The Washington herald., 1913-11-16

"Gwent," said Mr.. George Frederick
Davies, the leader Of the Gwent Welsh
Male Singers, who are to sing In the
Belasco this afternoon and tonight, Is the
Welsh spelling of our country, Mon
mouthshire." You have buried In this
country-In wilkesbarre. believes
composer by the name of Gwent. William
Gwent. who took his name from that Of
the country. He was a composer OF glees
the kind our boys sing all the time In
the mines. It seems that these particu-
lar boys" whom Mr.. Davies brought
over with him this time are the soloists
of the county Each one of them has
won his own spurs in the shape OF a med
al or two-none Of them has won less
than three. and the tenor Of the party
who will sing a solo-has no less than six
Of these gold champion prizes and twelve
first prizes that were obtained at the
best competitions in the old country.
The great disaster that thrilled all
America less than a month ago-where
OYER 100 men were killed by an explo-
sion in a colliery in South Wales-hap-
pened not ten miles from the town Of
Newport, where the majority OF the
boys live. All Of them work In mines
similar to that in which the accident oc-
curred-the Senghenydd-which Is 5000
feet deep. The average depth Of the
mines is 1,So0 feet. There is a strange
superstition among the miners that they
have better voices on account of their
underground occupationG they arc con-
tinuaIly singing while at work-ln fact,
they would have little other time for
practice, working as they do. at nine
hour shifts-and. often, as was the case
with Morgan Kingston, giving up eight
cen hours out OF the twenty-four to their
trade.
The BOYS are all total abstainers and
wouldn't know what to do with q
glass of liquor II they had IT," as Mr..
Davies expresses It, They have sung be-
fore King George, and his father, King
Edward. and as members OF their larger
Rhymnay Gwent Choir, have appeared
before the Kaiser and the King OF Bull
garia at the Exposition Of Gwent, two
years ago.
The program to be given this afternoon
at o'clock. by the Welsh singers. is as
follows: Part /. Chorus. The Soldiers
Chorus" from Faust" (Gouno0, Gwent
Welsh Male Singers; solo, The Sargent
of the Line" Mr.. Ike Jones: duet. The
Martial Spirit Parry, Messrs. ]. L.
Bebb and Saranlias Hopkins; negro mel
ody, "Old Black joe (Sutton), Gwent
Welsh Male Singers: solo. 'I Hear You
Calling Me- CMarshaID, Mr.. L. J. Evans:
quartet, "Pussy's in the Well' HerberO,
Messrs. II. EdWards, W. L. Jones, Risca
Williams, Saranllas Hopkins; chorus,
"Cydgan-y- Morwyr" Parry, Gwent
Welsh Male Singers. Part II. Piano
forte recital, Witches Dance" CPaga-
mind. Mr.. Arthur A. Smith: chorus, The
Destruction OF GAIA" Ode Rille), Gwent
Welsh Male Singers: solo. sleep On"
CAdams). Mr.. Ben Davies: duet, tenor
and barytone Uane Wilson,. Messrs. J.
L. Evans and Risca Williams: Welsh
air, ''Y Delyn Aur' (Pugh Evans). Gwent
Welsh Male Singers; solo, "The Storm
fiend' CKing). Mr.. d. Saranlias Hopkins:
quartet. Drink to Me Only q. S. c..
Messrs. Ben Davies, Medwyn Williams.
George Price. Ike Jones: chorus, Halle
lujah'' HandeD, Gwent Welsh Male Sing
ers: Welsh national anthem. Hen wIad
Fly Nhadau."
The following program will be rendered
tonight: Part J. Chorus. THE March
OF the Men Of Harlech" CRichards).
Gwent Welsh Male Singers; solo, (a) "A
Farewell" Giddle), Cb) Rolling Down
to Rio" Mr.. Medwyn Williams; duet.
''watchman, What OF the Night" (ser-
genO, Messrs. Ben Davies and Ike
Jones; part songs, Ca) "In Absence"
Dudley Buci), Cb) "Oh, Peaceful Night
(E- German; solo. Lend Me Your Aid"
tie Tommy CMacey), Messrs. II. Ed
wards. w. ]. Jones. Risca Williams.
Saranlias Hopkins; vocal waltz, Blue
Danube (Strauss). Gwent Welsh Male
Singers. Part II. Pianoforte recital.
Niagara CWollenhaupO. Mr.. Arthur A.
Smith; part songs, (a) Killarney GAIT.
by F1etcher). Cb) Annie Laurie" Gwent
Welsh Male Singers; solo, The Wreck of
the Hesperus' CHatton). Risca Williams:
duet The Martial Spirit Parry,
Messrs. ]. L. Bebb and Saranlias Hop
kins; Welsh air. ''Y Delyn Aur'' (Pugh
Evans), Gwent Welsh Male Singers; solo,
Neptune (Pietre), Mr.. George Lane: