WALES.

167

A NATIONAL MAGAZINE FOR THE ENGLISH SPEAKING PARTS OF WALES.

:

052 WAL

Viz

INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME II.

A.94

IN CARMARTHENSHIRE.

WALES, old and new, will be the subject of the third volume as it has been the subject of the first and second. But the third volume will differ materially in many points to be noticed later.

As far as my original aim was concerned, WALES has succeeded beyond my expectations in some directions, but not in all. It has succeeded in bringing into communication with each other a number of Welshmen, of all shades of political opinions and religious creeds, whose love of their country and of their countrymen is deeper and stronger than even their devotion to their political convictions. There must be something wrong with the life of a people where there is no patriotism at all; happy is that people where this potent power for union is stronger than the desire to insist on surface differences. The pages of WALES reflect, I sincerely hope, not the hopes and aspirations of any one party, but the hopes and aspirations of all who see, in the past or in the present or in the future of Wales, a power working for the good of mankind. A glance at the names of the writers of this volume will show that love of Wales, and belief in the future of Welshmen, are not confined to any one of the political parties or religious sects which, each in its own way, are working so energetically for the advancement of Wales to-day.

In one respect my fears as to the future of this magazine have been realized. The farmers, the artisans, and the labourers of the English-speaking parts of Wales have not welcomed it with the enthusiasm that their Welsh brethren showed when Cymru and the Llenor were offered them. WALES is gradually, but very slowly, making its way to the peasant homes of the Severn Valley, and to the cottages of the great industrial centres of South Wales. I desire, above all things, to see the peasants of eastern and southern Wales becoming readers; no man is too poor to enter into the glorious world of thought which is around him and within him. For this purpose, the third volume will be of a more popular character; while, at the same time, its interest to scholars will be kept up. Short striking stories, illustrative of phases of Welsh life, will be a feature of the new volume. An attempt will be made at illustrating the humour and the pathos of typically Welsh life.

Much space will be given to the history of Wales. But, while the first two volumes were concerned with the earlier history of Wales, the third will be devoted almost entirely to modern

history. The laws relating to Wales, from the Tudors to the present day, will be described. A series of valuable and interesting documents illustrative of local history will be given, beginning with a paper by Mr. Edward Owen on the lordship of Denbigh. Welsh antiquities will also be described, beginning with an article by Judge Lewis on the hirlas horn of Golden Grove.

Articles have been prepared on Welshmen abroad; the first to appear will be one on the hundred thousand Welshmen of the United States of America.

Eben Fardd's diary, which is faithfully copied from the original, will be continued. Howell Harris' strange life will be illustrated by some of the most interesting parts of his voluminous diary. The articles on Welsh watering places will also be continued.

The growth of the system of Welsh education will be described. The first article on the University of Wales will be by the Vice-chancellor of the University; and the county systems of intermediate education will be described by those who most lovingly watch their development.

The new volume will be profusely illustrated by means of original drawings, and photographs of out of the way, but notable, places. The publishers vie with the editor in the attempt at making WALES worthy of a cordial reception. In addition to new type, and more perfect machinery, they have erected one of the most commodious printing places in Wales; and, now that they are fairly settled down in their new premises, the new numbers of WALES will be perfectly punctual.

My readers know how grateful they and I ought to be to those whose articles have given this volume its interest and value. I feel certain that the new volume will be accorded as generous a reception as its predecessors.