The Irish standard., 1904-09-24
Specimens of Decorative Work the Result of
Irish Handicraft Before the
Christian Era.
Linen and Lace Display Contains Those
Forms of Work Fer Which the Celt
Has Long Been Famous.

For some years past the observer of
things Irish has noted the evidences
of an awakening of commercial activ-
ity in Ireland. 1t has been apparently
a ripple, and to most people it has
meant mere passing ripple of indus
trial excitement. That American on
lockers have been deceived as to the
Importance of the movement is now
demonstrated by the fine showing
made by the manufacturers of Ireland
at the exposition in st. Louis, says
the New York Herald.
In the concession known as the Irish
Village there is a large hall covering
a couple of acres of space, in which is
an exhibition of the varied industries
and arts of the Emerald Isle that
opens the eyes of the astonished visi-
tor. The artistic element is upper
most. The filmy laces from the con-
vents and cottages occupy case after
case and present the latest designs in
apparel for fair femininity. But after
seeing the contents of the exhibit hall
at the Irish Village one concludes
that it is positive injustice to talk
so much about Irish lace-not that the
land of the shamrock appears to have
anything more beautiful to show, but
simply that the lace is only good
fraction of the many crafts that are
now commanding Irish labor and Irish
talent.
The display in the Irish Village has
the greatest significance for Ireland in
the fact that it is being exploited in
an entirely independent manner.
There are Irish exhibits under the
British section in each of several dis
plays made by the United Kingdom
in the different exhibit buildings. But
in the Irish Village Ireland not only
maintains an Independent demonstra-
tion of her activities, but she shows
them all together. This way of dis
playing her wares is being backed by
"a number Of agencies. The recently
created department of agriculture and
technical instruction for Ireland is a
direct sponsor. Furthermore, the
British government is said to be in full
sympathy with the endeavor to bring
Ireland to the front, while the Irish
Manufacturers association is an Or
ganization formed expressly to ex-
hibit Irish goods at the exposition
and may become permanent feature
of Irish business and industrial life.
The Irish Exhibit company, Of St.
Louis, however, is the body actually
supporting the undertaking. It is
composed, of course, Of prominent
Irish-Americans, headed by Mr..
Thomas F. Hanley, the president and
promoter Of the enterprise:
The great Industrial hall is, Of
course, the chief building in the viii
lage, though Of exceptional historic
interest are the reproductions of that
, cottage in county Antrim where the
ancestor of President Mckinley lived,
and of the Chapel of Cormac, in coun-
-ty Tipperary, the only surviving speci-
men Of the architecture of the time Of
which it is representative, the twelfth
century. While the Mckinley cottage
is only reproduction, it contains the
cradle and one or two other pieces of
furniture that belonged to the home
stead.
NIcKinley's grandfather was hanged
before his home, this cottage, for par
ticipating in the rebellion of 1893. The
Chapel Of Cormac is interesting and
beautiful. 1t is an example of Celtic
Roman architecture, expressed in this
case by the round arch and the steep
pediment over the principal entrance
and by the steepness Of the roof. In
side one discovers that the arrange
ment Of the chapel is unsymmetrical
in at least one circumstance, the diff
ference in the position Of correspond
ing openings on opposite sides. Blar-
ney Castle and the st. Lawrence Gate
of Dragheda are two imposing struc-
lures which may be seen from a great
distance. In Malahide cottage, a re-
production Of the home of country