The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-12-24
A GRAVE RACIAL DEFECT
Boston Renuhlicl

be termed the essentially Celtic qualites-aertness
keenness of insight, swift imaginative power. 1t is
sad that these racial gifts not more frequently
! applied. As it is they allowed to languish.
The most gIaring evidence that we are not max
ing the best use of possibilities is supplied by
recent event which, though relatively unimport-
ant, is still significant indicating the degree of
apathy that has fallen over mental faculties.
The Boston Post is a well-conducted journal It
! seeks modern methods of increasing its circulation
and of increasing the interest of those who are al
ready its subscription books. One of the most
effective of these is the proverb cOntestthe results
of which were published on last Monday. They are
interesting-and Illuminating as to the Irish-Amer-
lean mental activity.
The most microscopic investigation fails to dis
close more than four names that would indicate an
Irish origin And yet the circulation of the Post
lies in great measure among those who are called
lrshAmerican. They read it they accept its views
of current problems; they see the drama of daily
life through its columns But when there is ques-
ton of exercising their minds they appear listessy
apathetic.
When voting contests inaugurated BIZ the daily
press are held there is another side to the shield.
The welkin rings with the echo of Irish names
Rumor fits from lip to lip that names held sacred
in Kerry and regarded with reverence in Cork are
high upon the rolls. As ones eye journeys down
the roll of honor finds in serried phalanx names
that should repesent the fine achievement and the
noble side of Irish inspiration.
The essential difference between these forms of
contest is that the mind is exercised in one and
what is poularly labelled the nerve is exemplfed
in the other.
Our eallousness to the higher forms of mental
activity is depressing. 1t means loss of the right
sort of influence. 1t spells disaster to the aspira
tions that the best among have cherished. 1t IL
Illustrates the contention made through some papers,
repeated in conversations, limited at in business
circles that the Irish qualities not as efficient
rs their essential Importance would seem to imply.
If they are allowed to continue the Irish race in
certain respects will to be the subject of an
empty boast when its eulogists claim that it seeks
the best-that its energy is based upon its intelli
gence
1t may be asked whether we are not attaching
undue Importance to what is, in the last analysis
scarcely worth serious consideration. It might be
said that, the mind of the Irish-American of Bos-
ton stirring along other lines than the mere
unravellng of puzzle.
We not of the opinion that accept this
indication of mental lasstude too seriously It in
dictated drift in the current of our mental life that
has not escaped the attention of discriminating OBJ
servers. In fact, if the matter were clearly put it
might be said that the Irish-American took little
interest in a proverb contest because he was I'M
familiar with the proverbiaI wisdom that the good
sense and the hard-won experience of generations
have put into form.
This wisdom dwells on the lips of the people.
1t expresses their humor, their philosophy of life,
their spiritual outlook 1t is valuable because it is
taken from the heart of life It is not the result
of closet-study but represents the last word that
crisis has forced some perchance unlettered man to
say.
And while it is of the people, vet it is locked in
books. This is the chief reason, i'll the view of the
Republic, that more 1rish-American names are not
found the list of honor
We are not a book-lovir~ people. We care little
for the life among books. The great names of lit
erature are dim to eyes. We do not realize
that while the spiritual life must be fed BY the sa
craments and prayer. there must be food for the
the imagination, the judgment. A book
less house is desert. Yet ignore books. If it
were not for the exalted thought the great spirit
ual purposes which the confessional conserves we
should be aggards i'll the race. Fortunately the
church with the sacraments, its appealing ritual |
the vividness and efficacy of It's ethical teaching
supplies for the place that books hold in the heart
and mind of those not in the union of faith.
We do not want to encourage a race of bloodless |
book dwellers but there great need that the young
should have their minds stored with reasons for the
faith. A well-chosen book is solace and an in |
spiration. 1t is perpetual and good friend
The Puritans understood this Your Puritan
was rather, we fancy. difficult person to get ON
with. He was rather grim and decidedly intoler- |
ant But there was touch of iron in his blood |
and the realization in the background of his brain
that bookless race is inferior race He set up
his house and his barn and dug his bitches and !
prayed Gods vengeance upon those who differed |
from him. But he also set up his printing press
And the printing press is the mighty mother of |
civilization.
His descendants created multiform and high |
civilization that was based books. They made !
history that is full of great deeds and noble names
They deveoned literature that embraces the clas
sizes of this country Three centuries have passed.
What are the results of the Puritan civilization of
books! You have bat to look around you to see. |
Today this little of the world that other
lions would scarcely use goat PASTURE boasts
he greatest colleges the best-equipped technical
schools. the most amply endowed libraries the most
fruitful civic institutions i'll the western he1ns-
)hefe.
The Irish American strain has energy. 1t tin
yles with energy But undifected energy is not
.nough. We must have carefullv-forned intelIi-
renee directing it. frowning upon its mistakes and
eading it to better objects of development Too {
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