Welsh Journals

is almost entirely the work of American writers, but its contents are of general interest. It deals with such varied topics as Cosmopolitanism, Hedonism, and Positivism. Far and away the best written and the most interesting article in the number before us is one by a member of the staff of the Universitv of Minnesota on "A Danish Thinker's Estimate of Journalism". It is based on extracts from the diary of that great Danish thinker, Kierkegaard, who wrote these reflections about 1850. Two quotations may serve to show his standpoint and perhaps to waken echoes in the minds of modern readers: — "We need total abstinence societies with respect to the reading of newspapers much more than with respect to the drinking of intoxicants". "As long as the daily press flourishes, Christianity is an absolute impossibility". H.M. REPORT ON A SURVEY OF THE WELSH TEXTILE INDUSTRY By William P. Crankshaw Humphrey Milford, for University of Wales Press Board. 6d. It is a curious coincidence that Miss Anna M. Jones's book on the rural industries of Wales, noticed in the September number of the "Welsh Outlook", should have been published in the same year as this pamphlet. There is no evidence that the two investigators knew that their work partly overlapped. Miss Jones conducted her enquiry for the Agricultural Economics Research Institute at Oxford, and Mr. Crankshaw prepared his Report for the University of Wales, which had at its disposal a small fund which might be spent in encouraging the industry. Although the results are published in the same year Miss Jones deals with the conditions as she found them in 1922-23, and Mr. Crankshaw with the years 1925 and 1926. His work is therefore a valuable supple- ment to what Miss Jones has said, particularly as he has been able to include a greater variety of photographic illustrations. The Report, indeed, gives an admirable general view of the industry. Mr. Crankshaw has an eye for machinery and organisation. He declares that "no country in the world can produce so complete a collection of antique textile machinery as Wales". Many of the machines were made by Robert Davies of Llanbrynmair, a village millwright who was born over a century ago. Mr. Crankshaw says he has drawn the attention of the authorities of the Welsh National Museum to their existence! The industry cannot hold its own so long as the equipment is so out-of-date. Much of it ought to have been scrapped fifty years ago; but the ten- dency to buy second-hand machines seems to be deeply ingrained. From the general bearing of the Report one feels that Mr. Crankshaw does not see much prospect for the industry-the equipment is antique, the skilled men are old and have no successors in view, the lack of specialisa- tion means high costs, there is little power of adaptation to new needs, and initiative in finding markets is singularly lacking. Naturally he re- commends the University of Wales to spend the money at its disposal in promoting local exhibi- tions which may introduce new ideas, and in awarding scholarships to young workers which will enable them to pursue courses in Galashiels, Huddersfield, Bradford, or Manchester. He refers twice rather vaguely to a course in dyeing given at Aberystwyth or Bangor fifteen or twenty years ago (pp. 16 and 18). The short course of which he has heard rumours was actually arranged at Aberystwyth in 1902-a quarter of a century ago. The Welsh University Colleges began with strong literary traditions, and have found it difficult to adapt themselves to the more practical needs of the community. Perhaps the "overproduction" of teachers and the fall in the demand for preachers may lead them to take a wider view of their functions. J.F.R. LONDON UNIVERSITY GUIDE, 1929 UNIVERSITY OF WALES CALENDAR, 1927-28 Shades of fateful possibilities arise as these two volumes lie side by side. Amongst the leaders in the University Movement in Wales in the last century we know that some desired some- thing on the lines of a Correspondence College plus an Examining Body. A comparison of these Calendars reveals how much splendid knowledge might be acquired by correspondence and how widely the recording angel of examinations has spread his wings. Behind both we miss the pulse of education. Yet as an array of glories to be or already attained, they have their niche, and both fill them well. One is left wondering as one surveys the ever increasing bulk of the Calendar of the University of Wales, whether the whole thing hangs to- gether as well as it used to. Or is this thought occasioned just by this year's edition or perchance by this copy? B.B.T. PERIODICALS RECEIVED "Yr Athro." Hughes and Son. 6d. "Trysorfa y Plant." C.M. Bookroom. 2d. "Cymru'r Plant." Hughes and Son. 4d. "Y Cenhadwr." C.M. Bookroom. 2d. "Y Drysorfa." C.M. Bookroom. 4d. "Y Dysgedydd." Hughes Bros., Dolgelley. 4d. "Y Cyfaill." Utica Printing Co. "Yr Efrydydd." Hughes and Son. 6d. "Y Cerddor Newydd." Hughes and on. 6d.