Smyrna times., 1866-01-24
The Ancient Fenians.

We have to 60 very far back to discover any
thing about the true Fenians, who were very
different class of heroes from those who are
now trying to rcv0lutionizc Ireland, as the fol-
lowing sketch will show:
Some fourteen or fifteen hundred years ago
the "jirn of the say was distracted by he bat
ties of two enormous clans, who repr scented
both halves Oft pretty fairly-the Clan BDiSgne,
| which included the LeinSter and Munster war
riOrs, and the Clan Norma, those of the north.
! In these disturbances figured Con of the Hun
! dred Battles, Art the Melancholy, Cnmhail,
tproR0aneed cool, and other poeticaly named
chiefs. The struggle was carried on by an en-
rolled standing army, masSed over the country
! in regular battaiiOns, and called the Fionians.
! Finneians would be- therefore, more correct
representative of the Irish word than FcnianS
! Cool" the father Of Fin, was killed in bat
tie by general called Coll but who had q
more snowy name in THE Son of Norma, who
Was succeeded By young Fion, who became the
famous Finn Mac-COOl, aud was appointed
leader Of the Fenians
The strange body Of men over which this
youth was called to rule were surprisingly dis
ciplined. They are the men who wore those
elegant and exquisite golden ornaments that
are dug up now and again. Their proceedings
we're as chivalrOuS as King Arthurs court.
The whole picture of those days, a. displayed
in the Irish poems and r0manceS OF the OSSi M
c period, are so rich in the color of the figures,
the dresses decorations, actions and exploits
so entertaining and amusing-that 1t l. quite
surprising they should not have attracted more
attention from the general reader. The p0Stu
, lAns was obliged to have certain physical quali
: fications, and pass satisfactorily in the fo'
e lowing branches lie had TO parry nine jave
. Inns, hrorn at once, with only hazel stick
y lie had TO run at full speed through wood
~ aud tie his hair up so as it should not cOm'
:, down. lie was to run under stick as low a
i his knee, jump over a stick as high as hi
= chin, while pursued at full speed by the exam
. inerS. lie had to tread on a rotten stick with
:, out breaking it, and to pull a thorn out of hi
= foot when running. He had 10 be musical, t
~ write verses, and to recltc poetry. lie had
~ take an oath to relieve the poor, and never
=. offer an insult to a woman Nothing NOR
=, - chivalrous than the Fenian behavior to III
=. ~ fair sex" can be conceived. Anything lad
J. ordered her lover 10 do must be done, such
- =, lcaping across fatal chasm Finn was ono
~ required, by lady he admired, to jump ov'
:, pillar Us high az his own chin, with an0th'
as . pillar Of the same height in the palm OF h
m hand. He succeeded but, in private col
- =, versation with his father:in-law, he atterwaI
:, owned that it was the moSt tickllsh thing /
" had ever attempted. ..-s
A Fenisn had great privileges, as indee
such an accomplished fellow deserved to hay
lie was al Tree quarters Wherever Hc wen
ho Salmon, deer, aud game Of all sorts, were kel
rc strictly for hunting an shooting. Ii commC
~ fellow killed a stag, he had to replace it by {
~ OK, and was we'll off if he did not fare wOrs
i The Fenian knights had all sorts Of accor
n. plishments, were fond Of playing chess, ke
-, b.id barcs to sing to them and could do fea
NJ Tor some Of them couldJ that rivaled proiesSO
~ At Franconis s. Many OF Us have seen the &c
n tlemcn with the symmetrical legs and fcshlng
=, and with the silver fict about his head, vi
~ ~ keeps his footing on large globe as 1t 70
o on down an inclined plane. 1t is sometimes ha
- piIy called "star feat, and the profess
=, himself {" a daring equilbrist. But Darn
o' % was before him by at least fifteen hundred &C
~ ~ turies, and went up hill and dcwn again. OF
large tun of wine, to the amazement oi &
10, Of oncn-air circus. A cOncelted young mi
III Who thought he could do the same ieat' =
ere was invited into the ring to do 1t, was CRUSH
re under the barrel
gn, They seem to have been sumptu9usly
pointed, and to have lived magmhcenIlycclca a
hall ing, drinking and fighting. Acouplc OF cen
lire rics later, we find the Fenians IN possession
code Of laws more minute than, ana qulIe
'ery philosophical as, those of Justlnlan, nusia
by commentaries, glossary and lnterpretattto y
,on. divided into elaborate systems OF the law Oh
,ss- traint, and debtor and creditor, OF 'tosteras