Cylchgronau Cymru

Pennant, Thomas Edwards (Caerfalhvch), Matthew Henry and Bishop Parry, Dafydd ap Edmund and John Blackwell (Alun). Most famous of all, perhaps, is Daniel Owen, the Welsh novelist, who was a native of Mold. "CristiODopeth a Chymdeithas." (Christ- ianity and Society.) By the Rev. J. H. Howard, with Foreword by the Right Hon. D. Lloyd George. "Brython" Office, Liverpool. Pp. VIII. 200. 2s. 6d. net. fe. Books on the Social Question in Welsh are ex- tremely rare, and the author of the latest is the well-known minister at Birkenhead and a member of the Board of Guardians in that borough. He writes with considerable force, but the book displays a frequent use of rhetorical and antithetical state- ments which would be more in keeping with the spoken word of the orator than with the considered judgment of the writer. Greater care also might have been taken with some details of language, and carelessness of writing or of proof-reading is responsible for several errors among which the most amusing is the ascription of a bishopric to Haverfordwest instead of Hereford. But our main criticism of the book is of a more important character. It attempts to do a great deal too much, and we cannot pretend that the actual achievement is very considerable. We have found it a little difficult to understand exactly what the author set out to perform, or what was the plan upon which he proceeded with his work. There is in the book a great deal of historical matter, some attempt to analyse the social implications of Christianity and a wealth of evidence concerning existing social conditions. But somehow the book lacks coherence, and because it attempts too much its definite results are not of an outstanding character. We wish the historical sections with their necessarily incomplete surveys had been omitted altogether and attention had been concentrated on the main problem of the actual message of the Church to the world of economic and industrial life. As it is, even this problem seems to us to have been dealt with only in an indirect way. Take, e.g., the interesting chapter on Christ and Business (Chap. viii) most of it is a defence of the obvious proposition that religion ought to leaven business, but the definite application of the one to the other is very summarily discussed. The same might be said of the author's treatment of "Competition and Christianity (Chap. ix) and of The Gospel and Labour (Chap. x); and the method reaches its climax in the chapter on "Poverty." The author says some excellent things on the subject in many aspects, but there is only the scantiest attempt to examine it constructively in the light of Christian ideals. The book is full of useful knowledge on social questions and of a glowing social enthusiasm, but somehow or other the subject is not handled thoroughly as a whole, and the author fails to come to grips with the main problem as stated above. The Chancellor of the Exchequer contributes a characteristic foreword, but the number of times it is referred to must be understood as a tribute te the Chancellor's position, not to the length of his contribution. The volume, which is well printed, concludes with an imposing Bibliography. "Beirdd Gwerin Eifionydd, a'u Gwaith Anghyhoeddedig." Gan Cybi. Pwllheli: Richd. Jones, High Street. Is. 9d. The publication of these products of the less- famed poets of a beautiful commote noted for its literary giants has for its purpose, in the words of the editor, the preservation of the names, life- stories, and comparatively praiseworthy work of this class, within a certain area and a certain era." The book has, therefore, an educational rather than a purely artistic appeal, for much of it that will be painful reading to fastidious lovers of rare singing will be fit food for the historian, who brings with him the unimpassioned soul of the chronicler. Apart from its intrinsic value, the book has something of a real interest, inasmuch as it exempli- fies one of the two main leanings of Welsh literary activity in recent years. The cult of the inglorious -but by no means ignoble-in contemporary Welsh literature, associated with an illustrious name, has flourished side by side with the academic ideal of literary professionalism. One has only to dip into the current numbers of Cymru and Y Beirniad to find these two energies at work. The last few years have witnessed a revision of educational methods in Wales, and Cybi's efforts may be regarded as his share of the great reform which has taught that history and geography should commence with local notabilities and notabilia. To one who has often found inspiration in the sequestered lives of these obscure poets of a people, their very names have a charm which their homely muse often lacks, viz.: Richard Roberts, Garth Morthin; Evan Evans, Bryn Gwdyn; Thomas Ellis, Yr Hafod, Carnguwch William Jesus, Coed- cae-bach-isaf; Shon Owen, Maes-y-neuadd; Wil- liam Evan Jones, Gwydr Uchaf; William Hughes, Rhosgyll Bach. Witness also their bardic names; Bardd Treflys, Shan Fwyn, Gwenynen y Ceiri, Myfyr o'r Coed, Rhydderch Eifion, Bardd y Gwrych,