ygge, and from thens to the fery of crawthyn, and from thens to Monferd brigge r duo miliaria ultra Shrewysberye, and so th to Shrowesberye. e Rev. George Sandford writes of "the ortimers and their Fortresses in Powys-land dits Borders;" the Rev. J. E. Vize, of Fungi in the Powys-land District to be found our Gardens;" the Rev. Elias Owen, of Montgomeryshire Folk-lore," from which we ke this A small farmer in the parish of Llanyblodwel ld me that his father always destroyed black mbs, and that formerly the farmers killed all ack sheep that came into their possession, as ey were under the impression that the evil spirit welt in them. When these black sheep were ing killed their owners went on their knees on e bare ground and prayed. The same farmer ld me that every black animal was feared. lack chickens and black cats were killed, beuse they were of the same colour as Satan. n Index to the Montgomeryshire Collections und amongst the Manuscripts of the late Mr 1. Rowley Morris (compiled by him up to Vol. 5 and brought up to date) is added, and ill be of great use to the fortunate owners of a et of the Collections. -IR BEN DAVIES AND THE EISTEDDFOD. The Strand Musical Magazine for June conains an illustrated biographical notice of Mr Ben Davies, the Welsh singer. Mr Davies, who was born near Swansea, has a high opinion of the Eisteddfod, as the nursery of musical alent. He sang a good deal as a boy, but at he age of fifteen or sixteen, when he went to The Crystal Palace with a Welsh choir, his voice completely collapsed. After some years, he says "When I regained it, a friend suggested that I should take part in a competition at an Eisteddfod in South Wales. There were fourteen tenors competing in all, and I was fortunate enough to gain the prize. The judge who decided the competition said I ought to study to be a singer, and not long afterwards Mr Brinley Richards came to Swansea and strongly advised me to enter as a student at the Royal Academy. I acted promptly on his advice, and so I often say that I left my voice in London and came back to find it again." Mr Davies studied for three years at the Academy, and succeeded in winning the bronze, silver, and gold medals, as well as the Evill prize for declamatory singing, and on leaving in 1883 he was made an associate of that institution. "What was your next step after leaving the Royal Academy, Mr Davies?" I asked. "I went straight on the stage. Mr Carl Rosa heard me sing while I was a student, and he offered me a three years' engagement,, which I accepted. Yes, I am fond of operatic work, but I like oratorio singing best of all."" "It was at an Eisteddfod that it was suggested to you that you should become a singer; I take it VOL. IV. New Series (being Vol.13th from the beginning.] the Eisteddfod is still a flourishing institution in Wales?" "Certainly, its influence is now stronger than ever. You see, it affords the people a chance of showing what talent they possess, and musical talent is a strong feature in Wales. The enthusiasm for music among the Welsh is simply marvellous. For instance, I was singing at a concert the other day in a small town consisting of only one street, and the place was crowded, a large proportion of the audience consisting of working men, some of whom had paid as much as half-aguinea for admission. "Then I went to the Carnarvon Eisteddfod last year, and the singing of the various choirs was really wonderful. The greatest excitement prevails in connection with the choral competitions. Choirs come from all parts of the country to compete, the members willingly losing a week's work in order to do so. If the Welsh were as forward as instrumentalists as they are as vocalists, the result would be very striking. Hitherto they have been rather backward as regards instrumental music, but they are now beginning to wake up. "I have sung before Her Majesty six times," continued Mr Davies. "On the occasion of my second visit I sang for an hour and a half. At the Queen's request I rendered, among others, a Welsh song, Y Deryn Pur,'' The Pure Dove,' with which Her Majesty expressed her gratification." The Queen has shown her appreciation of the souvenirs of his visits to Windsor, including a Welsh tenor's talent by presenting him with several beautiful silver inkstand, which bears the inscription, "From the Queen to Ben Davies, Esq., Windsor, February 23rd, 1895," and her photograph bearing the royal autograph. A SHROPSHIRE NOVELIST. [The illustrations are reproduced by the permission The Idler will be specially interesting to many of our readers this month for its Interview with Mr Stanley J. Weyman, illustrated by portraits, and views of Ludlow, where the author of "A Gentleman of France" lives with his mother and sister, in the house in Broad-street where he was born on the 7th of August, 1855. life as a barrister, he grew discouraged, and Starting in when about four years ago he left the Bar and came back to Ludlow, then a man of thirty-five, he considered himself a complete failure." tried short stories and failed at that, until He One day there came into my hands Anstey's tale, "The Black Poodle," about which everybody was talking. I said to myself: "Let me see why everybody is talking about this story," and I took it home and read and re-read it, till I came to the conclusion that its captivation lay in the fact of the extreme carefulness of its workmanship. pulled it to pieces, sentence by sentence, and saw that each sentence had been polished and elaborated till no further elaboration was possible. So I determined that I also would elaborate and polish, and these things I did in a story which I 16 I (From a photograph by the London Stereoscopic Company). With the kind permission of the Proprietors of The Idler. and St Bartholomew's Eve; and, later, as I was washing my hands, I thought out the plot of "The House of the Wolf." At the same time I had not forgotten what I had learned as to the absolute necessity of taking pains, and over that story I spent infinite labour. I polished and re-wrote, and touched and re-touched, and I could, with difficulty, in the end allow myself to let it go forth, wondering whether all had been well said, no word or deed forgot. It was accepted, and from the serial use of it and the book-rights I de: rived, in all, the sum of £200. I may add, that only a few weeks ago the publishers of this book sent me a complimentary cheque of £100. Why, I do not know; it was not needed now. "The story of Francis Cludde," rejected by the English Illustrated Magazine, but published in the Leisure Hour, and producing altogether some £700 or £800, followed; but My real success began with "The Gentleman of France," of which, I may say, that I bestowed upon it, in almost feverish anxiety, all the care of which I was capable. I gave it a whole year of unremitting labour. I have told you what were my materials. I might add that the volumes of the London Library, a most excellent collection, greatly assisted me in matters of detail. Thus, for my information on cut and thrust-my technicalities of fencing-I am much indebted to Castle's | excellent "Schools and Masters of Fence from the Middle Ages to the Eighteenth Century." in fact, I am not diffuse in matters of detail or of But, stage properties. For instance, I invent the costumes in which my characters parade. I think that Scott was the last writer who was conscientious as to his documentation on these points. ECCLESIASTICAL APPOINTMENTS. The following ecclesiastical appointments were announced between January 2 and June 26, 1895, inclusive, the dates on which they appeared being appended at the end of each weekly list : Mr A. Evill, the patron, has presented the Rev David Jones, B.A., rector of Llanfair, to the vicarage of Dwygyfylchi with Penmaenmawr. -Jan. 9. The Rev J. A Lindham,curate-in-charge of Tutshill, has been appointed to the vicarage of Ditton Priors, near Bridgnorth.-Jan. 23. The Rev Prebendary G. H. Egerton, M.A., rector of Myddle, is to be Rural Dean of the Deanery of Wem, in succession to the Rev H. Vane Russell, who has resigned in consequence of ill-health, The Rev W. G. Haslehurst, rector of West Felton, is to be Rural Dean of the Deanery of Ellesmere.-Feb. 6. Mr R. Lloyd Kenyon has presented the Rev Loftus Meade Owen to the rectory of Hordley. Mr W. A. Sparrow has presented the Rev Edward Ford to the vicarage of Albrighton, Shrewsbury.-Feb. 13. The Lord Chancellor has presented the Rev W. Gwynne Vaughan, curate of Llanbrynmair, to the vicarage of Bettws Cedewain.-Feb. 20. The Bishop of Bangor has presented the Rev. E. P. Howell, head master of Bottwnog School, Carnarvon, to the rectory of Pentraeth, Anglesey. The Rev. J. Silas Evans, curate of Rhosrobin, has been offered, and has accepted the appointment of Minor Canon of St. Asaph Cathedral and Vicar of St. Asaph, and will go into residence at Easter.-Mar. 13. Sir Wyndham C. H. Hanmer has presented the Rev Francis Barry Roberts, curate of Worthenbury, to the vicarage of Bettisfield. Minor Canon R. Foulkes Jones has been preferred by the Bishop of Bangor to the living of Llanfair-yn-Nghornwy, Anglesey. The living is worth £234, a house, and fifty-four acres of land. -Mar. 20. The Bishop of Llandaff has presented the Rev J. F. Rees, B.A., Vicar of Abertillery, to the Rectory of Llangynhafal, near Ruthin, vacant by the death of the Rev T. Hughes-Jones.-Mar. 27. Lord Rowton has presented the Rev John Charles Lyons, B.A., to the rectory of Neenton, Salop.-Apr. 3. The Rev Enoch Rhys James, B.D., Vicar of Llangollen, has accepted from the Bishop of St. Asaph the offer of the living of Marchwiel. Mr James has been Vicar of Llangollen for 27 years. —Apr. 17. The Bishop of St. David's has conferred the Lathom Beavan, Canon of St. David's.-Apr. 24. Archdeaconry of Brecon on the Rev William The Rev David Evans, vicar of Abergele, and rural dean of Rhos, has been appointed to the canonry of St. Asaph vacant by the death of the Rev Ellis Roberts of Llangwm.-May 8. The Rev D, Davies, rector of Garthbeibio, has been offered and has accepted the living of Llangwm. Mr Davies has done good work at Garthbeibio during the eight years he has been thererestoring the church, &c., &c.. and no better appointment could have been made to Llangwm. The living of Llangwm is of the value of £319 There are two churches in the parish. The curacy commutations, with forty-seven acres of glebe. of St. Catharine's, Llangwm, was Mr Davies's first curacy; so he returns to old friends after the lapse of fourteen years, six of which were spent as curate of Bala, and eight as rector of Garthbeibio. -May 15. The Rev W. R. Cosens, D.D., of St Columba's, Crieff, N.B., has exchanged livings with the Rev H. V. Heber-Percy,rector of Moreton Say, Salop. May 22. The living of Wem, in the gift of Lord Barnard, and vacant by the death of the Rev H. V. Russell, has been offered to the Rev the Hon. Gilbert H. F. Vane of High Ercall, who has accepted it. The Rev Llewelyn Thomas, Vice-principal of Jesus College, Oxford, having declined the vicarage of Holyhead, vacant by the death of Chancellor Briscoe, D.D., it has been accepted by the Rev Canon D. W. Thomas, M.A., rector of Branston, Northamptonshire, and formerly vicar of St. Ann's, Bethesda.-May 29. |