WELSH WITS

Evening Star, Issue 21006, 21 January 1932, Page 14

WELSH WITS

AN ENGLISHMAN’S EXPERIENCE Many of us English (writes one in the Liverpool ‘ Post ’) consider the Welshman as a stern, unbending sort of individual, with little or no sense of humour. An ardent chapel-goer, and one who generally takes life on the [ serious side. But is he? i If you want to see Welsh humour come and live among the Welsh people. First of all, you must learn the language and take more than a casual interest in the people. : Wales is noted for its hymns, its sing,ing; but it hasMts ballads and merry i tales as well. The average Englishman j never hears of these, simply because i they have never been translated into I English. ’ l And there is a good reason why. Many of the songs and stories would lose half the humour when translated. Welsh as a language has some unique . aspects. While it is riot easy to learn it is much more difficult to pronounce. It is a language entirely on its own, and it forms one of the chief characteristics of its people. Without Welsh Wales would lose half tho romance and wonder that has been garnered to it. BLIND BALLAD SINGER. Tho ballad singers of Wales were a famous band, and they have left a host of songs behind them. Eos Mawddwy was a one-eyed ballader who sang a host of sentimental songs. Owen Meirion, Bowen, and Die Dywyll all sang theirjown songs. Tho latter was totally blind, and had to bp led from place to place. * Die Sion Dafydd ’ was one of his favourite songs. It dealt with a Welshman who left his native heath and migrated to London. Here ho began to pick up English, and in the end, on returning to Wales, spoke half English and Welsh. When questioned as to what ho saw in London, ho went on: I see great rhyfeddod in London one day, 1 . A something like lion was running away; The . people were frightened and I was run fath, Tho same as llygoden afraid of a cath. The old ballad singers and countrymen of Wales were wits in their way. Every village had its “ character,” and so it has to-day. A COBBLER’S WIT. Many years ago Llanrwst had a cobbler named Will. Ho took inore than a common interest in politics. At that time Sir Watkin Williams was Tory candidate and Osborn Morgan was the Liberal representative. Some wag, thinking to get Will to change his coat, offered him a shilling to shout for Sir Watkin. Will readily complied. This is what he shouted: “Sir Watkin for a shilling, Osborn Morgan for ever.” . He had carried out the bargain to the letter! ' Generally, when the _ countryman from Wales goes to onr cities in England he comes off badly. But not always. Country wit and brains are sometimes more than a match for tho cunning and craft of the city man. They still tell a story m old Wales of a country lad who left his native vilage to seek fame and fortune in Lon-, d °He had'many adventures, and finally got mixed up with a London crowd. He sought tho protection of a policeman who naturally asked him where he came fr °“From Wales, indeed,” -replied la “ From Wales, are yon?” said tho policeman. “Well, if I were you.l would get a new hat.” “ What’s wrong with my hat? sanl Taffy. ? ' ~ “ Well,” said the policeman, your tile is old-fashioned and will attract the attention of pickpockets. Go across tho road and get a hat to suit you. Taffy follows the policeman’s advice. He enters a hat shop. ~ “ Now, I want a new hat, said Taffy to the shopman. '“ Quite right,” replied the hatter. “ You see, your hat is old-fashioned and out-of-date. Where do you come from?” .. , „ ™ “From Wales.” replied Taffy. “ Well, I will tell you a secret, said the shopman. “ When our hats are old-fashioned and done for we send them to Wales to be worn by Welshmen. “Oh, do you?” said Taffy, boiling over with rage to think that Welshmen wore wearing the cast-offs of Londoners. Taffy made his purchase and got to the door, when the shopman called him back. ,_ , , “ What part of Wales do you come from, young man?” “ From Llanystymdwy, replied Taffy. “ Where Lloyd George comes from.” , ~ ~ ~ “ From Llanystymdwy, said the shopman. “ Why, my wife comes from there.” .. T , , “Does she?” said Taffy. “Indeed, what’s her name?” “ Mary Jones,” said the shopman. “Mary Jones!” said Taffy. “Why, I courted Mary Jones.” “You courted my wife!” “Yes,” said Taffy, “and I kissed her many a time!” _ “You kissed my wife? You impudent fellow!” “ Well,” says Taffy, making for the door. “ It’s this way, Mr Shopman, i You say when your hats are antiquated 'and done for you send them to Wales to bo finished off by Welshmen. Well, when onr womenfolk are old and done for ire pack them off to London as wives .for Londoners!” TIGER! TIGER! Tho Welsh conutryman finds a difficulty in understanding both languages. Many amusing incidents are created thereby. Recently a shooting party was crossing a stretch of moorland in search of game. Suddenly the old Welsh beater in front shouted; “ Tiger, sir, tiger!” The tiger proved to be a fox! The old Welshman had forgotten the English name for it! The village ivit is partly a bard and partly a story-teller. Nothing funny happens in tho village without a witty couplet. Stories are handed down like old ivine. They gather strength with 1 the telling. . | Welsh wit may be a mixture of Irish ' and Scotch. It does not possess the ' extreme Avittiness of the Irish nor the proverbial dryness of the Scotch. Perhaps it is midway betAvecn the two. i But Avhoever Avants an introduction to Welsh witticisms must first learn the language. Then, and not till then, will the humour of Welshmen bo apparent.