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THE DRUIDS OF MODERN WALES
Peculiar Features of the Eisteddfod, the Great Welsh National
festival, Recently Held at Cardiff.
What tho Isthmian tames were to
llio nnclcnt Greek, Eisteddfod Is to the
modern Welshman, an event which
brings the people together, Ignoring nil
differences of opinion ns to policies
nnd religion, conquering nil sectional
fccllnn. nnd cementing tho bonds
which hind WcIrIuiiqi! together In a
common brotherhood. This Inatltn
tlon, pccullnr to Wales, Ih of very nn
clcnt origin. The present name, how
ever, which menus u "esslon" or "Bit
ting," was probably not used boforo
the twelfth century. In tho fourth
century, upon the departure of the Ro
mans, Owaln at Mnxen Wlcdlg, was
elected to tho chief sovereignty among
the Bltons, and It wns about this time
that tho motto, "Tho truth ngnlnst the
world," wns adopted, and the laws of
tho Gorsedd codified. Tho first ono
held, of nny note, took place In tho
sixth century. Tho Prince of North
Wnlcs wished to provo thnt vornl
music wns suporlor to Instrumental,
THE HARD OF THE
and he offered a prize to the bards and
minstrels, who should swim over the
Conway. Tho harpers found them
selves unablo to piny, ns their Instru
ments were wot, but tho minstrels had
no trouble with their voices. Upon
tho annexation of Wales to England,
Edward I. deemed It wll) to sanction
tho Eisteddfod, by tho famous statuto
of Rhuddlan. During tho times of
Honry VII., Henry VIII. nnd Queen
Elizabeth, tho festlvnl was held with
the royal permission.
Taffy was n Welshman,
Taffy was a thief,
was the tncerlng couplet of tho En
glishman once upon n timo, but he
knows better now, realizing that tho
Welsh have done u great work In the
way of furthering native talent and
fostering tho Intent genius of their
country, nnd tho Eisteddfod has been
the means of bringing before tho pub
lic almost all tho literary men, musi
cians and poets of the llttls country.
Tho Welsh doclnro thnt tho Eisteddfod
has been held slnco tho time of tho
Druids, and seek 'to preserv some of
tho ancient forms, ns the sacred stone,
but whatever may havo beou tho his
tory of it, from very nnclent times It
has been held nnnually, nnd only twice
out of Wales, once at Liverpool and
once In London. Tho first part of tho
Eisteddfod Is tho Gorsedd held by
hards undortbo presidency of tho chief
Druid. Tho word Druid, ns hero used,
haB a loose construction, nnd monnB
any minister of religion admitted to
the Gorsedd. These ministers are, ns
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a general thing, non-conformists, al
though sometimes even a bishop of
the Church of England hits been
known to assist. The Oorsrdd Is held
within a circle of stone, In the light of
day and In the open air. No Qorscdd
can be held at night, or under a roof.
In modern Welsh the word means
"Judgment," but In mediaeval Welsh
It signifies a "tumulus" or "hill." It
Is probablo that tho Judgments of tho
Druids were given from a hill, which
may account for the double significa
tion. Gorsedd wns the court and Els
toddfod the "sitting" which had been
determined upon u year nnd n day pre
viously. Tho opening ceremonies nro
very Imposing. Three times the pro
siding Druid asks "Is there penco?"
while be and some assistants hold nn
unsheathed sword. As soon as ho has
received an affirmative answer three
times he sheathes tho sword aifd tho
court Is declared open. A prayer 1b of
fered to the Deity In tho vernacular:
YEAR READING HIS POEM BY THE SACRED STONE.
"God Impart thy strength;
And In that strength reason;
And in reason knowledge;
Aud In knowlcdgo justlco;
And la Justlco the love of It;
And In thnt love tho lovo of every
thing; And in tho lovo of everything tho lovo
of God.
O, Jesus, repress unjustlce."
Tho festlvnl Insts four dnys, nnd
from nil the villages, colliers, quarry
mon and laborers, with tholr sweot
henrts docked In gayest nttlre, bctnko
themsolves to the 'stoddfod. Tho busl
ness of tho Gorsedd is tho licensing or
approving of tho various grades of
bards, and the choral competition Is
tho most Interesting. Thou there Is
tho crowning of tho bard and tho
quaint custom of "chairing" tho bard.
There nro nlso competitions hi pnlnt
lng and art needlework. Tho Elstedd
fodnm are held alternately In tho north
and south of Wales, and this year it
was hold in Cathay's Pnrk, at Cardiff.
Thero was an Innovation this year,
delegates coming from Brittany, wonr
ing tho plcturosquo Drotpn costumo,
and othor Celtic representatives, In
the dologates from Scotland, wearing
tho Highland dress. Thousands of
persona witnessed tho ceremonies of
tho Gorsedd on tho first morning.
Thero was tho outer clrclo of red
Rndyr stones, twelve In number, In
honor of the apostles, ns some think,
each draped In tho Oorseddle colors,
white, blue and greou. In tho contor
was placed tho "Maon Llog," or sacred
stone, symbolizing tho whole earth,
and representing tho top slab of tho
cromlech. Here, robed In his gar
ments of spotless white, stood the ven
erable figure of "Hwfa Mon," the Arch
druld, wearing tho breastplate of gold
and the wreath of oak leaves; sur
rounding him were his fellow Druids,
bards and ovntes, clad In their respec
tive robes of white, blue and green, nnd
In tho background was the grove sa
cred to the Druids of old. There woro
pcnnllllou sung, ns there have been
since tho days of the fourth century,
and the presentation of "Hlrlals Horn"
was made, nnd another quaint feature
was tho offering to "Hwfa Mon" of tho
horn filled with "mead" by ono of the
lady ovntes. The presenco of tho
lireton delegates suggested a nretty
ceremony. The halves of two s rds,
a Welsh and a Hreton sword, were neld
aloft by tho Archdruld, the parts
pluccd together, and tied at the han
dles with white, blue nnd green rib
bons by one of the Indies. This was
culled tho ceremony of the "united
sword," and was suggestlvo of tho
time when the vnrlotis Onellc peoples
were one. The name of tho Archdruld
Is the Hov. .1. Williams, nnd ho Is
Welsh Congregational minister at
Llangollen. In these tourneys of song
and poetry, the fact Is novor lost sight
of thnt eneh coremony is for the pur
poso of keeplug nllvo tho Interest In
tho Gaelic languago and perpetuating
tho momory of tho ancient Welsh cus
toms. Tho Catholic priest and tho An
glican pastor are for tho tlmo being
eager learners In the school of tho
Celt. The Welsh languago Is not n
simple pntols nbandoned to the In
ferior clnsses. Tho same right Is
claimed for It as for tho English, nnd
perhaps tho fact that It is maintained
bo well in tho midst of tho Engllsh
spenklng masses is due to tho Eistedd
fod. Tho ancient rites of tho Druids
are by the people, although the Druid
ism of to-day is Christianity, but thoy
love to guard tho archaic formula and
ceremonial, and to unite Welshmen of
overy creed to ono ardon cult of the old
Celtic fatherland.
Seal Oil I co Crram.
A favorite dish with tho Eskimo is
an Ice cream made of seal- oil, into
which snow is stirred until tho deslrod
consistency hns been obtained; then
frozen berries of different kinds nro
ndded, with a llttlo of the fish egg foi
flavoring.
In Too Urvnt llititu.
New York World: Wife What's the
mattor, John? You walk lamo. Hus
band Yos, a pretty girl with fluffy
hair and diamond earrings got on the
car coming up. nnd I sprained my leg
in giving hor n seat.
I liUl
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Vlltlllllllft Dcit'lltllt'lttH I.ODt.
LINCOLN, Neb., Sept. 10. In tho
North flro here sovernl vnluablo rec
ords and manuscripts were destroyed,
among them being the copy nnd proof
of the senuto nnd house Journnls, sev
eral thousnnd printed copies of tho
election laws of tho state nnd other
printing contracted for by tho stnto
printing board. The Journnls wero al
most completed nnd the bound copies
WOUld nrobnblv hnvn linnn ilollvnrnil
at the Btato house wlthfn tho next two
weeks had It not been for tho destruc
tion of tho printing esabllshment. Tho
last proof on tho house Journal was
read only a few days ago, und Secre
tary John Wall nnd his nsslitnnt, J. O.
IJerkloy, were pnid In full for their ser
vices. Thero were still some eight or
ten pages of tho senate Journal to bo
put Into type.
Tho destruction of this property will
probably result In a loss both to tho
state nnd tho printing firm. Jacob
iNoith A: Co. havo paid for composi
tion on the bouse Iniirrml nvnr S1' flflf).
and probably a third as much for wonc j
on mo journni or tne otner House. Tins
of course will bo a dead loss, as tho
stute will not reimburse tho printer for
tho money cxponded unless the books
aro delivered. Tho law requires tho
publication of a report of the proceed
ings of the legislature and if it Js to
be complied with in this respect the
secretaries of the two branches nnd
their assistants will have to bo re-employed.
Trlpln x iiK'ly lit Scotia.
SCOTIA, Nen., Sept. 19. Mra. Erne
Phillips, tho wife of a young farmer
living near here, killed hor two chil
dren, aged respectively 1 und 2 years,
and then killed herself. She forced tho
little ones to take carbolic ncld nnd
then awnllowed a portion of tho poison
horself. Domestic dlfllcultlcs was tho
cause. Young Phillips lives closo to
tho residence of his mother, nnd while
ho was busy working In tho field his
young wife went to his mother's house
and announced sho wns going to leavo
hor husband. She wns very hysterical
and did not state definitely what tho
causo of the trouble was. His mother-in-law
tried In vain to dissuade her
from her purpose, nnd ns a last resort
secured her promlso to remain whore
she was, while her mother-ln-lnw
went to tho field to bring In her son
to sco if they could not mutually act
tlo their differences. Mrs. Phillips wns
gono only n short time, as the field
where tho young man was working
wns not far distant. When she and
her son entered the house they be
held mother nnd children lying on the
lloor, dead, with overy appeurnnce of
having suffered terrible agony. An
ompty bottle, which had contained
carbolic acid, told the story.
Mi'xtli or .1 II. Illiu'k.
KEARNEY, Neb., Sept. 19. Kear
ney was greatly shocked to learn of
the death of Mr. John 11. Dlnck, which
occurred at bis home In Kenwood
addition. Hceuuso Mr. Black bad been
in robust health ami few bad oven
heard of his Illness, tho shock wns nil
tho greater. Ho had been sick about
ten days, tho cause of his death being
ii complication arising from nn ncuto
stomnch trouble. Mr. Illnck bad been
enjoying the best of health nnd wns
n fnmlllar flguro on tho streets for
years, strong and robust, only slight
ly 'gray, and carrying his sixty years
quite lightly. Henderson Muck, us ho
has always ,been known, camo to
Kearney in 18S0 nnd homestended on
tho Island southwest of. tho city. Ho
had been a farmer In McHonry county,
Illinois, and had always followed
farming here. Ho wns probnbly tho
first person to ralso celery for the
market In NebrnsKii, and has tho
largest celery garden In tho state this
year, ho having In about fifty acres.
Itvceptlon to oldler.
WEEPING WATER, Nob., Sept. 19.
Tho citizens of this city gave a wel
come to the boys of the First, Second
and Third Nebraska regiments In tho
park. About twenty members of tho
three regiments wore present and tho
evening was spent In listening to
speeches nnd a general social good
time wns enjoyed. Quite a number
wero present from Plattsmouth, Elm
wood, Eagle nnd other parts of tho
county nnd nil onjoyed thomsolves to
tho fullest extent.
Ilorllculturlats und Ilea Keepnra.
YORK, Neb., Sept. 19. Tho hortlcul
turallsts nnd bee keepers of Nebraska
will hold their annual meeting hero
September 20 and 21 in tho court
house. A fine display of fruits and
flowers will bo exhibited and nlso
everything in tho apiary products.
The program will contain mnny Inter
esting papers nnd discussions by prom
inent members of both societies.
Olil Knttlern nt i Hlrthdajr Fraat.
TAULE ROCK, Nob., Sept. 19. Slx-ty-flvo
old settlers, most all of whom
havo lived hero since 18G0 und earlier,
met to celcbrnto tho 80th birthday of
Grnndma Margnrot Jones with a re
union and nn olnboruto dlnnor. Mrs.
Jones ciuno to Pawnee county thirty
nine years ago, and haB many children,
grandchildren and other relatives In
the stnto.
Good l'rlci'B for Cuming Furnas.
WEST POINT, Neb., Sept. 19. Cum
ing county lund Is still ndvanclng In
price. Anton Chnlno3t hns sold a
qunrtor section In Lognn township to
Honry Schllckbcrend for ?45 per acre,
and a number of sales nro on record
where tlo prlco has been f 40.
Inliiiion U Hound Over.
WAHOO, Neb., Sopt. 19. John J.
Johnson, tho farmer who nttompted
to kill Sheriff F. W. Farrls, hns had
his preliminary examination In tho
county court and was remanded to Jail
to await tho next term of tho district
court, which meets tho 21st of De
cember next. Johnson's bond 1b placed
ut ? 2,000, and ho seems to bo unablo to
furnish tho uccoptuble sureties. Ho 1b
chuvged with shooting with Intent to
kill. If Johnson should by somo hook
or crook bo acquitted In tho district
court on tho nbovo cbnrgo ho will bo
prosecuted on a charge of forgery.
Ilurry'n (.'nintllmcntnry Order.
LINCOLN, Neb., Sept. 18. Follow
ing nro tho orders issued by tho ad
Jutnnt gcnernl, u copy of which was
sent to ench commissioned officer in
tho regiment:
HEADQUARTERS NEBRASKANA
TIONAL GUARD, AdJutnnt Gcnernl'a
Ofllco, Camp StotHonburg, Lincoln,
Neb., Sept. 14, 1899. Goncrnl OrdcrB
No. 223:
1. Tho commnnder-ln-chlef desires
to express his high nppreclntlon of the
gcntlomnnly behavior nnd soldlcrly
Ilko conduct of the ofTlcers nnd mon
of tho Nebrnska National Guard as
sembled In camp of Instruction at
Camp Stotsenburg, In compliance with
general orders No. 21, C. S. A. G. O.,
nnd trustB that tho Instruction lm
pnrted will be cnrrled Into prnctlco nt
tho homo stations, nmhhopos thnt ere
tho onenmpment for 1900 rolls around
that the reorganization of the First
regiment, Nebraska Natlonnl Gunrd,
will hnvo been completed nnd thnt tho
Gunrd mny continue to nttnln a high
er degree of proficiency commensurato
with tho services rendered by tho
First Nebraska volunteers In tho
Spnnlsh-Amcrlcnn war, and nlso with
the splendid record mndo by tho Sec
ond nnd Third Nebrnskn volunteer In
fantry and Troop K, Third United
States volunteer cavalry.
By command of tho commnnder-In-chief,
P. H. DARRY,
AdJutnnt Gcnernl.
nnfftidj Klllnd h.r tho Cam.
LINCOLN, Neb., Sept. 18. John
Downey, tho city mnrshnl nt Aurora,
who wns killed by being run over by
n string of cars at thnt plnce, wns nt
ono time nn cmployo of the Burlington
railroad, nnd tho news of his denth
wns received with much regret at
headquarters. It appears from reports
frou tho railroad men nt Aurora that
Downey camo to his denth In a very
mysterious manner, nnd some of his
friends were nfrnld thnt he hnd caused
It himself, nut ns ho wns of a very
happy disposition, nnd. there wns no
motive npparcnt for self-destruction,
this belief was not general. Tho train
crow switching in tho yards had Just
pulled a string of cars from a siding,
when the brnkemnn looked back and
noticed Downey lying beside tho track.
Ho hurried to him nnd discovered thnt
one of the enr wheels hnd nearly sev
ered his hend from his body by pnsslng
over his neck. He hnd not been
drngged nny distance, ns there wan no
dust on his olotblng excepting on the
trousers about tho knees.
CliniiRen nt tlm f-tnte Normal.
PERU. Neb., Sept. 18. At the end
of tho first week the enrollment at
tho Stnto Normnl is about 115 in the
Normal proper, being about fifty more
thnn at tho corresponding date lnst
year. Lnst year the total enrollment,
Including prnctlco school nnd spccinl
students attending summer school,
wns 903, being tho largest in tho his
tory of the institution.
Sovernl changes havo taken place In
tho faculty. II. M. 'Benedict, who was
to have taken Prof. Duncnnson's chnlr,
resigned to accept a position in tho
Omaha high school, Prof. Sheldon of
Lincoln .being elected to fill tho
vacancy. MIbb Dally of University
Plnco tnkes up tho work in elocution,
while Miss Snndcrs of Hastings Is
teacher of vocal music. MIbb Walte,
superintendent of tho practice school,
resigned nbout two weeks ngo to go
to Salt Lnko City. Her successor will
bo appointed in n. few dnys.
Fiitlier follow on.
CREIGHTON, Neb., Sept. 18. Chris
Kyrnss, a German farmer nbout fifty
five yenrs old, died at his homo south
oast of town on Mondny, nfter nn Ill
ness of only ono week. He wns burled
In tho Crelghton cemetery on Tuesdny
afternoon. Tho funernl wns conducted
by the German Lutheran minister. His
son wns a member of tho Third Ne
braska regiment of volunteers, nnd
died on his way home from the south,
and was burled here about a year ago.
Antl-Salnon Learnt) nt Alniwor'h
CREIGHTON, Neb., Sept. 18. Alns
worth was visited by Rev. J. B. Cams,
state superintendent of tho Nebraska
Anti-Saloon league. He called a num
ber of citizens together and in n force
ful way presented tho object nnd work
of the organization. As a result a
strong, nctlve anti-saloon league wns
formed. A. G. Arms Is president, nnd
Mrs. M. R. Alder, secretary.
ItecrultliiR nt Colomlim.
COLUMBUS, Neb., Sept. 18. Lieu
tenant A. M. Poloto of the Thirty
ninth United States infantry has open
ed n recruiting station hero nnd is re
ceiving mnny applications, but not all
are passing. Married men aro not
wanted nnd nro only tnken In excop
tlonnl cnBcs. Enlistments nre bolng
mnde for a period ending June 30, 1901,
or nearly threo years.
Soavanlr ItltiR From Manila.
OSCEOLA, Nob., SopL 18. L. I.
Garrlnger, a member of Rising Star
lodge of Odd Follows nnd of tho First
Nebraska, brought with him from Ma
nila a number of plain band gold rings
with "F. L. and T." engraved on them
and at tho Inst meeting of tho lodge
presented them to tho brethren with
his compliments.
aimppotcd UoriMi Thlnf In Jnll.
PENDER, Neb., Sept. 18. Ton dnys
ngo Frank Johnson, Hying northwest of
Decatur, lost n horse, and recently
found it In tho possession of n young
man named Hlrnm Mnson, who wub
bound over for trial In the district
court, and being unablo to give J500
bond wns returned to Jnll. Mason
claims to havo bought the borso.
Hherlir ll" n Uroken heg,
GRAND ISLAND, Neb., Sopt. 18.
S. N, Taylor, sheriff of Hall county, re
siding in Grand island met with a
very serious nccldent while attending
to his official duties In tho western
part of tho county. Mr. Taylor wns
Just returning from Wood River after
having driven forty-five miles, when
ono of tho horses was frightened uy n
switch engine, and while being turned
around both horses plunged forwnrd nt
a rnpld rnto, upsetting tho buggy nnd
throwing Mr. Tnylor out, breaking his
leg below tho knee Joint.
NATION'S QREETINOTO DEWEY
Yealnren of tlio Itreritlon to tha Itlnnlta
Hero at Wrnililncton.
Tho central Idea underlying tho
grand welcome to bo given Admiral
Dowoy In Washington the first weok in
October Is Its national character. His
arrival at the capital will mark his real
homo-coming to the American people,
where the officials of the government
will participate, and tho magnificently
JowoUd sword voted by congreeB will
be presonted. To that end all the ar
rangements will bo of a simple but
moat dignified character. The wolcome
to the hero of Manila at tho national
capital will probably occur on Monday,
October 2, although tho date will de
pend upon tho length of tho celebra
tion In Now York, which Is still un
WrV1
SWO'RD VOTED BY CONGRESS TO
DEWEY,
settled. The principal features of the
reception in Washington, as plannod
by the citizens, with the co-operation
of the president and cabinet, will be
two In numbor tho presentation of tho
sword voted by congress nnd a night
parado. A public reception at the
white houso will bo followed by dlnnor
to tho admiral by President McKInley.
Tho eword will be presented by Secre
tary Long, at the east front of the cap
ltol, In the presence of Mr. McKInley
nnd all tho membors of tho cabinet,
late in the afternoon, while the parade,
consisting of organizations of all kinds,
will bo accompanied by an Illumination
of the city on a scalo of beauty never
boforo witnessed In Washington.
The different features of tho prepara
tions are in the hands of a central
body of citizens and eleven commit
tees, embracing In nil over a thousand
people. Preparations for .tho colebra
tlon havo been In hand for over a
month.
The Baltimore and Ohio railroad and
other railroads entering Washington
have agreed upon cheap rates for the
celebration, and the committee expects
that there will bo an outpouring of pa
triotic citizens almost equal to tho In
auguration of a president.
Betrayed by II U Parrot.
Victor Chevalier, a clevor criminal
In Paris, was run down In a shrewd
way. He was known to be exceedingly
fond of a pet parrot, and the police
were instructed to look for a loqua
cious bird of this kind. After a week's
search the talkative parrot was dis
covered In tho Montmartre district.
The police kept a close watch on the
house, and In tlmo the criminal ap
peared to have an nffectlonato chat
with his bird.
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.
Every woman Is a good actress till
she goes on tho stnge.
There Is one thing a woman never
can understand, and that Ib herself.
When the devil had his choice as to
Instruments he first picked Jealousy.
If thoy wore named anything else a
woman would have Just as queer a look
In her face when she talked about her
legs.
If thero woren't any bad men to be
horrible examples, probably thero
wouldn't bo. any good women to be
shining examples.
Every racy story a man hears he
acta like it was old to him and every
woman like It was new to hor, and
both are making believe.
When a man can mako a woman be
lieve that he can't help thrilling at her
voice she feelB sho has to marry him
so that she can turn tho current on
whenever she feels like It,
The difference between a woman and
a cat is that when you tease the cat
you know she'll scratch you, but when
it's a womariyou never know whether
sho'll kiBs you or tear your eyes out
New York PrcBS.
PROVERBS BY WILLIAM BLAKE.
Expect poison from the standing wa
ter. Without contrarlos Is not progres
sion. To create a llttlo flower is tho labor
of ages.
What is now proved was orico only
imagined.
He who desires but acts not breeds
pestilence.
Listen to tho fool's reproach. It is a
kingly title.
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