The Coolidge examiner., 1935-10-11

PREPARED b. Ss,isnal osesrsphle society.
Washlnston. u. C.-W$U Service.
TOWN after town. each with
an interesting history, Is
Il threaded along the Severn
river. which disputes with the
Thames the title OF England's long
est stream.
The first town on the infant river
Is Llanidloes, and here one sees the
first and one OF the qualntest Of the
old market halls which win be en-
countere1 In a pilgrimage along the
Severn. and one. moreover. which
stlll treasures It's curfew bell
Although the market hall Is sadly
In the way Of modern traffic. max.
Ing the approach from the upper
Severn bridge to the main street
narrow and dangerous. the adjacent
streets are Of ample width and
pleasant avenues OF trees. on mar
ket days. no doubt. the traffic is
congested enough. for Llanldloes
cattle and sheep markets are still
important local events.
Farther down the valley. on the
outskirts OF Newtown. large wood
en- ball by the roadside attracts at.
teu,ion. Il Is too large for the needs
OF a town Of some 5000 inhabitants
and too far from the center OF the
town FOR everyday use. There ls
only one notice board TO be seen.
and that says. "Cholrs only this
way" Obviously. for choral fes-
tlyals.
Even a small town Ike this can
hope FOR the honor OF staging the
national festival. the Elsteddfod.
Sometimes. ms In this instance, Il
means providing a hall capable OF
accommodating an audience larger
than the entire population Of the
town which built a.: but II is
done. The ceremony of the crown
Ing OF the bard takes place on an
open hillside, for no building could
accommodate the immense con-
course OF patriots who gather for
that event
Robert Owen Was Born In Ne~town.
The most famous son OF Newtown
was Robert owen. pioneer Of coop
erative stores. Born In I1Ti, he was
also pioneer. from the masters
side. Of more humane factory legls-
laiion. at time when the indus.
trial revolution was at It's most
ruthless stage. He spent some time
In the United States and worked
10 promote Anglo-Amerlcan friend
ship. His birthplace has been pulled
down. but the bank which now oc-
cupIes the site. provided compensa-
ton by forming a memorial mu-
scum and library. including a repro
duction OF the room In which Owen
was born.
Montgomery. the capital OF the
county Of the same name. through
which the Severn flows In Wales,
lies n short distance away from the
river. almost forgotten by the rush
OF modern life, dreaming peace
fully OF its troubled history. It's
nelghbor. welshpool. takes the busy
current OF the present-day traffic.
Where Old Parr Lived.
On the hillside near Middletown
Is Old PARIS cottage. where Thomas
Parr lived In the reign OF ten kings
and queens Of England. AT the age
OF To- he was taken TO London TO
be exhibited TO the king. Charles I.
but died a few months later. The
doctors, after post-mortem exam
inatIon. attributed his untimely
death 10 this removal, for they re-
ported: "In short. his inward parts
appeared so healthy that If he had
not changed his diet and air, he
might perhaps have lived a good
while longer" He continued his
work as a farmer till he was 80
years old.
A few coracles. OF a type famil-
lar since the days of the ancient
Britons. are still used by local fish
ermen. These oval boats are very
light TO carry. but clumsy to handle
In the water. They are composed
of a frame OF wickerwork covered
with skins or. nowadays. with oil
cloth.
The Severn still yields salmon to
its fishermen. but not in such abun-
dance as in days gone by. when an
apprentices iLdentures often con-
tanned clause to prevent his mas
ter economizing by feeding him on
fresh salmon more often than twice
a week
From WelshpOol TO Shrewsbury
the country is very fiat, so the Sew
ern is here remarkable for nothing
except its wlndIngs. Its first impor-
tant tributary. the Vyrnwy. joins 1t
as II enters England. In Shropshire.
Near the Junction is village so
subject to floods that 1t was called
locally "Melverely. God help EN-"
Since the Liverpool corporation