The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1889-11-30
] He Gel tic I ONc U'E.
The Study Of the Irish Language o.
Rare Interest to Modern
Philologists:
IT'S ANTIQUITY AND lMPORTANC CE,

II ..A 81
Its ANTIQUITY AND lMPORTANC CE
| The Irish Race Have Attained a HiP]
Social Standing by Their Talents
and INTEGRITY.
Well nlgh sixty years ago d.. Prit
chard, in his splendid work entitled
''The Eastern Origin Of the Celtic
Nations" first drew attention to thu
Importance of the irish language. This
distinguished writer skilled in linguistic
learning, deemed the ancient language
Of Ireland of vital Importance to all
who make any pretentions to Philology
on account Of its affinity to the ''San
scrit, Greek and the Germanic Ian
guages."
A decade of years had barely finished
their course, when man of Irish birth
and lineage entered with we'll directed
energy and great ard0r on the arduous
work of preparing for publication a
grammar Of Erin's national tongue.
He was marvelouslY qualified for such
an undertaking, and scholars from the
different universities Of Europe have
borne testimony to the success and
ability with which he has discharged
the self-imposed duty. DR.. John O Don
n0van was man of great natural gifts
and magnificent requirements. Among
the scholars and philologists Of any age
or country he may be considered emf
nent, and in Ireland his researches and
patriotic achievements have made his
name as imperishable as the granite
cliffs that guard her Western coast.
. In l845 his ''Grammar of the Irish
Language" first appeared. It was
founded on q very practical knowledge
of.the spoken language, and q thorough
and intimate acquaintance with Irish
literature both ancient. and modern.
So clear and mprehensive. was this
work that it enabled great minds in
many parts of Europe and America to
pursue the study Of our national Ian
guage and literature with pleasure and
appreciation. Other great minds there
were, such as Prof. Eugene O'Curry
and Vallancey. who devoted much
means and remarkable erudition to the
resuscitation Of our ancient language.
Professor Max Muller, occurring on
languages, shows pretty clearly that the
European races, before starting from
their original location in Central Asia,
possessed q common vehicle of ex-
changing ideas. Emigrating from the
common centre they moved westward
in mighty waves, The earliest of these
migrating bands, on reaching the shores
Of the Atlantic, according to this grave
authority, was REPRESENTED BY the
Celtic dialect" For this reason alone
the study Of the Irish language must be
of rare interest to modern philologists.
And it is. Ever since the publication
Of DR.. O Donovan's work the interest
has been waxing warm and strong.
The mantle Of Dr.. o Donovan has fall
en- on q German named John Caspar
Zeuss, whose Grammatica Celtica is
a work everywhere admired by those
who are competent to judge. Professor
Zeuss has spent considerable time of
late Ia the Irish capital enlarging his
knowledge Of this great subject and
perfecting himself in the English lam
gnage. The materials on which he has
labored are to be found without stint in
Ireland, notwithstandi ling the vandalism
Of the Anglo-N Norman invaders. There
Is 3 goodlv number OF Irish manuscripts
still extant in the Royal irish Academ
and Trinity College. Through the aid
Of some Of those old writings the Os-
slanic Society Of Dublin demonstrated
the famous McP Pherson fraud 81 But
it's IN continental libraries that most
Of the NJ. SIS. Of ancient Ireland are to
be found. They were taken thither by
Catholic Missionaries who went forth
to found monasreries, and spread the
light Of the Gospel ID other lands. It
was. however, during the trouble with
the Danes. and again from 1871 to the
treaty Of Limerick that the priests and
mobility of ireland took with them 8
great deal sof the liter rature of their
native land into France, Spain and:
Italy. Hence We fad, here and There,
in the writings of the monk references
tos Comp ositiones llnqua Hlnernica ve-s
tnsta scriptae. This Old l&nGuaRe3of
Hibernla was for the most of them aS
sealed book JIG was from snch mate
riaIs. according to his own testimony,
That Professor Wind dischs conapiled
Concise Irish ram MAI = which, by the
way has been ranslated aEshort time
slnce ~ mo ofssso1 goffS Catherine 81
ICoIle ambEId IN glslld Besides
zeuss 4 n i tlers ~ l theI
cpntiinent as lfo ii . Is
sILaer md other
s|il| B ~ u