The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-06-18
FAIRY TALES OF IRELAND
Collected In the Original Irish from the Lips
Of Irish Story TelIers.
ror,rioh. 1928. nv Jeremiah orH-

people, and all OF which refer to supcrstitions
and ducor fancies special to the Irish.
Nothing can be further from the truth than
such view. Tho more look into these tales
the more atn convinced that they are OF an
clont origin and contain elements Of serious
value. These fairy tales arc stories which. in
| modern dross and in the special fashion OF
| rural Ireland. give us important fragments OF
| n system Of Lelicfs touching future existence
and the relations between this life and another.
| This Kettle system Is very ancient: the be-
lcfs to be found in 1t are MS primitive as those
| held by the Indians OF North America. In fact.
| these beliefs arc part OF that primitive eys-
! tenn OF thought which under various forms OK
| istcd everywhere among men. system which.
| with all its variety was really tho Same which
exists yet entire among whole races OF the
earth. and. in various fragments among
others Some of tho races and stocks of
| America and Africa possess this primitive sys-
| tenn OF thought and religion unbroken, .
! Numerous and important, fragments o! 1t
tions tho most civilized. Though all peoples
retain primitive thoughts in some degree. men
preserve the original ideas Of their race best
and LONGEST, There are certain Garts Of iro.
| unseen world havo been left without attack
almost to the present, day. In, those parts the
tie dead wh tho n Is VIVID and
| in the minds OF many PEOPLE as 1t can be. tits
| un unShaken conviction.
The following are some of the points in this
| fairy system. In great many. Il not all. cases
Of death and sickness infants and young, people
| persons arc substituted for them. The removed
persons. though supposed to be dead or sick:
| places underground. The entrances to these
| arc the various circular cmbank mcnts in Ire;
land called forts. The substituted corpses and
| sick persons arc made TO resemble those re-
moved in such fashion as to pass for thcm.
Tho fairy world is composed Of the original
been removed to 1t from among men and re,
tanned there permanently: There is continual
OF the fairies and the world of men. and there Is
a regular system Of rules and obscrvances by
which fairy taX9r may be Hhta.ned neglect OF
The nature Of the system is seen clearly
enough from the tales and from the adventures
fairies and haye returned. Some Of these have
been punished. others rewarded.
One striking feature Of this Kettle testimony
to the existence Of a life which. though near. is
stu very distinct Is its yivLdness. # Is as clear
turned from neghborinG country.
The following taie gives the Testimony Of an
EYEWITNESS: that pGop!S supposed to be dead ed
boys and girls. men and womon." who were
walking, around enjoying, themselves The
water at night is mentioned in other tales to be
given later on
A poor girl left Cahrcivcen once to seek SER
yIee in the country i1tI towqrd killGrPey. before
SIG cuulN 10 hlliitInpy Snt asked IOr lodgings
took a broom and began to sweep the room and
nnt things II order The woman Of the house
Sn and asEaa wnS ase sepss good
Il would indeed" said the girl. Il am will
do not like zach other then we san part W.
Well" said the woman. III engage. YOU
for a sister OF niue. who lives q milo from
this is sick and I'd like to 90 to her"
Not long after messenger ran to the house
n YOUR sister has young son and wants you
The woman hurried away. and when she
her. she looked that thin and wrinkled and
old: she was more ike Witch than a young
1t seemed that tho night before n man on
horseback rode UP to the door and called out
the fairies that il person in bed is called by
them at night and answers to the first or sec
her. answered. e am here"
dress and come out then" said the man.
She was not able to 20 out alone. SO he
helped her and put her onto the piiion. and
sitting on the saddle himself. rode away. The
nothing TO hold. Being frightened she said:
ho My GGq bn ThsTs ere you taking me at this
You'll see, soon. I'll take you to house
where you'll nnd plenty Of lire and light and
enough to eat and drink: and I'm glad you
tell you. When you go to this castle, which is
q fort. they will give you child TO nurse about
~
and begin to scod and curse. and do not eat
they will grow tired of You and send you home
An o2 v Witch viii b in your homo
She thanked the man and said she would act
us he said. When she entered the fort she saw
the most beautiful palace that man or WOMAN 70 ian
supposed BY their friends to be dead, but who
they pretended not to see her took no notice
Of her she refused food and drnk wan do,,.
eat or drink ts a" yoS 1s T that will suffer ior
tits a cross child that you will have
Tho Eas vtxea but gave ker he in
FAINT. She caught It SO roughly that the child
W Don't DO hurt the child !" cried tho hag, ,
you a blow Win it or III freak its Head" "
She wasn't giving any care to the child when
an opposite door was thrown open. young
brought that woman to This place." The hag
told her what man brought the woman:
1t WAS a great deal hitter for him to leave
was never night when we, went to her place
that we didn't IND the Kitchen swept and the
cupboard. Tel ,he man TO take hor back and
put her in tho bed she left" saying this she
The nag stood up and said to the farmers
wife, B91 l;Gk to the person son W;9 advised ADVISED
tn" youns man Hs took I te by
the arm. lol her out. put her on the horse.
and. going II he the wind, soon stopped at hor
door. and helped her into her own bed. She
saw that tho old witch. lying in her place
made grin at her. then sprang up and went
through tho window. lIor sister was aston
i-hed next morning when she saw her. and
she laughing and looking US young as ever.
This tale shows. among other things. how
tho accidents" OF suit Of clothes are worn IN
this world aUd the substance In another. This
il believed. also. 10y religious persons. who re-
lect the fairy system, ut least in words:
There was q young man by the name Of
Jamcs Fitzgerald vino lived In Clughane. He
grow to 10 n very handsome fellow stout aud
we'll built, but when about twenty ono years
oi age he began to grow thin, his color went
from him. and he got 50 miserable lookin
that people said 10 VAS ina decline. One dav |
an old woman asked him privately what
trouble WAS ON MIN,
III toll YOU" said he. since you ask iae.
"Thcr" isn't an evening thar Tut foot out
side the door hut zee naked man. lie 10 |
haunting mo Ehereye: 10 alter nightfall"
-, o and tell Father Irwin. that's my advice !
to You" said tho Old woman Whether tho !
naked man If n ghost or II dGvil. it's Father |
IRWIN will make MIN keep away from you"