The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1894-11-10
ETY.. Among the society. members nearly
100 yearly subscribers to the Gaelic
journal have been found.

At a recent entertainment given in
Providence under the auspices OF the so-
ciety, Father Ryan explained in clear
and simple way the nature and object OF
the Irish language movement here. The
Immediate object of the society, it was
stated, is to instruct in the Irish Ian
guage all who through scholarly, educa~
tional or patriotic motives wish to pre-
serve and cultivate tongue so replete
with interests of the most varied and ab-
sorbipg nature. The ultimate and in
deed the fundamental end Of the society
is to create and foster an active interest
in the Irish language revival movement
now 80 rapidly and happily progressing
in Ireland. TO attain this, its principal
end, the society aims at producing as
large number as possible OF readers
who can readily understand the elemen-
tary Irish textbooks, and thereby open
up and extend new fields for the sale of
such publications as best promote the
present phrase of this truly patriotic aud
elevating moment in Ireland. Hence,
while it is not at all contemplated that
the Irish Ian guage shall to any large OK
tent ever be revived as living lang uage
in America, it lis, nevertheless, the fond
fervent ana reasonable hope Of this and
kindred societies throughout the United
States that respectable number OF the
scattered children OF the Gael shall, by
this means, learn to read and appreciate:
in their adopted homes, the growing
publications ia modern Irish issued in
the old land by the lovers and cultipa-
tors OF the language and literature of
Erin
The noble inspiring action OF over
100000 members of the Ancient Order Of
Hibernians in unanimously voting at
their recent annual convention the es-
tabllshing of Kettle chair in the Catho-
lie University of America gives splendid
proof of the self respecting Irishman's
undying love for the soft, sweet
beauty of his fathers tongue, and, at
the same time, points to the probability
of now and highly interesting develop
msnt of Keltlc stuaies and scholarship
in the great enlightened republic Of She
Western world.
In replyMo q question often, alas! pro
posed in our day by tho very children OF
the land in which the Keltic language
reached it's highest development, Why
revive the Irish language? What goo3
can come of it? We would briefly say:
First. 1t is the only living link CON
Meeting our race and people with the
days of their national freedom and glory.
Second 1t is the only real badge Of
Ireland's distinct nationhood; the Eng
lish language, beautiful as it is, and sur
passingly rich in it's marvellous treas
ures of a literature of unequaled
history is, after all, out the glittering
badge of slavery and degradation in
genious]y fastened upon the Ireland
of to-day.
Third. It is the precious Inheritance
whose manuscript materials alone cover
considerably more than 1000 octave vol
unes, committed to our careful keeping
by the saints and sages Of our cultured
Christian civilization. IL is the en-
shrined embodiment Of the lofty Thoughts
and beautiful fanciss OF an ancestry
tracable almost to the days of Noah.
It's venerable age and chaatened
beauty sloquently plead it's preservation
and declare it crime to allow such q
mother tongue to perish.
Fourth. It is useful, aye, necessary,
to the philologist, historian and anti
quarian. It's chronological value is to-day,
in the opinion of eminent European
scholars, Of incalculabe service to all
who would rightly understand the story
of the mighty nations of old. While for
eigners in Germany, France, Italy and
even England are begging us to preserve
and foster language so valuable to
scholars and so interesting to all, it is
sad and humiliat,ngly painful to see the
utter indifference of the Irish themselves
to their own national tongue:
In conclusion, the Irish language is
still living one. 1t is even now the
languageof 100000 Irish homes It is yet
the favorite speech of one sixth {800,000)
Of Ireland's population, which it's melo-
dious accents still make music among
the hills and Wales of one third of the
land Of Erin. More than 1000, GOO of the
exiled Gaels can still be found in these
United States who cling to and often
use the language OF Patrick Cormic and
.Brendan. The language is being taught
in hundreds Of the Irish schools, and
government patronage thereof is yearly
growing larger. There are more writer's
and readers Of the ancient tongue in Ire
land to-day than there have been in q
century.
$50 ta~wtS e SEvN c~S 4@. a .