The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-05-31

TT is meet that Scranton should be
the scene of national esteddfod
/ There are more Welsh people in
Scranton than there are in Aberystwyth
where the national eisteddfod of Wales
is sometimes held. and in the Lacka-
wanna and Wyoming valleys there are
almost as many as in Bangor. Car
narvonshire, where the eisteddfOd is
to be held this year Then again
Scranton and her environs can appre-
ciate an eisteddfod. We are somewhat
literary. to say the least and it is not
saying more than the truth to assert
that no city in the country has great
~ proportion of her population trained
in music.
But if there ever was any doubt as
to its being meet that Scranton should
attempt a national eisteddfod. that
doubt was removed yesterday. The
Scranton national eisteddfod of 1902
was the greatest ever held in America
and will possibly never be surpassed
in this country until Scranton essays
to repeat it.
In every feature essential to the sue
cess of an eisteddfod it eXcelled any
previous event of it's kind and in many
features it also eXcslled the national
eisteddfodau of Wales.
1t had contestants from Great Brit
ain. and all parts of the United States
and Canada. its most extremely sep
arated competitors being 1000 miles
apart. The number of participants was
vast. There We're no less than $500
vocalists and 200 literary contestants.
At the concert and the three sessions of
the eisteddfod there was an aggregate
attendance of 10000. One session alone.
that OF last night had an audience of
nearly 5000. 1t was the biggest crowd
that ever assembled under one roof in
Scranton, and bigger than many that
the biggest cities can boast of ever
having recorded
In the prominence of it's officers ad-
Indicators. conductors and presidents it
was especially noteworthy. They were
Walter Damrosch and j. w. Parson
Price, two of the foremost musicians
of the metropolis: Jenkin Powell Jones,
leading musician of the middle west;
President Judge Fl. NJ. Edwards of
Scranton. the most scholarly and best
known Welshman in America: Prof
George Howell. of Scranton, a littera-
teur. teacher and lecturer, who is re-
garded as one of the braniest of Welsh
IAiIViIttiiS anu II. I1ullDnreN, or
Utica, N. Y. who besides being noted
linguist and litterateur, is a lawyer
standing in the front rank of his pro-
fessiOn in state where the most brill
liant OF Americas attorneys obtain
The weather was perfect and contri-
buted not a little to swelling the atten-
dance.
The best of order and good feeling
and the greatest enthusiasm prevailed
throughout the sessions.
An innovation was introduced bv
having competitions for German sing
ing societies and the presence OF the
celebrated Arions. of Brooklyn. as
guests of the eisteddfod
prominent Welshmen from all parts
OF the United States including not less
than a score of bards, were in atten-
dance. Excursions We're run from Utica,
Bangor, New York. and Wilkes Barre.
and large-siZed delegations came from
Ohio, Newcastle, Pittsburg and other
places, having large Welsh populations.
The choral singing was superb. 1t is
a regrettable fact, however, that in q
number of the solo and duet competi-
tions the number of entries worthy of
national eisteddfod was not large. |
The literary competitions We're unu-
sually numerous and for the most part /
excellent. Only two prizes We're with |
held because of unsatisfactory composi- |
tions. The winners of the 1000 prizes
We're:
Mixed Chorus.
First prize, $l,oOO-Phiharmonic Choral
society, of Utica, n. " loerwerth u.
Daniels, leader.
Second prize, s25O-The Wilkes Barre
Choral society, of Wilkes Barre: John
Lloyd Evans leader.
Male Chorus.
First prize, $Soo-Dr. Mason Glee club, of
Wilkes Barre; John Lloyd Evans. leader.
Second prize, $lW-'rhc Arions. of lrtico
N y; lorwerth n. Daniels, leader.
German Male Chorus.
Glass c-Trophy valued at $spO--Scrnnton
Eaengerrunde
Class B-rrophy valued at s5oO-Scran-
ton Lederkranz.
Ladies' Chorus.
First prize. $500 - Scranton Ladies'
Choral society; Mrs, u, H. Thomas,
leader.
Second prize slo0-Ceciians, of Vticu:
lorwerth H. Daniels, leader.
Mixed Quartette.
First prize, s2o-The Watkins family