The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-05-28

alternately and IL her beautifui voice
burst forth in song, in imitation OF
her sisters, she was forthwith gagged"
And yet he who has made himself
even partially acquainted with The
Ballads Of Ireland" in two volumes.
finds that minstresly was never
wanting in that beautiful island. Even
in the time OF the Druids the melody of
song and rhapscdies OF MINISTRIES were
heard Ireland is reputed to be really
rich in poetic records. The Irish bards
are described as having been endowed
with "epigrammatic style" and it was
also terse, and was rich in tenderness
as well as a certain grace. We have
not space to pursue the theme.
Ireland has a literature of which to
be proud. A country that mas produced
a Swift, a Sterne and Sir Richard
Steele, glorious Dick" Of the 'specta-
ly in philosophy; a Parnell, Goldsmith
and Moore in poetry, and we might add
a Wolfe, who wrote THE Burial of Sir
John Moore, and Hon.. Mrs. Norton
and DR.. William Maginn, and many
Others who wore worthily the poetic
baze. 1t is probably true that the real
paternity of McPherson's "Ossian," a
work Of genuine Inspiration and marked
merit. but gloomy as the grave, despite
what may have been said, is Irish. So
Joseph Hume. the Scotch historian,
and Dr. Sam Johnson, Englishman to
the backbone, and other eminent au-
thors and scholars thought. We can not
stop to write Of Swift again, but we
must refer for a ome to Oliver Gold
smith. one of the purest of all writers,
and one Of the most simple hearted of
authors, and yet he wrote some of the
most poetic, genuine verse in English
Neutrality-suspicious. so graceful, so natur-
| al. 81 pure. so delightful. He was not
only charming as a poet, but he wrote
admirably in almost every department
OF literature. His essays are admirable,
replete with unaffected grace, humor
and delicacy; he wrote history, not
| very profound or original, but a model
of narrative style; he wrote plays that
are almost inimitable for n~aturalness,
humor and animation; he wrote on ma
tural history with the same refreshing
elegance and purity that characterized
all he touched: and lastly, he has left
the world a perennial charm and an
immortal legacy in the Vicar of Wake
field" it's most perfect specimen Of
compositions paragon really of pa
thos, originality. gentle humor and
ease. James Sheridan Knowles was
another successful writer of comedies
that had much success. John Forster
in his Life of Goldsmith" says with
truth: For they who have loved,
laughed. and wept with the Man in
Black of the Citizen of the World the
Preacher of the Deserted Village and
Doctor Primrose in the Vicar of Wake
field have given laughter, love and
tears to the Reverend Charles Gold
smith," the father of the more famous
son. When the poet Thomas Gray, au-
thor Of that immortal poem "Elegy in
a Country Graveyard" was dying, he
heard THE Deserted Village" Of Gold
smith read. and with marked emphasis
said-"That man is a poet"
There were many other Irish writer's
who may well be named. There were
Gerald Griffin, Anna Maria Hall, Sir
James E.. Tennenr, Robert Boyle, Man.
gan. the two McCarthys, MCGEE, Fer
guson. Simmons, Mrs. Wilde, Richard
Dalton Williams and others. We have
not had space to discuss Tom Moore,
who had rare lyrical gifts. He wrote
of many things-the sorrows, the joys,
the struggles, the hopes, the chivalry,
the philanthropy of life.
And yet the roll is perhaps not half
ended. We have mentioned, with two
or three exceptions, only those with
whom We have some acquaintance, and
whose names have been familiar on
two continents. Ireland has lac many
sons over whose birth the MUSES.
watched. who deserve recognition, but
their writings are scarcely known
abroad. or are read mainly in this land
by their own native countrymen.
Ireland has done under the extraordi-
nary circumstances no little for letters.
We may believe that so long as men
shall revere the good, the noble, the
beautiful. the inspiring; so long as they
shall continue to be pleased and fasci-
mated with animated discourse or thrill
ling eloquence; so long as they shall
nave taste to enjoy the most idomatic,
graceful English, the Hottest forms of
language and thought. or the versatil-
ity Of genius as manifested in so many
ways. so long will they III to the best
and most inspiring OF Irish contribu-
tions-to Goldsmith and Swift, to Burke
and Sheridan, to Sterne and Moore, and
to others of Ireland'S best endowed chill
dren, for mental God and stimulant
for delight and solacement, n S long
will they hold in grateful remembrance
that fair land. the island gem OF the
seas, for what she has done.
RELIGIOUS JOTTIFGS.
Rev Charles Sturgeon. regarded by