West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1893-09-21
THE COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION.
An Interesting aud Well Written Ar.
ticle on tho treat SHOW.
WORLDS FAIR. CHICAGO, J
September, 1898.


Glass Works in the Midway Phis.
ance. The village WAS designed
and erected by Mrs. Ernest Hart,
the president of the Donegal Indus.
trial Fund, philanthropic orgami-
zation founded ten years ago, to
develop handwork and home indus.
tries in Ireland. The village con-
tmns a representative exhibit of
lnsh art, industry, history and
antiquity, and should by no means
be missed 10y any visitor ut the fair.
For here he can not only study Irish
art from its first dawn in tho DAYS
of the druids to its latest achieve
ment in painting and sculpture !;
but he can stand on real Irish soil,
can sit in the Wishing Chair, can
look on the face of lreland's pres.
ent-day libcrstor, Gladstone, as
chisled by the Irish sculptor, Bruce
JOY can occupy for n moment the
chair used by the great O'Connell,
and can hear the liquid gaelic
tongue spoken by Irish colleons mt
work spinning anu lacemaking in
the cottages scattered round the
village green. In the words Of Ire
lands poet, Goldsmith, this Irish
village is indeed Sweet auburn of
the plain" and it is difficult to
exhaust its interests. 1t Is repre-
sentative OF Ireland at her best and
happiest. The village is approached
by the st. Lawrence Gateway at
Drogheda exactly reproduced. Once
beyond the portocullis the village
street is entered, and here in the
different cottages tho handicrafts Of
spinning and weaving Of homespuns
md linens, laccmaking. sprlgging
embroidering, wood carving and
wrought iron are being carried on.
On the village green MacSweeney,
the piper, direct descendant of the
MacSwlnes OF Donegal, plays stir.
ring tunes while Irish jigs are
danced to time and step. Beyond
the village green rises tho stately
pile of Donegal Castle, reproduced
one half the size of The original. In
the great banqueting hall ls gather
cd together fine collection of Irish
art and industry. At the head OF
the hall stands the colossal statue
Of Gladstone by Bruce Joy, which
is acknowledged to be not only n
remarkable work of art, but the
best portrait OF the great statesman
The walls are hing with portraits
Of famous Irishmen and draped
with splendid pieces Of embroidery;
paintings 10y Irish artists and of
Irish scenery arc displayed OH
screens, and on tho stalls are quan.
titles OF Irish lace, IRISH embroidery,
Irish wood carvings and IRISH home
spuns made by tho workers trained
by the Donegal Industrial Fund in
various parts OF Ireland. A court
train which took Irish girls 800
hours to embroidcr 10 gold occupies
u glass case. In the court room are
unique rcpllcas OF the Celtic ilInmi-
nations Of the seventh and eighth
centuries, and engravings Of old
Irish crosses.
Irish melodies on the harp played
by the accomplished harpist, Fa-
biani, Irish songs sung by Miss
Sullivan, OF Oahircivoen, Irish
music on tho violin IS heard ali day
long, and from time to time Mrs.
Ernest Hart gives AN account Of
the village and what it teaches.
Beyond the ruined Keep Of Done
gal Castle rises to the height Of a
huodrod feet the tall, white form
Of the Round Tower.
In the tower garden the weary
may rest under the shade Of The
trees and enjoy the hospitality OF
the restaurant.
Irish music is heard while tca Is
slipped or lunch partaken in the
/ pleasant garden. Close by is the
Wishing Chair OF the Giants
Causeway standing on real Irish
soil, on which no lrisbman should
fail to stand and brelthe prayer
for Ireland The success of this
Irish village means light and learn.
ing and prosperity TO some Of che
poorest parts Of Ireland. and both
because Of ITS aim aud its worth 10
appeals 10 every Irish heart.