86 
WELSH WRITERS OF SONG AND FICTION. 
By Rev. T. R. DAVIES. 27th January, 1903. 

*‘ John Jones and John Bull are the people 
Who know to a T what is what ; 
John Jones and John Bull are the people 
To rule this old world and all that.” 
“« That being so, it is well that these two Johns should know 
as much as possible about each other. John Jones should know 
the plans and purposes of John Bull, and John Bull should 
know the thoughts and aspirations of John Jones. Hach should 
know how and what the other thinks, since they have such a high 
and noble function to perform together in the world.” 
«The last line, according to the Welsh, really is—‘ To keep 
the old world in its place ’—1.e., they are the joint custodians of 
law and order. You will observe that with characteristic modesty, 
John Jones quietly takes the first place in this great undertaking. 
The second partner in the concern should therefore try to under- 
stand him. Well, John Jones has a language which he loves 
and cherishes with every mark of tenderness—perhaps some 
will think with a degree of prejudice as well. But he has an 
adage which says, ‘ Hateful is the man who loveth not the land 
of his birth,’ and to him the land and language go together. 
It is now more than six hundred years since the first Prince of 
Wales was born in Carnarvon Castle, and it was, doubtless, 
hoped then that in a few generations the Welsh language would 
disappear, and that of the new governing race be adopted in its 
place ; but so far is this from being the case, that in Carnarvon 
to-day, four Welsh newspapers, two or three monthlies, and the 
leading Welsh literary quarterly are published, while, so far as I 
know, there are only two English newspapers, and one of these 
has attached to its title the name of a neighbouring county to 
help its circulation. And Carnarvon is not the only, nor the chief, 
Welsh publishing centre. At least one Welsh newspaper is 
published in Lancashire. More Welsh books are published and 
read to-day than ever, which clearly proves the tenacity with 
which the Welsh people cling to their language. The Histeddfod 
flourishes to-day more than ever, and its purpose, as you know, 
is the cultivation of Welsh music, literature, and art, enlivened 
occasionally by a little Welsh literary jealousy.” 
