Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-10-28


the grand fact, that Irish women
always deserved all the respect they
ever received. They were from the be-
ginning and ale now vivacious, witty,
attractive and beautiful Always as
now they were noted for modesty and
purity When st. Patrick began his
mission in Erin he found these condi-
tons there. Hence, many of the
women then became virgins of Christ
and by VOW of chastity consecrated
their virginity to God. The Irish peo-
pie educated their women. Indeed
Ireland is the first Christian country
in the world, which made women
teachers and professors. In the Irish
schools and universities of yore, fe-
males filled professors chairs and
taught men. The French historian
Thebaud, S. j., tells how in Erin it
was quite common to find women in
the monasteries teaching men the
ways oil ascetic life and religious per-
lection. In the golden age of Ireland's
Catholic development. when most of
the sons and daughters of the people
became monks and nuns. Irish chivaI-
~ became sanctified and supernatural
" iiSHSNSl. tllS Sdlue lnGDduu JGlJS
us, the quarters of the nuns became
undesirable, they formed themselves
INTO ranks. and marched in a body. to
the nearest convent of men. At their
approach the monks moved away from
their monastery, leaving it, and it's be-
longings to the nuns. and built new
quarters elsewhere for themselves.
This is the Irish way. The real Irish
man thinks that nothing is too good,
or too sacred for woman. She is
SO beautiful, and holy, that every man
is to be her servant and her protector.
Hence, We hear SO much of a wager
offered, long ago in Christian Ireland,
by rich and charming Irish maiden,
that alone and on foot. she would
traverse the island, without being
molested by any person. The poet
Mooreavoices this tradition in song.
He represents this maiden, with the
wealth OF queen, and the beauty of a.
goodness. making her island tour. He
tells us that:
Rich and rare were the gems she
wore.
And a bright gold ring on her wand
she bore;
/" But Oh! her beauty was far be-
You'd
Her sparkling gems ana snow.white
wand
"A Sir knight meets her, and in
amazement asks her:
Lady! dost thou not fear to stray.
+" So lone and lonely through this
bleak way?
Are Erin's sons SO good and so
cold.
LAS not to be tempted by woman or
She answers the Sir Knight:
Sir Knight! l fear not the least
No son of Erin will offer me harm
f." For though they love woman and
golden store,
Sir knight! they love honor and
virtue more
The poet, praising tells us that:
On she went, and her maiden
smile
In safety lighted her round the
Green Isle,
""And blessed forever is she who ra.
Upon Erins honor and Erin,s
PRIDE
Third Characteristic Generosity.
Another trait, conspicuous among
the people OF our race, is their open
hearted generosity and tender pity for
others. And this is why the Christian
schools OF ireland were thrown open
to the youth OF all Europe in the sixth.
seventh and following centuries of our
era. All strangers were welcomed.
and without cost or price, were fed
clothed. housed, and supplied with
books. Though the foreign scholars
IN most years, numbered from
10000 to $4,000 or more, everything
was free to them. They were the
guests OF the nation.
As Teachers.
But the generosity of the Irish did
not end here. Hundreds of thousands
OF men and women left their native
land, and spread themselves all over
Europe, teaching and evangelizing ev-
erywhere. A series of hostile inva-
siuns stopped this blessed and holy
work, al home and abroad for one
thousand years, but the spirit of it
lived on in the hearts of the people.
Hence, in the penal days, and since,
while education was against the law
of the land, and while the people were
few and superlatively poor in the
goods of this world. the old time gen.
e"osity was ever shown to the stud.
ent of books The persons, known as
poor scholars wandered from place
to place. and were made members of
any household they saw fit to join |
myself have seen some of these poor
scholars when I wan a child. The
people, almost as poor as they. were
only too glad to keep them gratis,
while they prosecuted their studies
and equipped themselves for the bat.
tic of life.
Their Doors Ever Open.
"a sight familiar in Ireland, is that
OF the destitute poor, going from house
TO house, questing for food. Every
Irish child has seen these poor people
standing at the door, and asking an
aims, in honor of God and His Blessed
Mother When night came on ev-
cry Irish cabin door was open to give
these poor of Christ nights lodging.
All! well we may say with the poet.
Poor Pat is often painted with a
ragged coat and hat
But his heart in hospitality has