Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-11-26
Iowa Association Holding An
inual Festival in Town
of Abba
SINGERS PRESENT FROM AFFAIR
No Longer Limited to
Welsh Pcople-Bcst Program in His
tory of Iowa Association Arranged
Object and Work of the Singing Or
ganization.
Special to Times-Republlcan.


Abba, Nov 26-Today the Iowa
Eisteddfod association is holding its
meeting in Abba and all the Of
ficers have made preparations for one
of the best meetings of the association.
There are singers present from all over
the country and some of the best talent
OF the Welsh people VIII be here for
the delight and edification of the large
crowd which always attends the meet
ing. The president of the association
is John r. Price of this city. He is
a Welshman by birth and has followed
all the movement of his native people
very closely Other Welshmen who hold
office in the association are w. ]. Ev-
ans and j. w. Lewis, both of Hiteman
The former is secretary and the latter
treasurer and upon them much of the
work of making a successful meeting
falls They have willingly given their
time and talent and now they expect
good results.
The Eisteddfod is a native of Wales
and was originated by the Welshmen
Of Wales in about the fourth century,
so that it will readily be seen that it
is the Oldest literary and educational
society in existence, and it's existence
has been continuous from the date Of
its organization The Eisteddfod is
not limited to singing only but has in
it's object oratory and public speaking
and other kindred arts. From the Fist
eddfod for centuries have come the
greatest Welsh preachers. statesmen
and public benefactors. many of whom
have migrated to foreign countries and
become worthy and prominent citizens
in their adopted lands.
English Now Used.
Originally the Eisteddfod was linn
tied to Welsh people and everything
was conducted in the Welsh tongue,
but after time the Eisteddfod> ex-
tended its field of usefulness and now
most of the program is in the English
language and each year the choirs Of
and Scotland and sometimes
France compete with those Of the
Welsh in the International Eistoddfod.
The Welshman is so devoted to his
that after he has taken up
his home in a foreign country he be-
gins to look around him to see If he
cannot get enough Welshmen together
to hold an Eistoddfod, nearly always
inviting everybody to take part to
make it success. Enough OF the
Welsh is retained. however, to give it
a distinct national characteristic-in-
PRODUCING into it's contests the customs
and habits of the Welsh people in var
ious periods of their national existence,
thus requiring the contestants to make
considerable historical research to
gain a correct understanding Of what
those distinctive characteristics are. 1t
is a strange fact, but true that the
Welsh language has undergone less
change than any other language in use
tody, and this largely because of the
national eisteddfod.
National Eistoddfod
Organization is Growing.
The interest In retaining the native
tongue has extended to keeping up the
Eisteddfod associations, and it is a
truth that wherever a sufficient num-
Der Of Welshmen are congregated
there is sure to be found an Eisteddfod
association. Iowa has for more than
twenty-five years enjoyed perennially
for one day the Eisteddfod, tho on
a much smaller scale than in Wales.
The people Of Iowa, regardless Of ma
tionality are beginning to take hold
of the .Eistoddfod and are making it a
very promising institution that will
be Of untold benefit to the people Of
the state. 1t is, of course, supported
mainly by the Welsh people, and there
are great many more Welsh people
in Iowa than one would imagine be-
fore giving the matter consideration.
There are large Welsh settlements at
Red Oak, Lost Creek, Williamson