The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-22
(4rnric literature

Welsh writer's are often Justly criti-
cised by the English and American
press for their extravagant manipula-
tion of the pen of praise. Writers in
daily newspapers can be easily ex-
cused for their unbridled exaggera-
tions, but the monthly magazine, where
ample time Is given the writer to de-
liver his utterances with discrimina-
tion, discretion and good Judgment,
should be above such silly practices,
but they indulge in such practice to
greater extent, nevertheless, than do
the daily papers, especially in cases
where wealth and influence play
part, and particularly in cases where
the "wearer of the broadcloth" Is con-
cerned. Such extravangance, in unlim-
tied fulness, appeared in a recent num-
Der of q monthly, whose editor we
know is Numerically opposed to such
barrenness, but in the case under dis
cussion, his kind-heartedness went be-
yond his better judgment, hence the
appearance of the mess of surfeit" in
the last issue of the monthly he edits
80 acceptably. 1t was a biographical
sketch of gentleman whose accom-
plishments are many and very accept
able to his people in this country. Here
the biographer should have rested We
knew this clergyman In Wales in his
boyhood days. We knew him when he
first came to this country. No man
living can raise a finger against his
character. 1t is spotless. He has been
a hard student throughout life, the re-
suit of which is that he now finds
himself occupying a prominent place
among the brethren of the Welsh pulpit
in America. He is a gentleman OF fair
education, and fair talents. To go be-
yond this would be exaggeration. He
is not a great man by any means. He
is neither a great scholar, nor great
divine, and Is only a bard of medi-
ocre ability AS an eisteddfod conduc-
tor he is hardly the ideal an audience
of culture would select. We never
knew him to be successful in saying
those pretty things which usually fas-
climate and make merry large audi
ences. The gentleman is all right, and
he cannot be blamed for the extrava-
giant eulcgy that appeared in the
Cambrian. AS a scholar, divine and
poet he is far down the line with the
mighty men of Wales.
THE ROBERT MORRIS POEM.
Were it only this poem the recent els
teddfod had produced, it more than
filled it's mission in the field Of litera-
ture; it was more than faithful to the
traditional truths of the eisteddfod in
better days. A fertile and well disci-
plined mind was discovered, and q
charming little poem worthy of the
lambent deeds of worthy ancestor
has been produced. The poem COM
bines fascinating thoughts wrought in
graceful diction, sparkling metaphors
and graphic delineations of loyal and
heroic deeds in phrases of poetical
charm. 1t abounds in alluring senti-
ments and the oftener you read it, the
stronger becomes its enchanting influ-
ences. IT is sweet in simplicity and as
refreshing as the bubbling waters of
the mountain spring. No wonder Mr.
Osborne was so felicitous in his re-
marks. 1t was nectar for the soul
THE TREFORRIS EISTEDDFOD OF
1854.
The ewly-appointed Dean of st.
David's took three prizes at the above
eisteddfod. Excepting Llawdden, Llew
Ilwyfo is the only one living who
which was held forty-three years ago
next September. The late Devil Wyn o
Essyllt took the prize of twelve guineas
for the poem on "Buddugollaeth y
Meddwl Dynol ar Natur Allanol''
(The Triumph of the Human Mind over
External Nature). Devil always deem
ed this his chief work. Mr.. ]. S. Wal
ters, of Swansea, was also success
III, F,,, III
tory of Llangyvelach, giving the rea-
son why the church and the steeple
were built at a distance from each
other. Perhaps the best description
ever given of Flair Llangyfelach, ,"
held on March l, and known as "Ffair
Fhgys," is a comic song by Will
Aberddawen, which gained a prize at
this eisteddfod. After describing what
he had seen, and how he and his wife
had spent the day, the bard finds him
self towards evening without money,
having lost sight of "Betsan" (his
wife), who had ran away from him
taking the purse with her, and in a
state of frenzy he tells us:
Gan dynu 'ngwallt a chicio'm het
y daethum at clochdy;
'Roedd hwnw wedi collri lais,
MI lWyr ddeallalS nylys
Gofynais lido yn man,
Beth ddaeth / ran dy wedgan?'
'Madawodd hon a fi'n He'd swrth,
Mae occo with eli human;
Gel wePd dychwelar ddwy ddiras
Pan b'ont mas o arlan.
OLD WELSH PARISH CLERKS.
The sitaution of the parish clerk OF
Llangyvelach used to be worth from
$40 to91OO a year arising chiefly from
a charge of two shillings and siXpencC
upon each plough used upon every
farm in the parish. The appointment
was in the gift of the bishop of st
David's. In Llangynwyd the clerks
fee was twopence per hearth. The las
TO collect these fees was Thomas viii
liams (Thomas y Clerk, Brynfro), th'
old poet, whose duty on one occasion
1t was to go to Margam in search o.
his vicar, the genial Mr.. Parry, whos'
services were required at a funeral
The clerks search for the reverend
gentlemen proving unsuccessful result
ed in the following "triban:"
Wyf heno yn amddifad,
Annghynes WV fly nghaniad;
Mi go!lais bob nefolaidd wawl.
Fe aeth y Diawl ar Ffeirad.
CURIOUS WELSH TRADITIONAL
ITEMS.
Ilanmaes parish, in the Hundred o
p Cowbridge, is the most fertile and sal
ubrious in the Vale of Glamorgan. Th
parish register records the burial o
inhabitants whose lives had been ex
tended to an almost incredibly pro
tracted period Most remarkable ar