Welsh Journals

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Y BEIRNIAD." Edited by Professor J. Morris Jones, M.A., Lerpwl, Hugh Evans a'i Feibion, 356, Stanley Road. Is. We have said that the aim of Cymru is educational rather than artistic would it be true to say that the object of Y Beirniad, the great Welsh Quarterly, is to be artistic and literary rather than educational ? It is the worthy product of the higher education in Wales and its writers are chosen with fastidious care. The current issue is a particularly strong number. Sir Harry Reichel leads with an article on Cyn y Rhyfel (Before the War). Sir Harry's grandfather, as he tells us, was a German, and Sir Harry was brought up under German as well as English influences. For many years he loved and revered Germany. But gradually disillusionment came and he clearly foresaw the fearful catastrophe that has now overtaken Europe. Although Welsh is an acquired language for him, the Principal of the Northern University College expresses himself in the Cymric tongue with a sureness of idiom and a terseness of style that entitles him to a high place among Welsh writers. The Rev. Thomas Davies follows with a very racy article on English and Welsh Pembrokeshire and her people." Mr. Wil- liam Rowlands, M.A., contributes a thoughtful article on Literature and Elementary Education." Mr. Shankland returns to the attack on our cherished illusions concerning the family history of Goronwy Owen. There are several other valuable articles in the number; and it ends up as usual with a series of Reviews on new Welsh books. Y Beirniad has always maintained a high standard of literary criticism in its reviews and no student of modern Welsh literature can afford to neglect them. Y GENINEN." Edited by Eifionydd. Carnar- von Published by W. Gwenlyn Evans & Son. Is. This Welsh Quarterly for more than thirty years has occupied a place of its own in Welsh literature. It is neither a review nor a magazine in the accepted sense of the terms nevertheless, it is popular, and deservedly so. The January number is a typical one. It can be likened unto a huge fisher's net that draws into its meshes many kinds of fish. Here we have prose and poetry of all kinds, good, bad and indifferent. All shades of opinions and prejudices are equally welcomed as long as they are expressed in tolerably decent Welsh and personalities may be indulged in to the heart's content as long as they are kept well within the four corners of the libel laws. The Editor's motto seems to be the Welsh proverb which may be translated Every man is entitled to his opinion, and every opinion to expression." We do not know of any language but Welsh that can boast of a periodical like Y Geninen. The current number contains a thoughtful, erudite and well- written article on The Philosophy of Germany and the Present Crisis," by Professor Miall Edwards, M.A., and side by side with it is a scurrilous screed entitled Y Cyrn Pres," by a writer who calls himself Teithiwr." There is also a rather cheap onslaught by Brynfab, a champion of the 19th century school of poets, on the poetry of Mr. W. J. Gruffydd. THE GRAIL and Y PAIR," the Magazines of the two Calvinistic Methodist Theological Colleges, have been received. Both contain a good deal of excellent matter by men who are well known. Interesting undoubtedly they are; but not as College Magazines. We should welcome more from the pens of the students and less from those of maturer age. The present students seem to be content with the role of editors we suggest to them that Wales stands more in need of original and interesting writers than of editors. Mr. William Morris, a Bala student, contributes the following excellent englyn to Y Pair:- Gloes y Gad. Cenedl oedd dan wen cynnydd­waeda'n awr O dan wg gormesydd Angau swrth yn sengi sydd Hyd ludw ei haelwydydd. Mr. T. Gwynn Jones also has in The Grail a very striking piece of poetry on the War which we would like to quote, but cannot for lack of space. Flintshire." By J. M. Edwards, MA. Cam- bridge at the University Press. Pp. 172. Is. 6d. This is a new volume in the well-known series of County Geographies by the Headmaster of the Holywell County School. All the volumes are laid down on an identical but well thought out plan, which leaves little scope for much individual or original treatment. There are some sixty maps and illustra- tions admirably reproduced in the present work. Flintshire is the smallest of the Welsh counties, and, excepting Glamorgan, the most densely popu- lated, thanks to its coal and lead and nearness to Liverpool. Some ten miles away is a detached bit of Flintshire, Maelor Saesneg, which was incor- porated with the county on its formation in 1284. About half the inhabitants of Flintshire (38,000) speak English only, and about 6,000 Welsh only. Of ancient families the county boasts the Stanleys, Mostyns, Glynnes, and Trevors. (Mostyn Hall contains one of the most valuable Welsh libraries). Other names on the Roll of Honour are Thomas