The evening times., 1900-01-25

1t is reported thar there is a growing
movement among Irislmen 10 promote the
study and preservation or the Irish Ian
guage and literature. irish literary socie-
ties have sprung up bo:l in Grea- Britain
and America, and many young Irish writ
ers are wording with determination fo-
the revival of interest in Gaelic legends,
folk songs. and history.
This movement is Of course. partly pat
riouc and partly literary. To everyone
who appreciates The beauty cs the myths,
legends, and ballads o. an ancient race.
there must BE a fascination in the task
OF rescuing these from oblivion and trans
lating their r.eaning for the benefit # the
reading world. Again, the possession OF
a national language and literature. whcth
er written or unwritten. is one of the
surest bonds which can unite scattered
and disorganized people; and # 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 latter reason is hardly as strong as
the former. Race feeling is a thing that
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 a rea! danger
that the mass Of quaint, weird. charming.
anC fanciful Irish myth and legend will be
los, unless pains is taken TO preserve il;
nd Of No. e., be
OF a people is a possession priceless indeed
The civilization Of ireland reached com
paratiyely high point while the rest Of
Europe was stTI scarcely more than
barbarous. and this in itself makes it i'm
portant that the literature Of such period
should be kept from oblivion. What is
more, il is entirely possible that Irish
mythology may throw considerable light at
some future time. on the general progress
OF thought in Europe certain independent
Irish myths bearing a curious resemblance
to Oriental religious legends FInally-but
this is not by any means the least import
ant consideration these grotesque
imaginative. humorous. and often exquisite
ly beautiful legends are interesting in
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. Il 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 ia ola Ts.E
! other 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 il likely 10 be the
4 effect Of what we call advancing civiIiza-
/ tiou anywhere. Such q result is. TO a GER
tain extent. necessary. since Isolation is a
had thing for any section OF inhabited
/ country. and ii will be necessary in the
future for all nations and races TO have.
tC a 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
portance Of preserving certain features Of
the old life. We shall then have real ciyiIi-
zdtiou everywhere. IL should be the aim Of
all thinking people TO preserve the beau
tful. 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 t-a bal
lads which he learned as a child. and takes
to the latest ditty OF the music halls. Il
does gain something when he learns to
read. to WrfIe. 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.