Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-10
WELSH ARCHDRUID
VISITS BRITTANY
Picturesque Scenes in Old World
Town, Where prulds and
Bards Met
From the London Express.

ST. BRIEUC, Sunday, July 22.-"Let
me introduce you to the archdruid."
The speaker was a prosperous Cardiff
man and the scene was the deck Of the
London and Southwestern railways
latest and most modern steamer. The
suggestion seemed to take one back to
the days when mistletoe was wor-
shipped in England and clothing was
limited If picturesque.
The archdruid was Owed who in
private life is the Rev. Evan Rees.
When was presented he was smok
ing a pipe in comfortably undruidical
manner.
Owed attended by thirty Celtic not
ables of Wales, with Alderman Thomas
of Cardiff as master Of ceremonies,
crossed to Brittany yesterday to attend
the Celtic fetes arranged to take place
in the little town of St. Brieuc, some
little distance west of st. Malo.
The Breton Bardic Gorsell Is an Off
shoot Of the Bardlc Gorsedd of the
island of Britain. Owed has come to
receive the homage of his Breton sub
jects.
Here on a dolmen which ates back
to forgotten centuries and which is SUR
rounded by twelve ancient menhirs or
pillars the druids and bards will stand
lOllllllB a Budiu lHt
of both branches of the Celtic race.
Gorgeous Robes
The druids will be clad in their robes
of snowy white; the bards will wear
garments of brilliant blue. The arch
druids will be crowned with a diadem
of oak leaves, and will each wear
breastplate of pure gold.
Around them will rise Celtic banners
the heraldic dragon of Wales and the
ermne of Brittany. The Celtic treasures
will be brought forth-the horn of
plenty, the sacred mistletoe, the mystic
sword and other features necessary for
the due Observance of ancient customs
and rites
The ceremonies began yesterday aft
ernoon with the reception of the tired
Weshmen at the railway station. On
the platform was a group of Bretons
in old-time costumes, including the
Breton archdruid, who speaks admir-
able English and who is editor of
local newspaper.
The band of the Seventy-first regi-
ment played Land of My Fathers and
the "Marseillaise," and pretty little
girl in Breton dress presented Owed
with beautiful bouquet Then, in the
station buffet, the Welsh bravely drank
weak tea, and the French still more
bravey pledged them in sweet cham
pagne.
Canon Edwards spoke in Welsh, and
an old Breton peasant woman who was
present assured me that she understood
every word. so similar are the two
tongues.
In the evening a Breton concert was
given in the public park, at which two
very excellent Welsh singers David
Michael and Miss Maud Parsons, cre-
ated wild enthusiasm by first singing
Welsh songs and then the "Marseil- |
laise." The immense audience cheered
and cheered again, and many flowers
were thrown on the platform.
Celtic Service
The strong religious views of the
Welsh prevented their taking active
part in today's fete, their ceremonies
being reserved for tomorrow. Early this
morning they held Celtic service in
the hotel, at which several prominent
Bretons were present.
1t was a pretty compliment, and was
explained to me by one of the Bretons
present in this way: Naturally, 1 am
Catholic, but today am Celt, and
1 am Liberal always!"
st. Brieuc was crowded today with
excursionists from neighboring towns,
as well as from Paris and the Channel
Islands. The scene in the street is
curious. Women in the white caps and
green shawls of Brittany jostle other
women in modern dresses made accord
ing to last years Paris fashions. Black
coated priests and red-trousered SOL
diers are there in dozens
A wedding procession passes, headed
by the bridegroom playing a concer-
tina. Ancient country carts follow mo-
tor cars filled with extravagantly be-
goggled occupants.
A triumphial arch at one end of the
town bears the word welcome" and
tricolours and Union Jacks are flying
from every window and are festooned