Welsh Journals

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Correspondence. WELSH SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SERVICE. Sir,— It has been decided definitely to hold the summer school meetings of the Welsh School of Social Service at Coleg Harlech, during the week August 22 to 27. Commissions are busy preparing memoranda which will form the basis of discussion at this conferentce. A very strong appeal is made to all in Wales who have knowledge of adolescent education, employment and leisure to attend this summer school. Members of Juvenile Advisory Committees and Choice of Employment Committees, Headmasters of Schools^ especially Central Schools, and workers amongst young people in Clubs and Societies will be specially welcomed. The Reports of the Consultative Committee of the Board of Education on the Adolescent and the sections on Apprenticeship and Training in the recent Balfour Report on Industrial and Commercial Efficiency, together with the Report of the Com- mittee on Education and Industry all show that the work on which the Welsh School of Social Service is engaged is a matter of urgent public importance. Further particulars may be obtained from the Hon. Secretary.-Yours faithfully, 8, Marine Terrace, Aberystwyth. 14th March, 1927. A CRITICISM. Sir,-With fine courtesy over a year back you granted leave to contributors and to all and sundry readers of "The Welsh Outlook" to he frank in their- utterances over your editorial conduct and all things connected with your magazine. So, please take it: in good part what I aam going to say: I am not carping at the management; it is simply a matter of "the contributor does not neccsearily identify himself with the opinions of the Editor of 'The Welsh Outlook' So. I have been ia sedulous reader of 'The Outlook' since its start (and once was honoured by an article of mine appearing therein), and I look up to it mow quite as an old friend — a friend I would be sorry to part with. And so I raise my voice into ;a big noise over your editorial articles in the March (current) number: they are quite unworthy of a magazine devoted to the broadcasting of Welsh culture and of an organ founded on CYMBUj FYDD traditions. So let me proceed—if you mag- nanimously .will? First, I am bold enough to take exception to all you have to say in the first four 'Notes of the Month' (March, 1927), and my entire sympathy goes out to those hot-heads of our own race that you so vigorously trounce. "Where there is no vision the people perish"— surely .these 20th century Welsh men and women have vision? But they are no mere visionaries, rather they are realists, and as realists you need not fear of their loyalty to the British Crown and the British Commonwealth of Nations. You extol the 19th century, but that period saw the passing of Wales from its own economic freedom into economic bondage to a neighbouring state, and the WERIN largely ex- changing their own native landlords and task- masters for those of another race. And the only two Welsh national remedial measures passed by the "English" Parliament, viz., the Intermediate Schools and Universities legislation, during the WILLIAM KING, Hon. Secretary. whole hundred years were more than counter- balanced by the fatal Education Act of 1870, the abolition off the Welsh Judicature, circ. 1840, and the Whitehall outrage, BRAD y LLYFRAU GLEISION. During the century's course the whole of Monmouth and Radnor, and large slices of Glamorgan, Breck- nock and Montgomery were permanently lost to the Welsh tongue. The century also witnessed the in- ception of that repulsive simian heresy, servile Anglomania. It was pot the "Welsh politicians" who kept burning the holy fire of Cymric nationalism throughout this &mug century, but select little bands of poets, educationalists and preachers^-unknown to Whitehall and Westminster. Surely this Victorian attitude among us requires checking and then reversing if Wales is to remiain WALES, and not a mere Anglicised shadow of what used to be Wales? So, sir, by all means let us pre- serve our big open window looking towards England, but, for the purposes of complete -ven- tilation and sunlight, do not deny us other windows —windows looking towards what you call "the pygmy European States"— such as Czechoslovakia, Greece, Belgium, Ireland, and Brittany— and to the great Latin peoples of Gaul, Italy and Spain! The best and sanest (constructive policy for Wales, I verily believe, is that which is being unfolded to our view in the pages of the "Welsh Outlook" by your able contributor, Judge T. P. Ellis. I hope he will long continue to write in your .columns. I have not quite done yet. I have a second count to make, and this deals with editorial No. 6 in the March issue. Allow me to point out that the Revised (Alternate) English Prayer Book is a purely domestic matter concerning only the English Church—her bishops, priests land people-and should not concern those outside the territority and juris- diction of that Church. However, some day (very early, perhaps) the new book may be adopted by the Welsh Epislcopal Church, even should Parlia- ment veto it in England- but this, I trust, will not come about until a (kindred use has been launched in the IAITH GYMRAEG. But, believe me, sir, no beating of the Protesta.nt drum on your part, nor belittling of the (priesthood and sacraments will help one jot- or tithe to bring about the much- desired union of Christendom (an unthinkable pro- position unless it includes Rome and the East). But that will come in God's good time. Meanwhile let 'us exercise the godly virtues of charity a>nd tolerance and patience.­Yours faithfully, Welshpool, ROBERT OWEN. March 19th, 1927. [Our correspondent's reading of 19th century history is very different from our own—so different that we can only agree to differ. Referring to his closing paragraph, we would point out that it was Christian Te-union in Wales which we said we looked forward to. Re-union with Rome and the Eastern Church we regard as neither possible nor desirable; not desirable because it could only come about by our sinking to their level of superstition.—ED.] Reviews The Romance and Legend of the Reviera. Ysaibel de Witte. (Hamilton, Ltd; 10/6). Of the writing of books about the Reviera there is no end, but so deep and abiding is the charm of that region that we are always prepared to welcome an addition to the number, provided it contains some good. The present volume is discursive and superficial; never- theless it may serve the useful purpose of intro- ducing the tourist, whose mind is devoted to tennis courts and casinos, to the rich store of legend,