New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-09-03
WELSH HUM0RS
Ic-ies on 7'owiSts-Snoacdon I'll
Iages-.1 Holiday Notebook.

,bsr, when Mr.. Lloyd-GeorLe is Chancellor OF
cine Exchequer and is displaying ingenuity in
financing social reforms; and evidence is not
lacl,ing that he is making use of a racial talent
so- turning a penny ceyerly. The traveller ar
-,ving at this charming village after long drive
,,on Beddgelert is content with planning leis-
,rolv afternoon stroll OF a few miles among the
lions and bridges: and Immediately he finds a
,oll gatherer at every turn OF the road. Before
entering the romantic little dell known as the
,ssirv Glen he pays twopence at the wicket and
-,bsn he has followed a green lane along the
convey he is forced TO drop two coppers into
another till before descending the bank 60 see a
waterfall Following the Penmachna road to the
entrance TO another lane. he is required TO hand
over snother fee W twopence FOR inspecting the
Roman Bridge. which is plainly visible from the
PANT Bridge and only few yards from IL: and
me pretty little girl in pink gown who has
ocsned gate for him demurely takes twopence
Cor her services and tries TO make him believe
.ssf the ripple above the bridge ); the Machine
,,.sract The real waterfall by fhe side OF an
id mill calls for another tNopen-e, and similar
,ol Is paid before the Jubilee 81 lse can be seen
near the Fairy Glen. Every increment OF pleas
IRE in this delightful circuit Of a few miles IS
earned by q direct tax OF twopence imposed With
sn,iable good nature for the common good.
At FSeddgelert there was the village common
with a tree and some rough stones to mark the
grave Of Llewellyns hound. There was no ton
gate at the entrance TO the field. nor 10 The pretty
copse leading 20 il; but there was a group OF
children living in wait for the stranger and clam
orine for pennies in barter for shining stones IN
their hands When refusal was received they
Joined hands and. dancing around the grave and
the tree sang = song about the touching legend
Of the place They were confident Of carry
ing of their pennies by their guileless innocence
as the Chancellor Of the Fxcheuuer IS Of forcing
his budget through Parliament by hook or ny
crook with the adventitious aid OF liberal organ
izstion and oratory II the children had thelF
own devices FOR despoiling the foreigner. 30 had
their elders WAYS and means Of making him pay
. surtax for his holiday pleasure. When We
hicle was hired for the drive 20 Capal Curig ana
r7ett,ys-v-Coed sixpence was added 20 the or
sins--v charge q mile and the distance consider
sb,v exaggerated The welshman has his fixed
habit OF picking UP the pennies and the SIX
renres as he goes along, and so ingenious IS ms
manner and so radiant HIS smile that his victim
instead Of resenting imposition. aoulirss nls oeN
teritv Having said much about roadsioe
.brift ought TO add that no toll is PAID Tor see
ing either the romantic pass OF Abcrglaslyn' WIN
i,s ivy nantled bridge over sparkling orooN'
she IJanberis Pass with It's highly Impressive
II. ..a,e,,.. ,,a Swallow Falls. with successive
erh+s ~ tird-lil1e rapids and other Characters
So features of the Snowdon mountain ROADS.
welsh versatility is shown in the neAlbihlE
with which the claims Of rival mountain resorts
.rc messed Bcttws-y-Coed is favored because
n &c shut out from the mountains ana SUI
rounded by an amphitheatre OF heavily "ooo"d
hills among which shimmcring streams ma
their vav through picturesque glens X 10 COM
nsrpd with Chamounix. although not a noun
ts,p can be seen from Il without a long walk.
ei-be- 70 Camel Curig or 20 Capel German; OF it
a. called another Iucerne or Interlaken when
ono hos 20 20 far afeld to find a lonely, inslg-
nhcsrt little tarn like Llyn Elsi II does no1 re-
seuble the famous resorts OF switzerland yer IL
has an individuality and charm OF us own IT'S
a long rambling village, among luNuriant "oooS
and ,-erdant hillsides. where the Conway ana
the IIugwy meet and many fosming brooks are
singing in sylvan shade. There ere many
bridges one OF them possibly Roman arch and
srotler certainly fifteenth century span, ana
the rnoors are broken and Wild with Teroure a.
fresh ana varied can be found IN me KING
dom Artists have always loved THE beauului
valley David Cox painted sign Tor one "l Nls
inns. where II has been framed and hung In the
place az honor within the main hall safe IRON
exposure 70 rain and westherstain. II u
p'cture Of lordly oak in fun glory of gnaried
wood and sumptuous LEAKAGE. with sense ~
,ecrlrft,- retirement and peace under its pro-
tectins shield That artistic sign gives better
idea OF the seciusion and sylvan duietude OF thiA
restfu valley than il conveyed by vRgaries 81
Welsh humor or misleading comparisons Win
Swiss resorts.
II pe,tv-s-v-Coen. IS shut out from the high
mountains. Beddgelert il shut in among thon.
Aberglaslyn Pass with its lofty mountain sides
guards the entrance from the sea AT Port
Madoc: Cynicht the Welsh Natterhorn. wrcathed
with migts looks out the eastern HANK to"aro
Festiniog and watches the persistent efforts OF
quarr,Tnen to dishgure beautiful scenery anu
the rapid fight OF the toy railway carr ages
around sharp curves and spiral cuttings, ana ID
the west and north are great mountain masseA
through which three four trails iead 70 ths
central summit OF Snowdon. The point OF view
must be shifted 81 Beddgelert is to be conapareo
with the happy valley among the hills ana rlNu-
let's but that is not did1cult feat Of dialectlcs
when Welshman S. prepared 20 argue iha'
While IL Is an excellent thing 10 he OUTSIDE 'i'S
circuit OF great mountains. with their stern iur-
rowed faces thor precpitous head4ahos all"
shattered TANKS. and their awe-inspiriAg eNl-
denoe Of stupendous natural energy, "onsiruClNe
destructive, in vast. interminable geo"eio
sons Il is also reeseul 20 be sheltercd shues
among chem. where their protective power can
be felt and their message OF peace ana serenity
learned through close companionship. Lei tns
rusticg of the hinterlsnd say what they VIII IL
Is better 20 he encornpassed by mountains than
BY hills: and consequently Beddgelcrt IS 10 be
accounted the diamond among The 3e"eiiea
clgster OF snovvdon villages, with richly untfd
rock walls around 81, with chains OF blue lakes
and shirnmering rivers leading up 10 II on three
sides. and with plantations OF mrs ano ranges OF
dense fores, 10 match the austere dignity Of the
silent peaks.
fianberls remains 10 challenge comparison
with SIS snowdon rivals. and the hollo"ness OF
the weshman's special pleading is unconceaiea.
u lies betyeeo two beautiful lakes and Is at