The San Francisco call., 1895-11-14
A NIGHT OF IRISH SONG,
w. Greer Harrison Addresses the
st. Patrick's Alliance in
Oakland.
The Litterateur Scores Hit in a
Pointed Lecture Upon Gel.
tic Poetry.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALL, ,,

OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALI
Oakland, Cal, Nov. 13, 1895.
The friends and members of Oakland
Alliance, ST. Patrick's Alliance of America,
crowded Hamilton Hall tonight to cele-
brate the anniversary of the organizing of
the local lodge. President Haran of the
Alliance briefly outlined the objects of the
order in his Introductory speech and the
programme well deserved its name, ga
Night of Irish Music and Song" A fea-
ture Of the entertainment was a short essay
on Irish literature by William Greer Harri-
son. The speaker preceded his essay with
few remarks, in which he introduced
himself as "An Irishman without the
brogue, having lost that in his travels"
Mr.. Harrison's remarks were frequently
applauded and it was very evident that
every body knew more about the history of
Irish art and poetry when the speaker ha d
finished than before.
Mr.. Harrison said in introducing his
subject:
know of no language which contains so
much poetry as the Celtic. The spirit OF the
poet pervades, not merely her odes, her love
songs, her bettle-cries, but also her annals
her laws and her science. This poetical at
mosphere has helped to obscure the real
value of the great works which recent investi-
cation and discovery have declared to be an
Gent Celtic manuscript. To her enemies Ire
land is largely indebted for clearing away the
rubbish of an excessive sentimentality, dis
persing the mists and enabling Irish scholars
to present to Ireland and to the world Ian
guage richer in its character, greater in its pos
slbillties nobler in its construction than any of
the ancient tongues OF which we have any
knowledge.
The lecturer paid tribute to Eugene
O'Curry for his work IN giving to the world
the story OF Celtic civilization. He claimed
that to the Celtic language England is in
debted for whatever there exists in it's own
tongue that is bright and sparkling; that
while the English language itself presents
a ruggedness of beauty and strength, it did
not, until the introduction into the
language Of what may be called the Celtic
style, possess that quality which dis
tinguished the French language above all
others in daintiness of expression and
beauty of form.
After tracing the Irish people prior to
the first century, Mr.. Harrison continued
by showing that from the first to the sixth
century Ireland enjoyed long period of
peace. The literature of that period would
not be of the Homeric or Epic character,
but would be as the people were-pastoral.
But with the Danish incursion all this was
changed. The onslaughts of the old sea
warriors finally aroused a peace-loving people,
and they girded on the sword to defend their
homes from these northern pirates. They be-
like. From 600 A. D. to 900 A. d. there was
abundant material for Homeric verse and
epics of the grandest character.
The speaker discussed at length the ex-
treme optimism of the Irish character,
which often exposed the nation to ridicule.
He also dealt with the literature of the
Irish people as found in the Trinity Col
Iege (Dublin) library in the Royal Irish
Academy, which contains much larger
collection.
In conclusion, Mr.. Harrison said:
l cannot do better than close with a quota
ton from Mathew Arnold in reference to Celtic
poetry: ''The Celt's quick feeling for what is
noble and distinguished gave his poetry style
His indomitable personality gave it pride
and fashion; his sensibility and nervous ex-
altation gave it a better gift still, the gift of
rendering with wonderful felicity the magical
charm of nature"
Other numbers on the programme were
vocal and instrumental solos and recita-
tions. Every number was encored, and it
was well on to midnight when the enthusi-
astic gathering dispersed.