Cylchgronau Cymru

29 Goreu- eof, cof lli/fr." DR. HARRIES, COURT Y CADNO, THE CARMARTHENSHIRE CONJUROR. In the parish of Cynwyl Caio there stood an old "house, in which lived a man of the name of Harries, called by the people " Doctor Harries." "This man pretended that he studied the stars, And he talked like a ' rum 'un' of Venus and Mars." He was a conjuror, fortune-teller and quack doctor. He had a small farm, also a public house, where his patients and his dupes could have refreshments after traversing ten or twelve miles of bleak and desolate mountains. The people in the east of Carmarthen¬ shire and part of Cardiganshire had implicit faith in him. If anything was stolen, strayed, or bewitched, the conjuror must be consulted at once ; and generally they used to return home rejoicing, and invalids used. to throng there and were healed by "reading their planets." He gulled the credulous for many years and reaped a bountiful harvest. Unfortunately, the Haiti was started at Llandovery, and edited by the late Mr. David Owen (Brutus). Brutus immediately levelled his goose-quill at the seer of Court y Cadno and exposed him unmercifully. Dr. Harries used to attend Llandovery market. When the beams of the Haul were lighting up the dark recesses of Court y Cadno, he was at the '' Clarence,'' a respectable inn tit Llandovery, surrounded by a large number of farmers, and the conversation turned upon the articles which appeared in the Haul. Harries told them " That he would bring an action for libel against Mr. William Rees, the publisher ; and that he would turn Mr. Rees and Brutus into demons." The rustics were awe-struck and listened to him with gaping mouths. During the time when Harries was launching his terrible threats, a stranger sat by the fire quietly smoking his pipe. After Harries exhausted all his anathemas, the stranger asked the Doctor, "Do you know Brutus P." The Doctor answered in the nega¬ tive. Stranger: "You ought to know him by your profession,'' adding, '' I am Brutus, and I challenge you to do your worst. I am ready for you." The Doctor was dumbfoundered. He took up his hat and walked out without uttering a word. From that time the fame of Court y Cadno began to decline. After