The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-08-24

The Rev. Dr. O'Nc,iy Notes the Changes In
i,r,y N.urs-Mnrv-,iou. Educational STRIDES.

The Rev. Dir, O'kseluS w
iiGy Neurs-Mnrveiiou. Educational STRIDES.
CoHK, Aug. D. Since ! left Ireland, a boy,
in May, 1892 have on two or threo occasions
merely passed through tho country from
Queenstown TO Dublin. and seen only what
could DO seen from tho railway In u single day
After more than half II century's absence from
nv nn,ivc land it ia with no small emotion
Tim, now find myself about to devote n whole
year to II thorough study of tho country and
tho pcoplc IL my letters from Italy and Spain
have been OF interest to tho readers OF THE
Sun. may | not hope that shall discover In
the momentous changes daily Objected In the
laws and institutions OF ireland abundant ma
trriul for tho Instruction. not only OF tho
general American public. hut Of the multitudes
Of lrislm,n and descendants OF Irishmcn to
whom TIKI Sun daily brings its welcome light?
Already II few weoas' stay In the South OF lro-
land has enabled me to- conceive well founded
expectations Of II near future for her people
full OF tho prosperity and peace which spring
from solr government. from the development
of the country'S great natural resources from
"A steady progress In national education. and
from the secure enjoyment Of tho ng-withheld
It is not Without Il purpose that have used
the words national education. Tor thla
mighty force Is foremost among the proY,ue e'
situation has already achieved within tho last
quarter III u century no. to 30 further back IN
IN" past-is Simply marvellous | can only
glyr ms letter, few General r",m,l-.
ot til" national schools. with ,he,r Board Of
Directors. only ~ per cent. OF the Irish peso
plt5 years oIdanl upward could real ana write.
10 per cent. could read only. and 53 per cent
could neither read nor write. 1t must not he
iorsottcn that this was, the nr., educational
mSnt sine. Henry Viii in 1880. sanc,ion"dn
law forbiddins the lrisn language. and maxim
the mind OF tho most influential promoters OF
tho national schools. such as ,Archbishop
The Archbishop frankly ncknowicdseai it and
iionrd he declared 1t was because the recent
changes made in ,hc eystrm were beneficial 10
S r h.n aI lit , H ' essv BOXED upon
these schools Win aLSrnot ana only gave
Still. the education given by these schools.
aud especially the cmnlati"n they created
poverty. inlepoudent schools of their own had
snyn IN cit"c, On thr rising generation that ~
and upward. ii per cent. could read and write,
nnd only 30 per cent. Iinat"ad 81 % in ls4ll
s s"" va "sr rr 'r" md pG %rg III ss "l
read only and % per cent could neither read
/ tax. these figures from the . Irish .Educa-
tnnal Directory" published this year by VIM.
Eiwa,i EIii. chic, clerk 70 the Internedlale
rapidly the Iercen'iG. Of iiltnracy is diminish
ING with onch succeeding year. AnnthcrElance
ntnl-w llsnrcs wtrnahl" one t" follow WIN m
cation among rropl" naturally athirst for IN
structon hut intellectually and physically
Iann,Sism Tor So many "n" c%ur"s In isGI
tsr a. w"r" in az ,no school, g; Ireland
S Ss s HuIs "a and ' 'l ISL there WEIR. WE'RE
i,lOO los, SINE, 1881 the attend lance Mt schools
Of every grade has Increased moro rapidly
than ever before. For Instance. in that year
only 23 Oh pupils are assigned by tn. official
reports to the schools Of Christian Bro,hers
rs. in 1889. according to the list furnished by
the Superior General OF the Christian Brothers.
fG sshoSs in nG&s%t' s" Soys
IN 1865. the convent primary schools OF Ireland
had regular attepdanee Of 4i.U2a children;
the children. ana very little under ons-il IN Of
the grs found n,.n5nE T.. Urinary schools %l
convent schools 1873. with an attendance Of 80 :
4s9 sh!dren. wern in connection with the beard
uf National Education. and 80. numbering:
1854 pupils. ,w-r" hot rcnnecled with the
Board Tho schools OF the Christian bro,h.rs
are Also ,ndennndemlc Of h"vrrin,.nt control
schools has G"n" ON increasing. Tho great
praise bestowed 81, them Icy tn" Governments
Commis. sinners. ana tn" extraordinary success
achieved IN III" intnrin'!'Hi" "N:ia. hhti"ns by
several convent schn"is. surh ~ those ri tn.
Sisters Of Mercy at kinsai" tine Sister, of Lo-
Catholics in ioundin. AMI supporting these
Education is therefore. lcavening rapidly
tbs entire mass of the popuaion. tn. only
obstar 10 toward its complete success being 'he
fearful poverty OF the farm lnbprrrs in three
at least Of the provinces OF lrelnnd-a poverty
which have he"n already All" I" Sc Sc, wiz, my
among he t~elning field. and near tho princey
mansions of tho south Of lreland.
BIt OF ms he s,,ls enleat,nn Is putting IL
which they sha-and that bcfor. iong--aI
surely emancipa,c tn" farm !aborer from bond.
WAY I" ,in@rnsinwn or the Atlantic Ocean. '''
On March 81. 1851. Ireland posssssod . Ga
lined Tor the male scx. / .s,i3 Tor tho female,
ssn'ols' In ,hes. 'a2ss2 ,Calnoiss o rrr 9";
rccoiving Instruction ami sol Of IL. Above
establishments were cIassed n. superior that
English are taught. The designation Of hr!m-
nry is Reserved Tor schools IN which tho ins,rnc,
superior schools and colleges u C93 students
or pupils were receiving education, l2oGt OF
them snE c,nHe c Th %s, sursr.r ns'n p
Ass students: training schools Of the Ma
tiona Board; G2 endowed schools, 81 ecclrsi-
religious orders of men: 30 lnrnastic and con.
vent t srhnHIs; national and 2is private, 40,
pupils. OF whom 3aj. ilG w"rn females. and
52O.sls were Catholics. Ninety Of these pri-
mary schools belong 10 tho Christian brothers
III til" remaining lSl controlled by these men
IN education Is given in the foreign languages
and tho classics; which enables tho pupils tc
cornpsts successfully AZ tn. intermediate OK.
amlnntons. or la prepare men for tho uniyer
<ity and professional studies.
could have wished to speak more in
tellighly of the system Of intermediate educA
ton; | can only say. at present, that IL ha.
done In Ireland what II had done previously IL
EnglRnd-.tirred up both primary aud second
AIRY schools to u noble and salutary emula
ton. You can JUDI" of tho effect of THU
admirable system " competitive education an,
examinations. with thu ski!iully devised AM
graduated scale of lonors, exhibitions" 10
entire youth Of the country. From 1879. irclu
tive 70 1883 also inclusive. 20 2i3 pupils of boil
SEXES and Of all grades were sent up for eXami
nation "a fair field and no fuvor'') of whom
%. GGg were boys and d.j7l were girls; or Thu
total number Is. 76l passed the ordeal SUCCESS
fully. Ii U22 being boys and 4. 739 being rirls
722 boys and o33 girls gained exhibitions
4Os6 lNving obtained either exhibitions pri2e
in books or money, or gold or 81 YER medals. Ii