THE TRIUMPH OF MISTRAL
[To the Editor of the SrEcTATon.] Sin,—I cannot understand where Mr. Thomson, who con- tributed an article with the above heading to your issue dated 13th inst., obtained the information which led him to say, " Welsh, on the verge of extinction as a literary medium by 1810, was saved from extinction by the Eisteddfod move- ment which began in 1819." The truth of the matter is that in and about 1810, Welsh was spoken generally throughout Wales in private life and was used extensively as a literary medium, and it was almost the only language used in religious services and at public meetings. Great preachers such as John Elias, Christmas Evans, William Roberts, Anilwrch, Williams of Went and others preached in no other language and drew crowds to their meetings, and about this period numerous books were published in Welsh, some of them being translations of English books, and others original works, among them being the poetical writings of W. Williams, Pantycelyn ; the essays of Thomas Jones, of Detthigh, and the Geiriather of Charles of Bala, all of which were circulated all over Wales, and carefully read and studied. I mention only a few of the books published in Welsh at this time.
Mr. Thomson gives credit to the Eisteddfod for more than it can justly claim. The Eisteddfod helped, no doubt, when It came, to preserve the language as literature, but the chief
part of the work was done long before it came, by the Circulating Schools of Griffith Jones, Llanddowror, started early in the eighteenth century, followed by the Sunday schools of Charles of Bala and immensely helped by the preaching of the great preachers, and by the books, including the Welsh Bible, which had been in the hands of the people from the time of Archdeacon Prys and the Vicar Pritchard, and which were being continually added to down to the period which Mr. Thomson mentions in his article.
The Eisteddfod did not and does not fill so large a place in the national life as some people seem to think. It fills an important place, there is no doubt, and it appeals strongly to the imagination, especially to that of outsiders, but a large section of the population and the majority of the great leaders
have not taken any part in it. A few leading men can be named, such as W. Ambrose, William Rees, Ebenezer Thomas and Elfed Lewis, who have been zealous patrons and supporters of the Eisteddfod, but it has been other influences that have had the principal part in making Wales and its language what they are to-day.—I am, Sir, &e., W. R. EVANS. Heulfre, Euthin.
Previous page
