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Of trying so you can visualise people’s existence, such as those individuals on previous, it’s often the little points that bring lifestyle alive particularly given that a solution in order to a lecture otherwise an effective brooch – as well as 2 items in Amgueddfa Cymru’s range indeed do this.

Both relate to Cranogwen, this new bardic term to own Sarah Jane Rees (1839–1916) a master mariner, poet, creator, publisher and temperance personnel just who, for the majority off the woman life lived in the tiny city of Llangrannog, Cardiganshire. She was given birth to there and you will throughout this lady lifetime travelled after that in order to become one of the most really-recognized feamales in Wales in the late nineteenth/very early twentieth century. And it also was here you to definitely her one or two lovers stayed, very first Fanny Rees “Phania” (1853-1874) whom died old only 21 and soon after Jane Thomas (1850-?) who, for the majority of your census efficiency is described as a beneficial ‘residential worker’, ‘general servant’ or ‘charwoman’.

Cranogwen is actually commonly away, working in range tactics and you can offering lecturers however, wife Dunkirk her basic trip started in 1866, a year just after controversially winning an enthusiastic Eisteddfod poetry award in the event it is revealed a woman got outdone the new males.

The person often just remember that , it absolutely was the students woman lion whom got the prize on Aberystwyth Eisteddfod with the song towards the Wedding ring. Once hearing that, and just have understanding that our leading poets, particularly Islwyn and you can Ceiriog was fighting, I happened to be a while astonished there are specific ‘mud from the cheese’ somewhere. [i]

Cranogwen’s tour centered on her lecture ‘The latest Young people and the Community of their Minds’ even though this did grow after to add a couple most other lecturers, ‘Anhebgorion Cymeriad da’ (Principles of a good Character) and you may ‘Parts of Happiness’, most of the worried about improvements inside the mans letters. While the she talked from inside the Welsh, they certainly were predominantly included in brand new Welsh words push into English words media spending little focus.

Travel with Cranogwen

Cranogwen started off from the Aberystwyth city thus we hope Jane performed take a trip along with her to include particular support but because discussions grew when you look at the prominence Cranogwen travelled further afield and just a couple months after during the Swansea’s Brynhyfryd Chapel nearly 1000 anyone proved observe the girl – a daunting applicant for anybody so hopefully Jane was here since the well supply help.

Phrase was spread easily and, as a reporter during the Baner ac Amserau Cymru indexed, ‘There is no need globally to consult with this new difficulties regarding giving a reason of one’s lecture today, because it’s currently quite nicely understood while in the Wales. [ii]

Almost everywhere she ran praise is showered on their, ultimately causing you to definitely blogger in order to ask yourself when the she you’ll meet the fresh hype: ‘because the we’d read such as compliment on her, i asked their getting a beneficial. But i never dreamed you to she is because the gifted since the she is, and therefore masterful on their performs.’ [iii]

Evening once nights she talked to rave studies along with her that-time lecture stretched on the a couple plus expanded when local dignitaries looked for to appear on stage alongside the lady, incorporating the pennyworth. Regional poets flocked in order to the girl, tend to writing englyns, many of which have been blogged regarding files, and you will lady was in fact following the girl analogy and you will bringing concise.

Females, like ‘younger girls’ (she was twenty seven at that time) shouldn’t be lecturing, told you new guys, exactly who complained of your own impropriety of women speaking in public. ‘The latest society regarding Southern area Wales,’ ranted this new Cardiff Minutes, ‘are run crazy into young women who will be lecturing throughout the the nation [and] regarding the thoughts many eminent guys this is going also much.