The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-09-11
Es.e Story Of Wales
aud Its People
lJohn Jones, from Walesl.

vi lJohn Jones, from Wales M Z
- <:.s.sH ssEEzEG. =1E
Having spoken Of the muscular struct- {
ure OF Wales, it, is Is butnatural to .ex--,
pect that itisa country ofmany rivers.
Yes, lis streams are numerous and
l,mnid, gushing forth impetuously at.
llrst, as mountain rills aud torrents.
Then widening andistretching .heir de-
marcation through fertile meads and
sylvan glens, where craft and mechan-
ism have established upon their banks
fiourishing towns and villages. Socia-
biliry is marked feature Of this na-
tion, and Wales has ever been known
as the land otsong. The esensitiyeness.
OF the Welsh ear, and the higher
level OF musical taste bring this ma
tion In close affinity to the Germans.
The harp is the nationai instrument.
and 1t used to be played SO generally
IN the eight century, that it was the
custom to hand 1t from one to another
at feasts and 1t was considered a dis
grace not to beable to playit. There
Is story told OF one who, ashamed
that he could not play, slunk away
from the feast lest he should show
his ignorance.
When ENGLAND and Scotland, were
reyeiling in the introduction of the
"bagpipe" from Ireland, the Wei sh
bards we're frantic, and were net SPAR
lug In their language against it's
harsh tones. One or them, Lewis
Glyn Cothi, was severe enough on the
subject when the Saxons we're playing
the bagpipes for the first time id
Flint, to say that 1.-THE sound was like
d goose crying from nightmare, or
dog crushed by a chest when dying: il
was like the last groan of a gosling, or
just such noise as a wound ed goat
sends from her hoarSe and gurgling
throat" The Kymru would have the
harp and no other instrument, no
bagpipes and harsh noises for them
The man to whom the harp is
dear, who loves the sound Of song and
ode that was the man loved Of his
country, but he who loves not tune
or strain, natureto him no love. has
given. !" In such honor was 1t held,
this singing On. the harp as they
called it, that slave might not prac-
tise upon 1t, while to play 1t was the
necessary training of every gentleman
born. The ancient laws OF Wales re-
fer to three kinds of harps: the Harp
OF the Prince, the Harp of the noble
man, and the Harp Of the Pencerdd
or Master of Music. The professor
Of music enjoyed many privileges.
His lands were free. His person sac
red. His death was valued at one
hundred and twenty-six cows, any as,.-
jury done at six cows. and one hundse In
and twenty pence. His harp was
valued with the princes, exactly double
the value ofagentleman's instrument
His character had to be above suspic
ion. BE must never tell lie.
The old Welsh harp was strung WITH
horse hair, and by the laws Of the
Eisteddfod pupil spent three years
in the practice Of a harp with that
string.
Brinley Richards made an appeattun.
his countrymen some years ago To-.
take up the harp again: cit has led's
you to victories in your BATTLES for
freedom," he said. l Irejoice that my
country men in the land Of 81 AM
CARE have not forgotten the harp.
and the soul-stirring melodies Of
Wales.
"Hai p of the mountain-land, strike forth
tagain;l
And warriors hearts beat proudly to the
istriiin
Strike with the spirit and tho power OF yore,
Harp ef the ancient hills, be heard once
! Cmorei'
when I forgey thee Kymru, may
my Eight hand forget its cunning"
[To be continued.l
! aRn