The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-09-11
lac STORY Of Wales
aud Its People
[John Jones, from wales].

I-
go 1883
Having spoken of the muscular struct-
ure of Wales, it is is but natural to ex-
pect that it is a country of many rivers.
Yes, its streams are numerous and
.limpid, gushing forth impetuously at
first, as mountain rills aud torrents,
then widening and;stretching their de-
marcation through fertile meads and
sylvan glens. where craft aud mechan-
Ism have established upon their banks
fiourishing towns and villages. Socia-
biltty isa marked feature Of this ma
tlon, and Wales has ever been known
as the lss'd OF song. The esensitiveness
OF the Welsh ear, and the higher
level OF musical taste sbring this ma
tion In close affinity to the Germans.
The harp is the national instrument,
and it used to be played SO generally
Ia the eight century, that it was the
custom to hand it from one to another
at feasts and 1t was considered dis
grace not to beable to playit. There
is = story told Of one who, ashamed
that he could not play, skunk away
from the feast lest he should show
his ignorance.
When England and Scotland were
revelling in the introduction of the
''bagpipe" from Ireland, the We'll sh
hards were frantic, and were not spar
lug in their language against its
harsh tones. Que OF them, Lewis
Glyn Cothi, was severe enough on the
subject when the Saxons were playing
the bagpipes for the first time in
Flint, to say that ''the sound was like
a goose crying from nightmare, or
dog crushed by chest when d ying: it
was like the last groan of a gosling, or
just such noise as wound ed goat
sends from her hoarse and gurgling
throat. y The Kymru would have the
harp and no other instrument, no
bagpipes and harsh noises for them.
's'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, nature to him no love has
given" In such honor was it held,
this singing on the harp" as they
called it, that slave might not prac-
tise upon it, while to play it 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, aud the Harp Of the Pencerdd
or Master Of Music. The professor
OF music enjoyed many privileges.
His lands we're free. His person sac
red. His death was valued at one
hundred aud twenty-six cows, any in
jury done at six COWS and one hundred d
and twenty pence. His harp was
valued with the princes, exactly double
the value of q gentleman s instrument
His character had to be above suspic
ion. He 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 harp with that
string.
Brinley Richards made an appeal to
his countrymen some years ago to
take up the harp again: ut has led
you to victories in your battles 70
freedom,'' he said. rejoice that m.
country men in the land Of II Al
CARE" have not forgotten the harl
and the soul.stirring melodies of
Wales. Il,
"Ha'p of the mountain-land, strike forth
(again
And warriors hearts beat proudly to the
[strain
Strike with the spirit and the power OF yore
Harp ef the ancient hills, be heard once :,
more!
"When 1 forget thee Kymru, ma,
my right hand forget its cunning. ."
ITO be continued.l