Daily globe., 1883-06-28
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An ESSAY on IRELAND.

DcJirered at the -llinisa5 Commencement D.
NJ. JTary's CsHrcs,t scfsoo5, East -TE;HnealJ-
oils, 5y hiss Z. BoHcil oIte oT the Grad
U0t-S.
Tle following essay was delivered at
the annual commencement of St. Mary's
convent school by Miss A. BOhan, one Of
the graduates, VINO, without the slightest
embarrassment, readit IN q clear, pure
voice with distinctness of articulation and
proper emphasis: Glorious in her bond
ages, beautiful in her sutferings, firm IN
her faith. although for seven long centU-
ries the rod of the oppressOr has hung over,
Ireland presents to the world to-day an IN
paralleled example Of fortitude and hero
ism. No wonder that her children so
f0ndlv love her; that hearts young and
ardent have sacrificed all. even life, Tor her
freedom: that poets could hnd no sweeter
theme than her sorrows Ia what does a
nations honor consist: Is it IN natural
endOwments. beauty of landscape, fertility
OF soil. or in gifted sons, brave and elo-
Quen.; daughters v'rtuoU5 and pure: Ire
land Justly gIories for aN this, and much
more Is hers. Has nature not been lavish
in her gifts to our loved Emerald Isle?
Listen to those who have sung her
praises. One OF her gifted sons.
dwelling on the beauties of Avoca.
writes, There is not il the
vide world q valley so sweet" and an
other of Killarney, That angels some
times p2usIng theYe ask if Eden were more
fair"
One poet-priest Of America styles her
the land where the beautiful rivers flow.
Her tributes are not confined 10 her own
children but those Of every age and every
nation have acknowledged her IoveIiness.
Has the world enrolled ii the annals of
fame names more worthy the distinction
than those Of the glorious Old king, Brian
Boru, the gallant Sarsfeld, brave Wolfe
Tone, Fitzgerald, O'Brien. or the fearless
and intrepid Emmet? Are they deserv-
ing of less honor because IN all instances
Save the lirst) they were unsuccessful?
No, thousand times No. Even EagIand
las borne witness to IreIand's bravery,
for she acknowledges that the Irish sol
diers were Indispensable to wellington
from Assaye 10 Waterloo.
For learning and eIoquence where Is
the nation that can point to such men as
George Canning, Henry Grattan. Edmund
Burke,JO Ohm PhiIphOJ Curran. DAVID 0'Con-
nell. and call them hers: Has ever poet
sung in strains of such melting sweetness
as the irish bard Tom Moore:
For beauty and eloqueuce OF style
Olive; GoldsIth has bI5 oae rival, oar
American Washington Irving.
And her daughters-can Hibernia claim
honor in their name?
Beauty, wit and grace are theirs, but
their greatest glory is their unqUestion-
able virtue. Seldom called into public
action the Irish woman strives TO fulfil her
duty by rendering bright and cheerful
the home in which she presides. And
much of the praise we bestov On Lrishmen
Is due. perhaps, to the prayers and coun-
sci of an aged mother, the love and sympa-
thy OF vIrtUOus sister, or the generous
fidelity of a devoted wife.
Isle of saints. name given thee cen
turies ago. mama which has never been
dishOnored; for. from the days of St.
Patrick and ST. Bridget, God has ever
found in our loved ocean home hearts en-
drely consecrated 10 him, thou art on the
earth of ours as q golden and immortal
flower blooming amid thorns,'' sending
forth their winged seeds on every gen
erous breeze 10 plant the faith n every
nation.
Far, far from the valleys, dear Erin.
I stand in the land of the West,
And picture thy shores as [ know them.
With those who lie there at rest.
There eyes cannot look at thy freedom:
Grant God OF oar fathers. tnatwe
May We to salute as a Nation
Oar beautiful Isle of the Sea.