HARMONY AND DISCORD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20988, 26 September 1931, Page 3 (Supplement)

HARMONY AND DISCORD.

WELSH MUSICAL FESTIVAL. HOWLING DOWN A PROFESSOR. A stormy scene interrupted the Welsh National Eisteddfod at Bagnor on August 7. Professor T. Gwynn .Jones, of Aberystwyth, who presided over the morning session, found his audience unwilling or unable to appreciate his address, and he was not permitted to conclude. He was assailed with catcalls, whistling, and stamping of feet. li The strength and sense of this audience have gone to its boots," observed Mr. John Owen Y. Fenni, the day s conductor, as he led the indignant professor awav. " Gwynn Jones has too honoured a name to be insulted by his tellowcountrvmen.''

Two or three untoward events had contributed to the incident. The professor could not be heard at the far end of the pavilion, and possibly his speech was too " highbrow" for some of those who could hear him. The women's choirs at the time were preparing for their contest, and the partisans of the choirs became impatient.

Professor Gwynn Jones had dealt with the value of tradition in the life of the Welsh nation, and condemned the habit of placing English signs outside shops in thoroughly Welsh towns. lie said that for Welsh towns to use English street names was entirely alien to the spirit of nationalism. " Things have not changed much since I won the chair at Bangor 29 years ago," the professor said, " except that the women show more of their heads and their logs. I consider that to be a-good change, for there is nothing more beautiful than the human form." It was at this stage that the stamping of feet began, and continued for some time. "If you have something more sensible to say than I have," said the professor indignantly, " then say it with your mouths, and not with your feet." This added to the fire. There was even greater disturbance and shouting as the professor left the stage.