The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-10-08
Modern Industries.

Irish industrial effort of modern times began
with the silversmith work of the seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries Most notable of examples
of such work at the exposition is the silver dish
ring. These rings were first made to save the fine
mahogany dining tables of the Irish nobility The
Irish gentleman aftef7the regular courses of dim
ner had been served was RECALLED with big bowl Of
whisky punch. The cloth was removed and the
punch bowl was set the dish ring These rings
were used also to hold the wooden potato dishes.
The wooden dish for potatoes was popular because
it was thought that the potatoes were less apt to
be sodden III a wooden dish than III porcelain.
Massive and extremely beautiful also is silver
mace presented to the city of Drogheda by William
III. in 1896.
The marvels of thegpresent industrial movement
in the lower portion of the great hall Here
the cases present bewildering array of bog oak
carvings, jewelry, woolens, the largest linen ex-
hibit brought together, delicate hosiery from
Balbriggan, and poplin, the virtually indestructble
fabric with silken warp and woollen wool is to be
seen in most attractive patterns, the figures en-
tirely in silk
The display of the Belfast Rope Works gives
the record of the most extensive hemp and fax
twisting industry in the world. In these various
exhibits the one of great historical and economic
interest is the wool weaving of the west coast Of
County Donegal, country of extraordinary bleak
ness that gains much of its subsistence from
this industry. The weaving has persisted in a
small way for centuries but in a fortunate hour
the Countess of Aberdeen bent her energies to its
development and probably to its salvation from ex
tinction. The beauty of the weave and the pecu-
iarity of the design and of the dye of the goods
the inducements. The loom as used by the
natives, however, inadequate for the consider
able extension of the industry. 1t improved
therefore, and the new looms were sold to the peo
pie of Donegal very easy terms. They
derive from the manufacture of the wool about
which they color the goods made from the
crotal, Echen that grows on the rocks and that
gives dark brown dye; from the root of the hris
giving dark blue, and from the tops of heather
which makes a yellow stain. The wool is most
suitable for suits and for womens skirts for outing
or general wear. 1t is rather heavy, but finds
ready sale.
The modern Irish artists arc constantly turn
ing to the Celtic motives for their inspiration and
of this circumstance a very favorable Illustration
is to be seen in the hand woven carpets made in
Donegal also, though not in the district to which
reference has Just been made Where these carpets
are most strkngly Irish is in the frequent disrc-
gard for. perfect symmetry in pattern. In one of
the specimens of this work there is single large
design that occupies about two-thirls of the dis
lance across from one of the borders and of whose
duplication there is no suggestion whatever.
The Irish linen and lace exhibit is naturally
extensive and contains all those forms of the work
for which the Celt has so long been famous.
Amusement is not forgotten in the Irish village
The national characteristics of the warm-hearted
race would not permit that. In Barney Castle
there is spacious theatre the stage of which
would permit the presentation of the largest spec
tacle and which has seating capacity of eighteen
hundred persons Here one may hear Ireand's
melodies sung in the most delightful manner and
witness charming playlets or neat light-footed
Irish dancers tripping their native rinkas to the lit
of the pipes