The evening times., 1900-02-24
MYTHS OF OLD IRELAND
An Interesting Session Of Balti-
m0re's Folklore Society.
A Celtic Historical Organization
Tells Interesting Tales and Rem
dcrs Weird Music-POpuIar MeIO-
dies and Ancient BaIIads-Supersti-
tiOus ExpIoded-AU Sorts of Fairies

BALTIMORE, Nd, Feb. 24.-Irish folk
lore and its myths, Irish folk songs, and
incidentally some Irish wit constituted the
menu of the mental feast enjoyed by the
members of the Baltimore Folklore Society
at its monthly meeting in the Donovan
Room of Mccoy Hall last night.
1t was prepared and served up by the
Irish Historical Society, the president, Mr..
Charles p. Monaghan. making an address
on Some Myths Of Irish Folklore" and
the Celtic Quartet of the same society,
singing popular Irish melodies and old
time folk songs. A unique feature of Pres
ident Monaghans address was the assist
ance rendered him by Mr.. p. j. Finnessy
on his violin, giving the drges, supposed
song of the hanshee, and other weird
sounds of folklore
The topic of the evening, sailors and
Soldiers Superstitions, was dispensed
with to give time for Mr.. Monaghan to read
story OF the 'Puca,' by special request
DR.. Henry Wood the president, being alb
sent, DR.. II. NJ. Hurd presided, with Miss
Anna Weston Whitney as secretary.
Mr.. Monaghan began by saying that Irish
folklore was the first current in Maryland
after that OF the Indians, as many of Lord
Baltimores followers were OF the Irish
peasantry. Every act OF the day to an
Irish peasant has its folklore said the
speaker and the vivid Imagination of the
Irish character made his folklore not only
unlike all other, but peculiarly interesting
and occasionally grand and solemn Care
less and genial and witty as the Irish were
always considered, it was noticeable that
the nations folklore should be so lacking
in conscious humor.
''AlI races" said Mr.. Monaghan. have
their periods of intense superstition, and
much of the Irish folklore has survived
because Of the sentiment and reverence in
the Irish character that hestates TO dis
believe those things in which their ances-
tors had set so much store"
Among the myths spoken of by Mr.. Mon
Afghan were the puca, the banshee the
fairies the cadine, and the Leprachaun
The puca was very malevOlent, mischiev-
Gus spirit. usually appearing a horse,
but frequently as a dog, gander, whale, or
eagle II was the first thing an Irish boy
was told to beware Of He had many of
the attributes Of the boyman.' Mr. Mon
Afghan read a story of boy who was per-
suaded to mount the puca. who posing
as an eagle, and was taken to the moon
and left sitting on the horn. The man in
the moon objected, and the puca. as a
gander, rescued the boy. but dropped him
in the sea- finally appearing as a whale /
and taking him 10 land. much frightened. |
wet, and miserable 1t was such tricks /
that the puca delighted in playing. He
was finally tanned somewhat by King OF /.
Ireland who. by a trick, secured three |
hairs from his tail.
The puca, as a horse tried to persuade !
the King TO mount him. their conversation !
resembling that OF Uncle Remus' fox and |
rabbit, but the King Outwitted him, and in 1
trying to tell his age by looking in his /
mouth, slipped the hairs about his Jaw. the I
hairs becoming at once strong steel bands. /
Then the King mounted and rode him in I
a circle all night. plying whip and spur.
The banshee from ban, a woman, and |
'shee," fairy. was spirit Of sorrow and |
gloom. Every old Irish family, whether |
rich or poor. has its own particular ban |
shee that is heard to sing whenever |
member OF the family is shortly TO die. |
The banshee may feel kindly toward its |
family in which case It's song is low. sweet. |
and plaintive Or it may iieTcely hate its !
family. in which il screams and shrieks its |
of death. Mr. Monaghan told |
number of weird stories Of the banshee.
The Irish fairies are much like those OF 1
other countries, living in the woods and 4
springs brooks. or trees. The males wear |
green coats and red knee pants, and fox /
glove hats. The maiden fairies dress in !
white. 1t is believed in Ireland that when /
Lucifer or Satan rebelled in Heaven there |
were some conservative angels who would /
not take sides until they saw which would !
conquer. These neutral angels were not 1
cast into the pit with the rebels. but were /
punished by being sent TO earth as fairies. /
The Irish peasant is very careful Of the 1
fairies and their feelings. No woman. for !
example will throw water out of her door /
at night without first saying. Take care. /
the water comes for fear the fairies .
might be spoiled.
LepTachaun is the fairies shoemaker. /
and as they dance great deal and wear I
out shoes he has made an immense for /
tune He is little fellow very nimble, /
hard to catch and hard to hold. He can .
find buried treasure and has a purse Ia /
which. as fast as one shilling disappears. /
another appears. A peasant once caught /
Leprachaun and made him tell where his /
treasure was He drove his cane into the /
ground 10 mark the spot and put his hat !
on it, The next morning he found hum
ireds of similar canes with hats on them
all over the country and failed to locate
his treasure The cadine is the Irish dirge
Or death song.