He told us how the Holy
Grail had been deposited with the monks of Strata Florida, the
famous old abbey near Aberystwyth; but I forgot who made them
this trust, unless it was King Arthur's knights, and I am not
sure whether the fact is matter of legend or history. What I
remember is that when the abbey was suppressed by Henry VIII.,
certain of the escaping monks came with the relic to the gentle
house where we then were, and placed it in the keeping of the
family who have guarded it ever since.
[Illustration: ABERYSTWYTH FROM CRAIG GLAS ROCKS]
After our friend, the lady of this house took up the tale, and
told in words singularly choice and simple the story of the
sacred relic as the family knew it. I had only once before heard
a woman speak, no less a woman than our great and dear Julia Ward
Howe, and it seemed to me that she spoke better than any man; and
I must say of the Chautauquans' hostess, that day, that if ever
the Englishwomen come into their full political rights, as they
seem sure to do, the traditions of good sense and good taste in
English public speaking will not pass, but will prosper on
through their orators.
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