Annual Festivities at the Majestic Hotel The annual dinner of St. David's: Socie!y of Shanghai was held on saturday night in the Majestic Hotel, the first public dinner in the history of the Society. There were 5 persons present, the _ofic guests including Judge Sir Skinner Turner and Lady Turner, Mr. W.
Trenchard Davis, former president of the St, George's Society, who represented that organization, and Mrs, Trenchard Davis, Mr.
Ridgway, vice-President of St. Patrick's Society, and Mrs. Ridgway, Mr. R. G. Dowie, vice-President of St. Andrew's Society, and Mrs. Dowie, the Very Rey. Dean C. J. Symons and Mrs. Symons, and the Rev. and Mrs. A. N. Rowland, Mr. J. T., Pratt, H. M, Consul-General, and Mrs, Pratt were unable to be present for the occasion.
The Winter Garden, in which the dinner was held, presented excellent setting "and was most beautifully decorated with daffodils. as well as the national flags, and the Welsh flag, with the Daraig Goch -(Red Dragon). The decorations were in the hands of Mr. J.
Jones (who, unfortunately, was in hospital and unable to be. present), Mr, J. F, Jones, Mr. T. J. Evang and "Mr. 0. G.'R. Beynon, the Society's secretary, who are to be congratulated upon' so beautiful a work, Toasts to "The King" and "The Prince of Wales" were proposed by Evan Morgan, President Society, and were drunk heartily.
Mr. Morgan, in proposing the toast "of Dewi Sant (St. David), have a brief account of the life of the Patron Saint of Wales, and stated that his spirit still remained in the life of Wales. The toast was followed by the singing of the Welsh National Anthem,—Hen Wiad fy Nhadau, ted by Mr. W. Hughes, The President then spoke for a few moments in Welsh, to the evident delight of the Welsh, while the English, Scottish, and Irish guests remained possi Songs were excellently rendered by Miss Wheeler, who sang. Witch of Bowden" and "Serenad Mrs, Donn Lupton also sang beautifully "My Ships" and, as an encore rendered "The Ballad Monger." Mr. W. E. Hughes sung "Mentra Gwen," the words and music which are so familiar to Welsh folk, Mrs. Scott Finn accompanied the singers on the piano.
Mr, Ellis Pugh, Vice-President of St, David's Society, who has just returned from Home, proposed the health of the guests of the evening. He spoke of the impressions. that hind been made upon him by the beauty of Welsh scenery.
The Other Societies Judge Sir Skinner Turner ponded on behalf of the evening's guests. In speaking of—Welsh! charneteristics, he said that the people of Wales were well-known for the way they made tin, He hoped therefore that they could keep tin better than the English! (Laughter). The Welsh were often spoken of as being gallant. They were gallant on the field of battle and everywhere they went, but the speaker knew that Welshmen were certainly more gallant where ladies were concerned! (Applause and] Jnughter).
Mr, R. G, Dowie, for St. Andrew's Society, spoke of the "delightful holiday' that he once had in Wales, and how the beauty of the country had impressed him. Yet, he felt he was bound to say that Wales had nothing just Tike Loch Lomond. (Applause).
Mr, Trenchard Davis, responding for St. George's Society, spoke of the keen rivalry which existed between St, Andrew's Society and St. George's. "In golf, St. Andrew's, in the last match, had run away with the shield. Wales, he was sure, had plenty of golfers locally. and Welshmen played good jolt Wales should therefore come forth with a team and take part in these matches og, a start for other friendly forts. The National Societies should take more interest, said the speaker, in sports (Hear! Hear!)
Mr, L. P, Ridgway, on behalf of St. Patrick's Society, said that he heard a lot of Welsh beauty, but all that hie "could say -was "Come over and see Ireland!" (Applanse)
Mr, Morgan said that once a year Jan Eisteddfod was held, the best bard
Eisteddfod would "be held in Swansea and the local St. David's Society had cabled offering a Bardic Chair. A reply had now been received announcing that the Shanghai Bardie Chair would be accepted for presentation at next year's Eisteddfod.
The National Anthem was then sung and the gathering adjourned to the ball room. was printed in Welsh and English, the following being the Welsh 'Bwyd-Restr:—Rhagbryd o Firwyth; Olifaid, Almon, Helogau; Cawl Cenin; Pysgodyn' y'_ Mandarin Berw; Golwyth o "Gig Eidion; Pastai Gwydd Fras Mown Aspig: Letys yr Among, a. ews; Sas Ffrengig; Melusbel Gwesty'r Majestic; Mao Deisenau; Ffrwyth; Cofi.
Followers of public banquets in. any Tanguage will have no difficulty' in translating most of the above.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.