Welshmen at the War Memorial and Festival Dinner at the Majestic Hotel A few years ago, the Shanghai St. David's Society' was a modest Little organization, of whose cele-rations Shanghai heard very little and in no way could they be compared with the grand festivals of St, Andrew, St, George, or St Patrick. Recently, however, the proud sons of the rugged Prinipality, noting a comparatively Jarge acquisition of numerical strength, set out to hold their own, Just as did their untamable forefathfers who possibly never would have been brought under another rule by force if they had not all been so Jealous of the honour of claiming to be the leader against the invader. So it is to-day that the Society ha membership of approximately 100, and more in prospect, and each succeeding year the celebration of its patronal festival more nearly approximates to those of the allied nations, The Welshmen, however, still cling to a sort of exclusiveness and they like their celebrations to be very Welsh and very nearly confined to Welahmen, "They.do not care for such jests about the look as are made about the haggis, their ancient songs sung by aliens in the manner they dance the reel, or. Llewellyn pronounced as is O'Doherty by those not brought up on the Yangunge, Mr. J. R. Jones, the President, Mr, Eric Davies, the Vice-President, and a number of members, in the ently morning were Joined at the War*Memorial by the Golonel, several other officers, 9 deputation of other ranks, and. the drums of The Welch Regiment, and, with appropriate ceremony, two fi wreaths were laid on the memorial. 'That from the regiment was in red, white, and green, the national and' also the regimental colours, whilst the Society's was a beautiful tribute in daffodils. The bogles then rounded the "Last Post," to b followed by the solemn two minutes silence, from which the gathering: was roused by the stirring notes of the "Reveille."
This concluded the ceremonies of ieriat "enn as neb early part of the day save for
hanghai Welshmen proved themselves as formidable hosts as any others, and the main celebration fame in the evening, in. the form of a dinner in the Majestic Hotel, Thursday's Dinner The dinner, though a formal affair, nevertheless was a joyous occasion, with everyone feeling very much at ease. The drinking of the toast of "The Guests" was a distinct compliment to the hospitality of Welshmen, for, although the large private dining room of the hotel was occupied wherever a seat could be set, it seemed to be a very small Knot of members, dotted here and there, who stood to pledge the visitors. Mr. J. R. Jones presided, with Mr.
Davies in the Vice- a Chair, and amongst the guests were Sir Sidney Barton (H. M. Consul-General), Mr. 8. Fessenden, Commodore Braithwaite, Col. Matthias and the Odicors of The Welch Regt, the Presidents of the other British national societies, and a number of ladies. During dinner and. in between the subsequent yeeches, the Band of The Welch Regt. played stirring Welsh melodies warmed the company with several tuneful glees in the native tongue.
The menu-card was printed entively in Welsh and this gave the cue to most of the speakers, for there were few present who knew whether they were studying the dinner dishes, the band programme, and the "Immortsl Memory of St. David all were toasted with enthusiasm and then the President indulged in one of his typically witty speeches. Opening in Welsh, he apologised to the aliens by informing them that it was the only language in whielt the guests suitably could be honoured, for the simple reason that St. David was.'the only one of the British National Saints who spo} the language of the people amongst whom he lived. Wales gave a Saint to Ireland, the Irish in turn pave one to Scotland, and England had to the East to find St, George. HSppily all four countries nove will, but that was far from being the case, boenuse it war only through such a feeling that one could learn to respect similar others and so become David's Society proud that day in the first time by a military unit of their own nationality.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.