The evening times., 1900-01-25
Preserving the Irish Language.

Preserving the Irish Language.
1t is reported that there is growing
movement among IrisAmen 10 promote the
study and preservation Of the Irish Ian
guage and literature. irish literary socie-
ties have sprung up bo'a il Grea- Britain
and America, and many young Irish writ
ers are working with determination 20"
the revival of interest IN Gaelic legends,
folk-songs, ans history.
This movement is of course, partly pat
riotic and partly literary. To everyone
who appreciates lbn beauty &C the myths,
legends. and ballads of an ancient race,
there must he a fascination in The task
of rescuing these ffom oblivion and trans
lating their r.eaning for the benefit If the
reading world. Again, the possession of
a national language and literature, wheth-
er written or unwritten. is one of The
surest bonds which can unite scattered
and disorganized people; and it is argued
that without some such bond the Irishman
is in some danger of being gradually merg-
ed in other nationalities. and losing all
pride in his own history and character.
the former. Race feeling is a thing that
cannot be destroyed if it is worthy of con-
tinued existence at all. and the best proof
that Irish pride of race is not in danger OF
disappearing is its survival at the present
time. after centuries of oppression and
degradation. But there is real danger
that the mass of quaint, weird. charming.
and fanciful Irish myth and legend will be
lost unless pains is taken TO preserve it;
and such a record of the life and thought
OF a people is a possession priceless indeed.
The civilization of ireland reached a COM
paratively high point while the rest of
Europe was still scarcely more than
barbarous. and this in itself makes ii i'm
portant that the literature of such period
should be kept from oblivion. What is
more. it is entirely possible that Irish
mythlogy may throw considerable light, at
some future time. on the general progress
OF thought in Europe. certain independent
Irish myths bearing curious resemblance
to Oriental religious legends. Finally-but
this is not by any means the least import
imaginative humorous. and often exquisite
" beautiful legends are interesting in
themselves to the student and scholar, and
must continue to be even more fascinating
and important as time goes on, since the
study OF human thought and racial char
acter is yet in its infancy. Ii is not right
that any beautiful thing should be lost to
the world. We can spare many of our
modern improvements better than We can
spare our poetry.
II is claimed that the English songs and
ether literature now flooding Ireland are
likely to crowd out the Irish language as
we'll as the folk-legends: This may very
possibly be true That is likely TO be the
effect OF what we call advancing civiliZa-
tion anywhere. Such q result is, 10 GER
tain extent. necessary. since isolation Is a
had thing for any section of inhabited
country, and il will be necessary in the
future for all nations and races TO have.
tC certain extent. a common language,
that they may be able TO understand one
another and work together for the benefit
Of all. But if. along with the general
movement for popular education. there are
educated classes who understand the i'm
nortance Of preserving certain features OF
the old life. we shall then have real ciyili-
cation every where. 1t should be the aim Of
all thinking people TO preserve the beau
riful. the quaint, the picturesque, the fan
ciful, so far as it does not interfere with
the general good. The world gains nothing
when the peasant discards a picturesque
costume for a bad imitation Of Partisan
fashions; when he stops singing the bal
lads which he learned as child. and takes
to the latest ditty OF the music halls. 1t
does gain something when he learns to
read, to wr1e, to use his hands more
deftly, to obey laws founded on justice, to
make his house more comfortable, and his
family happier. Perhaps some day we
shall learn 10 promote the ends of educa
tional and civil progress without inter
fering with the harmless and beautiful
traditions of other days.