The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-18

The eisteddfod in the West Market
Street Welsh Baptist church yesterday
was very successful. In order that
justice might be done to the anair the
committee divided it into an afternoon
and evening session. The Welsh peo-
pie in general were present in large
numbers, and not a few of their neigh
borg of ether natlonalities were also
present. So large was the list OF conf
petitions for each prize that list of
ability had to he introduced. Until the
preliminary test had been passed the
ambitious ones were not allowed to
take part in the public competitions.
These trials were conducted in the
Welsh Congregational church directly
opposite.
The feature CT the eisteddfod was the
success of the choir from the Puritan
Congregational church. Their efforts
in each instance was crowned with sue
cess.
The afternoon session convened at
o'clock when the large auditorium of
the church was comfortably filed. In
| the absence Of Hon. w. J. Lewis, who
was previously designated to act as
| chairman, the Rev. J. i. Evans, pastor
| of the church, was chosen to preside.
| After q brief speech a call was made
for the bards present, and many re-
| sponded. Notable among them was
! Thomas Jehu, who has won an envi-
able position in bardic circles by his
lines. This was followed by the COM
petition on the solo Where is My
Wandering Boy Tonight" Eight chill
dren competed and after some delibera-
ton the prize was given to Miss Blod-
wen Thomas.
BEST LOVE LETTER.
The contestants for the prize for the
best love letter were many. 1t was
wor by Thomas ]. Shook. The bass
solo was awarded to Benjamin Isaac,
| The tide of attention, however, in this
| session was turned to the competition
for juvenile choirs. Two choirs COM
peted, the Puritan Congregational
choir under the leadership of Thomas
owens and the Welsh Baptist, with
David Davis as leader. The singing
of each choir was excellent. After
brief consideration in the matter the
adjudicator said the Puritan choir was
the winner.
The afternoons work was brought to
close by the audience singing the
Welsh national hymn, Hen Wlad fS
Nhadau.'
The evening session, which was by
far the most interesting of the two
commenced at o'clock with an audi
ence which taxed the capacity of the
church. Rev. ]. NJ. Lloyd, Of Taylor
presided over this session, and in open
ing it delivered a strong address. After
addresses by the bards, the competitors
for the tenor solo piece was announced
A large number responded. This com
petition was won by William Davis
The competition duet was awarded t.
Gwilym Edwards and William j
owens. Three five-minute addresses
on health were delivered, Joseph Nor
ris being the prize winner.
The trio competition was given t
! William Edwards and party. Miss Cori
! Griffin then delighted those presen
with an excellent recitation and wa
warmly applauded. The competition ol
Dora" for men over so years of age
was given to Evan Lewis. Mrs. Greg
ory Saunders won the prize for tn
handsomest prize bag.
PRINCIPAL COMPETITION.
: The principal event Of the evening
followed. 1t was the competition Of
May Day" for choirs. There wer
: three entries and they sang in the orde
named: The West Market Street Wells
Baptist church, under the leadershi
{ of David F. Davis; the Puritan Con
gregational church, with Prof. G. r
r Davies as conductor, and the Wells
, Congregational church, with Prof. Davi
!, Lewis welding the baton.
$ The beautiful glee was rendered |
I fine style and each choir was encore
uproarously. After considerable delhi
2 Grafton the adjudicator arrived at
r decision. and after a brief criticisr
awarded the prize to the Puritan choil
The officers OF the eisteddfod wer
as follows: Adjudicator of music, Levi
Anthony, of Edwardsdale; of recita
= tions, Rev. ]. NJ. Lloyd and DR.. d. "
t Jenkins; of love letter, Rev. ]. 4
Evans.