New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-20
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
STUDIES OF IRISH SCENES AND CHARAc-
TERISTICs.

rp,su LIFE AND CHARACTER. BY Michael
MacDonagh. Second Editlon oc'a'o' pP ''"'
$50 Thomas Whitaker
NJ c.wvnn,s hook like the two on Devon and
vvsIes which have preceded 1t in the series to
which II belongs. has been written chiefly FOR
,he instruction OF the tourist. Donegal ana
Antrim. he declares. are delightful regions TOT
the holiday maker One Is nearly always De
tween the heather and the sea- with WIG
mountain scenery lending grandeur to the rather
bleak prospect and when one tires OF the iano-
scape one may find good sport in the numerous
salmon and trout streams. Historical associa-
lions are not as rich as the thoughtfui traVeiiei
,,o,,d like them to be- ireland has never had
nor Rannockburn." observes Mr.. Gwynn, TO
reconcile her TO many Flodden Fields bu, IL
there are few relics of victory to shed goioen
glory upon the land, few names TO act Nhe
tr,,mpet calls 10 the imagination. there Is Hu0i
old legend OF a misty romantic sort ana oui
author has contrived to weave 1t enectiVey iii''
hts otherwise not very highly colored narra''Ve
Tho b,eakness to which we have alluded Is
not Incompatible with some gracious pha9ee "a
.o,rre In the glens there are often marvellous
floral riches. Mr.. Gwynn has founo III '"e'''
thousands Of bluebells, marsh marigolds, or
rh,ses. primroses irises and other mowers.
The country remains bare in many places 1t is
because
,ou hpt the people have. of course. much to 90
NTH Il They are cheerful, and. WITHIN certain
limits willing. They work faithfully and they
sndu,e their hardships without too much
yr,,mblins. But they do not take readily TO new
a.. Az Gvvnn relates the story of Burton
Port. a fishing place where six or seven years
400 the catch was mainly spread to rot on the
acids and serve as manure. The parish priest
strove 10 persuade his charges to eaten more
es, and cpre them The rest may be told In the
authors words as follows:
aarangues falling. he got boat and nets. ana
tried the game on his own account, 10 SCI an
example but was not successful, IN spite oil tne
apostolic presidents. However one Oh NE ,tf,,Ds
nar Who had been in America and seen Things
Sora tried the experiment also. ana mace ols
haul then a second and then q thlru, anu "
that time the neighborhood was ehcouI aeeu
Then came in the Government anu az
r,nrev 70 b,Iy boats and nets, estaplsheu
m,rin9 station and brought men over from
Scotland TO teach the process What 10 tiIe ~.
s,l,7 Last wear there was paid down on liIe
nnav inward of $4,000 for the take or nsh 10
almost a hundred boats. Local tradeshleI II.
Dungloe cured, one three thousand ana ahotnet
four thousand barrels. Women 90 the vuIIns'
90 can earn I was told, about IA shhlhss
week at IT, not working excess IN houIs, an ~
must be remembered that in the agricu'u 4. a.
narta NJ the country shillings week is tHo
highest wages paid 10 laborer IN rec vno,,
work Besides all this, cooperaee mas DC.
get I'D at the port. giving more ernpIoy jre
big London merchant is establishing JoraI'
station of his own on one OF the nttie lsIaiiu9
sna net .making, If not boat building should
follow In process or Time
n, course. the inference is that as the haoa's
p, ENTERPRISE introduced In this instance are
6eveloped in Donegal and Antr1m-ano tne pew
o,a are gradually coming 10 appreciate theIh-
agricultural as we'll az other pursuits VIII NC
,ostered In the mean time Mr.. G"yhh mas
homes that pleasure-seekers will help by their
exnenditures in the districts to make then
nrosnerous. Railways and roads are ALREADY III
good shape. Inns are fairly good and so are
some of the hotels. Bicyclsts Will ma Dohesai
md Antrim excellent for their purpose thoush
or author warns them that they will have TO
do some hard walking now and then ms
i, ,9uidebook follows clear and useful plan anu
sls written in pleasant style The ILLUSTRATIONS
are by Mr. Hugh Thomson, VINO mas h''hei.o
confined himself 10 figures. but now broaoens iii'
scope and gives US charming pictures OF arch'-
lecture and landscape as well as OF irlsh types
Much of the interest in this book lies Ill Ills
,rt,st,c sketches of mountain. lake, glen and
village
Tn the preface TO his Irish Life and Charac-
fer Mr. MacDonagh protests that the DOCK Is
not to be taken simply as collection OF arc"
stories He has endeavored TO present Gu
herent study of his countrymen in the mass
and while he has found the humorous anec-
dote Indispensable. using 1t on nearly ever!
page ne also gives good deal or serious ooiii
r,ent on Irish traits He is strong the sub
feet of popular decisions about Ireland one OF
these he SAYS. is that the "brogue" is but an
other name for certain freaks OF irish prohuh-
citation made familiar in works of fiction and IN
KIa
the sort. The brogue is an accent an information
-mellifuous saucy. leisurely-an index. In fact'
of the Irish character-and to convey 1t in print
IS bevond the power OF man. IT has certain
neculiaritics of infection and emphasis whlch
cannot be represented by written words, even
when the pen is in the hands of an lrishman.
II is the softest mellowest and most musical
thing in the way of accents outside Paradise
and perhaps inside for all know" That
concluding burst Of devotion indicates the tone
IN which Mr.. MacDonagh writes throughout.
He is in love with his native land, and does not
shrink from allowing US TO see 1t. Even when
he is writing OF the abominabe drinking habits
common in Ireland scarcely a century ago or OF
the native passion for duelling and faction fight
ing. he manages to make his countrymen at
tractive and almost lovable.
His Partially is excusable, and, besides, the
reader is bound to meet him with good humor
there are so many laughable things in his book
One may not agree with ali that Mr.. Mac
Donagh says. but one can only enjoy him when
he quotes stories like this one: "A priest met a
parishoner going by train TO race meeting
Where are we off now, Mick" he asked TO
Punchestown races. yer riverence.' said Mick
You are going to hell them! exclaimed the
priest. 'Musha fax, II am. what natter re-
Piled Mick; for I've return ticket and here ii
is" Then there is the tale Of the witness in g
murder trial. who was charged with having q
pistol In his pocket. and having IT there with
felonious intent. Come SIR said the lawyer
ION the virtue OF your solemn oath, what die
YOU get the weapon for?' ION the vartue Of my
solemn oath" replied the witness, quite limo
a.u.l,. nnd without the remOfeSt intention O