Wichita eagle., 1888-07-05
IRISH GREETINGS AND PHRASES.
Peculiar Expressions Heard Among tht
Natives of the Green Isle.

Peculiar Expressions Heard Among the
Natives of the Green Isle.
When an Irishman is moved to graft
t:lde 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 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 off the
evil eye. The friendly criticism, That's
a fine slip of pig" is always followed by
quick, We'll. indeed, it's not bad one,
God bless it'll"
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
Kelly"-though tradition speaks of lady
of that name being potency in Dublin.
There is fine soIorous swing about "By
this and by that but it bangs Banagherw
and we know that Banagher was once upon
time a seat of learning.
''Tare-an-agesI" is refreshing, if mys-
tcriOus; ''By all the books that ever were
open or shutp has 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 Moses!' though
there is no authentic account of that emf
nent Semitic musician; and there is q
deeply devout meaning in the curious ex-
preston, please the pigs" which is
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 in mo-
ments of danger as Queen of Heaven"
and Saints in glory" or Saints alive"
are expressions of admiration or wonder
As examples of richness of diction, take
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 franel May many tears fall upon
thy gravel" 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 q 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 ssy: This charm set for
love; a womarf's charm of love and desire;
charm of God that none can break
You for me and I 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 lone with the spots"
the hedgehog was called "the ugly little
fellow" and the wren YVES known as the
"Druid's 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 vividly picturesque words and H.
lustrations sportsmen with attentive ears
can pick up. Concerning romantic rab-
bit run the question was asked: care
there many rabbits about?" Many Is
its' YVES the reply: '-sure there are whole
funerals of them the procession of rab-
bits suggesting the curious idea ANY
trout III this stream?" ..Trouts, Is il?
Wait till the food goes down bit, and
yer honor can walk dry shod over their
backs to the other London Teie-
graph.