand pounds. But it is not only in re-
gard to the financial aspect Of the af-
/ fair that the committee has shown
produced an excellent programme,
more varied and comprehensive, prob
ably, than any which has ever borne
the imprimatur of the National Els
teddfod. In saying this, however, 1t
must not be understood that one ap-
| proves Of each subject and regulation
introduced in the programme. The
| subject for the chair ode is "Universal
Brotherhood" for which prize of f25,
with a chair Of the further value of els
| is offered. The theme is capital one.
| and worthy of the best efforts of the
| Welsh muse, but there is nothing dis
tnctively Welsh about it. and it might
have been suggested by an eisteddfod
committee in Timbuctoo or Wilkes
Barre. This remark, however. is not
applicable to the subject of the heroic
poem. Here we have a thoroughly
Celtic subject, Arthur of the Round
Table"-around which the "awen" may
| turn anu turn ad infinitum.
The prize offered in this instance is
equal to that on the awdl, a crown of
! the value of els being offered instead
of the chair. The committee have not
consulted their better judgment in re-
gard to the adjudicators. Those ap-
pointed on the awdl are "Dafydd Nor
ganwg." "Tafolog." and "Pedrog."
"Dafydd Morganwg" knows everything
that is known about "cynghanedd" and
the Twenty-four Metres (though, by
the bye, Dafydd alb Ermwnd will not
be sworn by at Newport), but it would
be interesting to learn what may be
his other qualifications for the post
he has been requested to occupy at
Newport. His confreres are two Nom
conformists ("Dafydd" also Is of that
persuasion). and 1t SO happens that
they are of the same denomination.
This Is unfortunate, and will give oc-
casion to the enemy to blaspheme. On
the heroic poem we have as adjudica-
tors "Dyfed." "Ceulanydd," and Ell
fed," three excellent men, only, as q
matter of compliment, they might have
been invited to adjudicate on the awdl.
"Dwfed." in particular, has proved
himself an "awdlwr" par excellence,
and should be confined to his special
branch of Welsh poetry. much in the
same way as Cavalier Machain" was
in his day. Apparently. the Newport
committee are largely composed Of mcr-
|
with Welsh bards that the chair ode ,s
not to exceed 600 lines. and the heroic
poem must not exceed 1000. This stip-
ulation, we take 1t. is silent testi-
mony to the literary value Of "cyng-
hanedd." Other subjects in the depart
ment of poetry are a libretto on the
Court of IvOr Hael-a well-deserved
compliment to Lord Tredegar the big
gest guarantor on the list a "cywydd''
on ELECTRICITY" and a catena of stan
zas which is to reach From Holyhead
to Monmouthshire" There are also a
series of verses on THE Banks Of the
Usk'. and a drama on the Massacre
of Abergavenny." BY the bye, the
committee should proffer some explain
alton, for it is not perfectly clear
| whether this massacre" refers to some
eisteddfodic disaster. There are the
usual minor competitions, such as a
"hir thoddaid." an elegy Ito the late
| Lord Aberdare), a "tuchangerdd," or q
satirical poem on Football Worship u
and the regulation "englyn." on which
vast subject "Dafydd Morganwg.'
"Tafolog," and "Pedrog" have been re-
quested to adjudicate.
One of the most useful competitions
under the general heading Of Poetry
is a collection Of the Poems Of Tudui
Aled, with Critical and Historca
Notes." for which the really handsome
prize Of ESQ is offered. In this case the
adjudicators are o. M. Edwards, Of Lin
coin college, and Dyfed.
In THE domain of translation there Il
nothing which calls for special prizes
there being only two paltry prizes Of {;
each offered for rendering Of "Yl
Enaid," by Islwyn, and Of "Hervt
Riel," by Browning.
In regard to prose, the committed
have shown themselves more enterpris
ing than any since the Cardiff eistedd
fod. 1888. and have offered a prize of f1O'
for an original unpublished work o.
permanent value to Welsh literature
either on any period of Welsh history
previous to the year 1900 having specia
reference to the social life and organi
cation of the people, and dealing with
Wales either as whole or any par
ticular province Of it. or on Welsf
poetry of the current century, or on the
Welsh people-past, present and fu