Arizona weekly enterprise., 1888-07-07
IRISH GREETINGS AND PHRASES.
Peculiar Expressions Heard Among the
 Natixas of fha C.rean IsIe

Peculiar Expressions Heard Among the
 Natives of the Green Isle.
 When an Lishman is moved to grati tude by kindness. his praise and thanks take the form of unbounded blessings, his objurgations are deep, picturesque and highly colored.
 "God save all hereP is the common form of salutation on entering a cottage. and "God save you kindlyl' the answer Anything that Is admired by stranger is always promptly blessed, to keep of the evil eye The friendly criticism, That's fine slip of pig" is always followed by quick, Well, indeed, it s not a bad one, God bless itl'
 Turning to the subjects of blessings and of general asseverations, we shall find the Irish language peculiarly rich and fer tile In variety of idea and adjective, and often in real beauty and poetical form of expression. Few can tell the origin of such phrases as By the powers of Moll Kellyl'-though tradition speaks of lady of that name being potency in Dublin There is a fine sonorous swing about By this and by that but it bangs Banagherl" and we know that Banagher was once upon q time a seat of learning.
 "Tare-a -agesr' Is refreshing. if mys terious; By all the books that ever were open or shutl" has a vast literary sound about it, and when it is intended to take that oath falsely the word never is adroitly substituted for ''ever." just as in the old trials witness prepared to do his best for the poor boy in the dock" would kiss his own thumb, but not the holy book, with sounding smack. Very fine and majestic is the rythm of By the piper that played before Mosesl" though there is no authentic account of that em nent Semitic musician; and there is deeply devout meaning in the curious ex- pression, Please the pigs" which is 0 corruption of Please the pyx," the sacred vessel that holds the host on high at the mass. "Wurra Dheelish" means Sweet Virgin, who is sometimes invoked ill mo- ments of danger as Queen of Heaven" and Saints in gloryr' or Saints alivep' are expressions of admiration or wonder.
 As examples of richness of diction. tako the charm blessing to be said to an old woman: "Oh, aged old woman of the gray locks, may 800 blessings twelve times over be on theel Mayest thou be free from desolation, Oh woman of the | aged framel May many tears fall upon | thy graveP' A "wise woman" properly blessed after this fashion. will make you dream dreams of importance, which dreams you must never tell fasting and ] o1t tal1 fba-,, fref to # l,a name of Mary.
 Again, there is something touchingly poetical in the words of the western charm for love- Three times, secretly, over drink to be given the beloved one, the girl will say: This charm I set for love; a woman's charm of love and desire; a charm of God that none can break You for me ard l for you, and for none else; your face to mine and your head turned away from all others.'" So with the old Irish names of animals; they are Indian in their descriptive power. The ant was ''the slender one" the trout was called "brae," the "one with the spots, " the hedgehog was called 'the ugly little fellow" and the wren was known as the 'Druid's bird. " because if any one could understand its chirrup, as it darts from bush to bush he would have a knowledge of coming events, as foretold by the bird
 What viyidly picturesque words and il lustrations sportsmen with attentive ears can pick upl Concerning a romantic rab bit run the question was asked: Are there many rabbits about?" Many is it2" was the reply; "slIre there are whole funerals of themI" the procession of rab- bits suggesting the curious idea. Any trout in this stream?" "Trouts. is it! Wait till the flood goes down bit, and yer honor can walk dry shod over their backs to the other side. "-London Tele- l cr1ur,h