Welsh Journals

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'Schoolmasters I have Known. MR. WILLIAM GRIFFITH HOWELL, RHONDDA. By Defynnog. AMONG his fellow-students in Bangor were the following :-Mr. Thomas Morgan, who for many years afterwards occupied the post of head master of Cwmparc Schools, a lite-long friend of Mr. W. G. Howell, an ex-district councillor, and a Justice of the Peace Mr. D. M. Evans, who became head master of St. Dogmell's Board School and after- wards of Pontrhydyrun Board School Mr. John D. C. Hill, who went to America Mr. Crowther, the bard and musician Mr. Evan Evans, who became head master of Stacey Road School, Cardiff Mr. T. C. Rees, who became head master of Barn Street School, Haverfordwest Mr. D. S. Thomas, who became head master of Rhymney Board School, a pioneer of the Welsh Movement. Mr. Thomas Morgan was Mr. Howell's senior in college. Mr. T. Marchant Williams was in his second year in the training college, when Mr. Morgan was in the preparatory class in 1865. Then Marchant went to Amlwch as head master, then to Bradford, returning to Bangor to take charge of the Garth Practising School. Mr. Morgan relates a very amusing story of an afternoon when he and Mr. Howell attended the Practising School, then under the charge of a Mr. Jones. The head master seemed in a ruffled state, and he was seen making an entry in the log book, then disappearing through the front door, either for a smoke or a cup of tea. The curiosity of the two friends was roused, and wishing to know if the log book entry had any reference to them, they peered into this awful book. What subordinates have not dared to break the seals of this wonderful book? The words they read were these I have just had a terrible quarrel with my wife. She called me a beast, for which I desire her immediate death." Log books, according to Board of Education instructions, are too sacred for entries of general observation or of matters of irrelevancy. But Mr. Jones thought otherwise, and under the circumstances we might back him against all the wiseacres of the Board. But he was not a beast of a disciplinarian. For whenever he in- flicted punishment with a cane on a boy's hand, he had the habit of placing his own hand under that of the culprit, in order to increase the efficiency of the target. But one day in chas- tising a boy in this manner, he received the full force of the cane on his own hand, for the wily boy withdrew his in the nick of time. Our friend's progress in college was rapid and sure. He was now in his element, the spirit of competition was in the air, and a new world had been opened. These students were fortunate in having excellent tutors. Mr. John Price, who subsequently became principal, was a charming personality, taught English, and this was no mean task when we remember that many of the students were raw Welsh youths, but it was a pleasure in the hands of one who was described by Dr. Fitch as a master of the English language." Then the painstaking Mr. John Thomas had charge of mathematics and music-a sweet combination !-and made his students thinkers and singers. Mr. Howell must have revelled in these two subjects, for he had a mathematical brain, while music was a natural gift in the possession of every member of the Trewrach family. I cannot leave college without referring to one or two incidents mentioned by Mr. Morgan. At 8 a.m. all the students were expected to attend a short religious service which consisted of scripture and a prayer. The principal and the tutors took this service in turns. On one occasion a student named Hill ruffled the equanimity of Mr. Price by coming in late and making undue noise. Mr. Price stopped and perpetrated a pun which convulsed the other students by saying that the late-comer seemed more like a mountain than a Hill." Mr. Howell was .now a tall, strapping young man of twenty-one, and not only eagerly drank from the fount of knowledge, but also took a lively interest in sport, especially cricket. He was even then rather fond of an occasional mild banter. But some students do not like to be bantered, as Mr. Howell became aware. A Liliputian student named Lewis had been made a butt, and resented the position with great vehemence. The little bantam flared up, and threatened to fight Mr. Howell! "Why," says my informant, one blow from Mr. Howell would have finished him." Wiser counsels cooled the impetuosity of the little man, and soon afterwards peace reigned again. But the time came to leave college, and we find Mr. Howell an applicant for the head- mastership of St. Dogmell's British School in Pembrokeshire. He was anxious to obtain this post as it was near his home. But to his dis- appointment the post was given to his college rival, Mr. D. M. Evans. In the light of sub- sequent events it was well that Mr. Howell was refused this school. It is vain to speculate upon what might have been in this case. He did not have to wait long. He was ap- pointed to be head master of a new school which was to be opened in the schoolroom of Jerusalem (C.M.), Ton, Ystrad. The school was managed by a committee consist:ng of the Rev. J. Rufus Williams (chairman), the Rev. William Jones (secretary), and Mr. Thomas, Foundry (treas-