The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-04

OF the most valuable results l think no enc
can doubt. Late finds that;n been made
in Ireland 90 TO prove the trustworthi-
ness of that most WONDERFUL chronicle OF
prehistoric Europe called in Gaelic the
'Lebar Gabhala, which, written shortly al
ter the introduction of Christianity into
the country. purposes TO give history al
its peoples fiom the time of the Deiuge.
THE valuable collections Of antiquities
and manuscripts to be found in Dublin, es-
pecial that of the Royal Irish Academy.
which contains the later ends. as well as
the articles of gold in fhe British museum
Illustrative of the early history OF Britain,
the most of which are Irish, could be re-
produced, in the case of the metal ob1e U.s.
by electrotype. while the more valuable
manuscripts are now issued in photo 1.-the
graphic copies by the academy in Dub IL at
a comparatively small cos. In fact, these
magnificent collections could be repro
duced, classified. and arranged without IN
volving any very great measure OF expense,
and the educational value of such work
would undoubtedly be incalculabie. No re-
productions have as yet been made OF
those precious examples of early Gaelic
contained in the manuscripts written by
st. Columbanus and his disciples and car
ried abroad to the Continent OF Europe
during the eighth and ninth centuries
These are now to be found scattered among
the libraries of France, Germany, Switzer-
land, and Italy. Although written origi-
nally in Latin. in the cursive Roman hand
of the fifth century, their margins are Ior
the most part covered with exhaustive and
voluminous Gaelic CLOSES, poems, etc.
Among the most noteworthy of these is
copy of Prician's Grammar, in the library
of st. Gall; St Paul's Epistles, in the Uni
versity of Wurzburg, and commentary on
the psalms of David, by Columbanus. now
in the Ambrosian Library, Milan.
THE CLOSES on the last-named work a'e
so extensive and vouminous that, accord
ing to DR.. Whitley, a very complete gram
mar and dictionary could be compiled from
them alone. Dating from the period OF
these manuscripts TO the close OF the NJ
teenth century there exists an almost IN
developed literature, the productions Of
which are, in many instances, among the
finest monuments of human genius. 1t has
only been during the latter part OF TINS
century that Gaelic literature and art have
engaged the attention of the world, and
the former begun to be translated INTO
English aad other modern languages.
Portions of the "Lebar Gabhala." or BOOK
of Conquests," especially those relating to
the legendary history of Greece and Rome
the destruction of Troy, the wandering
OF Ulysses, the story of the Aeneid. the
| life of Alexander the Great. etc, have ap-
peared in English translation. This work
was compiled by the bards, or learned men.
after the introduction into the country Of
Christianity by St. Patrick and is prob
ably the greatest antiquarian enigma in
existence.
ireland the Oldest Nation.
IF the statements 1t contains are true,
ireland is the oldest ration in Europe,
and its history is perfect and complete
from the days OF Noah. In TO ether docu-
ment are pre- historic times recorded with
such appearance of authenticity and truth.
In addition TO the portions mentioned of
this great work, poems, tales, etc. trans
lated from the ancient Gaelic, have APP
peared from time to time. This literature,
dating as it does from period when the
| greater part of Europe was in a state of
barbarism is, In some respects, the most
polished that the world has ever known.
The lyric poetry, especially, is receiving
the attention of poets of the present day.
as il exhibits most delicate and elaborate
methods of versifcation, and is exemplified
| in some of the latest English works, no
tably in portions of Tennyson's In Me-
| moriam.'
The char of Gaelic OF the Catholic Uni
versity was endowed by the Ancient Order
OF Hibernians and its work as carried on
1 by ID. Snahan, the first Incumbent, and his
I successor, DIR. Henebray. has acquired an
international reputation. DR.. Henebray
| was born in 1886 at Mt Bolton, County
Waterford, Ireland. He studied at st. John S
| College, Waterford, and afterward at st.
| Patricks College, Maynooth. He was or
| dained TO the priesthood in 1892. He went
/ 10 England where he resided some years,
| studying under the celebrated philologist
/ DR.. Stricken. at Manchester College, and
! graduating there as professor of Sanscrit
/ and old Irish He afterwards went TO Ger
many and studied at the Universities of
! Friesbourg and Baden, having for his mas
| ter at the latter place the great Tomney-
/ san. He journeyed TO Grifswild in the
duchy OF Pommerin on the Baltic, where he
studied under Dr. Heinrich thinner, with
whom he now regularly corresponds in the
! Irish language. DR.. Henebray made his
/ doctors examination in August, 1898, his
| dissertation on that occasion having for its
! subject the "Phonology OF Desi Irish He
came to this country 10 take up his work
in the Catholic University in October,
| 1898.