Foreign News: Bardolaters

Monday, Aug. 18, 1924

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David, as the Prince of Wales is known to his family and a few intimates, went to Wales to attend this year's Eisteddfod.†

On his arrival, the Prince was greeted with musical honors, initiated into the bardic circle with customary rites. In a great ring formed by members of the Gorsedd‡, Edward P. was invested by Lady Treowen with a green robe, while the laurel-crowned Archdruid delivered himself of an address of welcome. The Prince was given the same title as that of his illustrious grandfather, Edward VII, when Prince of Wales, namely lonweth Dywysog.

After the ceremony the Pragger Wagger (Oxford slang for Prince of Wales) was invited to witness the chief event of the Eisteddfod—the crowning of the prize ode winner, Prosser Rhys of Aberystwith, editor of The Welsh Banner.

^{†The Eisteddfod, which means a sitting, is The National bardic
Congress of Wales. Its objects are to
encourage bardism, music and Welsh literature, to preserve the language
and customs of Wales and to cultivate Welsh patriotism among the people.
‡The Gorsedd (assembly) is an intrinsic part of the
Eisteddfod; indeed, the latter grew from it. It is composed of the
graduated bards, who alone have power of calling an Eisteddfod and
conferring bardic degrees. It is also very ancient, dating from many
centuries before the Christian Era. At the time of the Druids, the
Gorsedd had considerable political importance, but afterward, when
their political power was broken, it be came an institution for
preserving the traditions, laws and doctrines of bardism — a
function which it still fulfils.}