St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-06-07
IRISH GREETINGS.
Peculiar Expressions Used by the
Natives Of the Emerald Isle.

NdulVeS OF the Emerald Isle.
When an IriShman is moved to graft
tude by kindness his praise and thanks
take the form of unbounded blessings,
and when the spirit moves him to curse,
his objurgations are deep, picturesque
and highly colored.
"God save all here" is the common
form OF salutation Oh entering cottage,
and God save you kindly" the an
sWer. Anything that is admired by a
stranger is always blessed, to keep off
the evil eye. The friendly criticism,
That's fine slip of pig" is always
followed by quick, swell, indeed! it's
not bad one. God bless itn'
Turning to the subjects of blessings
and OF general asseveratiOns, we shall
find the Irish language peculiarly rich
and fertile in variety of idea and adjec-
tive, and often in real beauty and poeti-
cal form of expression. Few can tell
the origin of such phrases as Spy the
powers of Moll Kelly r'-though tradi-
ton speaks of lady of that name being
a potency in Dublin. There is fine
that but it bangs Banagher!" and we
know that Banagher was once upon
time seat of learning.
''Tare-an-ageS!' is refreshing, if myS-
terious; by all the books that ever
were opened or Shut" has vast lite
rary sound about it, and when it is in
tended to take that oath falsely the word
''never" adroitly substituted for ''ever,"
just as in the old trials a witness pre-
pared to ''do his best for the poor boy in
the dock" would kiss his own thumb,
but not the holy book, with a
sounding smack. Very fine and
majestic is the rhythm of 'By the pi-
per that played before Moses!" though
there is no authentic account of that
eminent Semitic musician; and there is
a deeply devout meaning in the curious
expression, please the pigs" which is
corruption of please the pyx," the
sacred vessel that no Ids the Host on
High at the mass. ''Wurra dheelish''
means Sweet Virgin who is some
times invoked in moments of danger as
Queen of Heaven;" and Saints in
glOry!" or saints alive" are express
sions of admiration or wonder.
AS an example of richness of diction,
take the charm blessing to be said to an
Old woman: so aged old woman of the
gray locks, may 800 blessings twelve
times over be on thee! Mayest thou be
free from desolation. o Woman of the
aged frame May many tears fall upon
thy grave!' "a wise woman properly
blessed after this fashion, will make you
dream dreams of importance. which
dreams you must never tell fasting, and
always tell them first to woman of the
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 |
set for love; wOman'S charm of love
and desire; charm of God that none
can break-'You for me and |
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 amin ais: they
are Indian in their descriptive power
The ant was 1.-The slender one" the
trout was called ''brae," the zone with
spots" the hedgehog was called 1.-The
ugly little fellow" and the wren WAS
known as the ''Druids' Bird" because if
any one could understand its chirrup as
it darts from bush to bush he would
have knowledge of coming events, as
foretold by the bird.
What wildly picturesque words and
illustrations sportsmen with attentive
ears can pick up! Concerning a ro-
asked: Are there many rabbits
about?"
MANY, is it?'' was the reply; ''sure
there are whole funerals of themI" the
procession of rabbits suggesting the
curious idea. 'Any trout in this
Stream?" ''Trouts. is it?" Wait till the
flood goes down a bit, and yer honor can
walk dry-shod over their backs to the
other side"