The Washington times., 1905-10-22

especially in my thoughts as I write
Inc Gaelic League has just been hold
ing Its ninth 'Oireachtas." To pro-
nounce 1t as 1t is spelled would be hard
enough. but even that is made harder
ana we are told 1t should be pronounced
as nearly as possible "Airuktas"
j II seems. however, to have given great
pleasure to a large number of Irish neo-
pie and their friends. and IL Il were not
for the ireland Militant" attitude, the
speeches would be interesting to the
larger world
The rebeliious spirit seems to find re-
lief in such grand phrases as those de-
iivered by DR.. Douglas Hyde, who call
ed upon 100000 Gaelic Leaguers to show
mat they would not be dictated to by
BRUSH clerk In British govern
ment ohice." The British clerk IL
seems. had withdrawn the gran. of
SlZ'ooo year for teaching Irish in the
SCHOOLS The plays in Irish seem to have
oeen deservedly popular; and. besides.
encouraging Irish literature and free
uom or speech-the latter, perhaps
scarcely needing encouragement-the
Oireachtas took practical form I'm the
encouragement of Irish industry and
art And all with the praiseworthv aim
OF inducing the Irish people not to erni-
CRATE, but to stay and flourish in the
country they so greatly love.
Worship of Taste.
Among. the false gods that this gens-
ration is condemned for worshipinx a
brilliant writer has denounced the wor-
ship of Taste. and with ease and arm
men he has proved that whether or not
d tning Is done in good taste is of sec ,
ondary importance, TO the question
"netner a thing is right or wrong.
IL thing Is wrong, II must he
wrong. whether it is done in good or in
pad taste. and he might have supported
his theory, but he did not, with a line
from one Of the most pathetic poems
IN the English language. which speaks
OF The coward with a fiattering word.
the brave man with a sword
But question Of the sort can no |
approached for the most part individ-
uaiiy. and though one might hesitate !
TO use the flattering word, still the
use OF the sword must be for extreme |
cases only. Two instances have hap |
pened in England within the past few
years-both in connection with the
rights OF vicars-which are interesting
illustrations of 20 taste.
One story comes from Leicesterstfre /
IN small village in this county the
vicar refuses TO give UP his right to AL
low his sheep to Craze in the church.
yard, and claims that the churchyard is |
his freehold and that the parishioners
Fave no right even to the ground they
buy for burial except during the time
the burial is taking place His per-
sistence in his rights" although the
sheep mutilate the grave decorations and
play general havoc I'm the place, has. of
course. raised indignant protest in the
district; and at public meeting called
to discuss the matter where the vicar
did not deign to put in an appearance he
sent a letter to be read to the meeting,
the pungency OF which scarcely makes
up for the lack of taste and good feel-3
ing. Among other things he says:
Please tell those who are so anxious
about their rights that will gladly bury
them all" AS he is legally within hts
rights the parishiCners can only pray his
bishop TO deal with him.
The other case is more subtle, and l
cannot yet decide whether the bad taste
is greater on the part OF the vicar or of
he public. The vicar of an interesting
church I'm Cornwall has been greatly
by the appearance of lady
in his church who refuse TO wear
hats.
After making some protest in the mat
.er the vicar has at last closed the
.hurch against all visitors. but before
ioing so he mas made the following
statement:
Until quite recently, to all but the
'ery lowest grades of women IL has
unbecoming that they should
walk in public uncovered. Consequently
LII were prepared as a matter of course
without immodesty, or irreverence, to
inter into the presence OF God. In GER
gin cases this is no longer so. and IL
here Is really any defensihie change
II opinion among reasonable and we'll
behaved people. as to what is becoming
" women out of doors, there is no
,hange in the customs of the Catholic
church or the demands OF Christian
reverence in the house of God. This .
grossly ignorant irreverence continues.
md the strongest profess Is needed to
ALI attention to it," ,
l feel certain sympathy with the
'icar. although 1 wholly disagree with
lis views OF a woman's uncovered head
'eing irreverent / think the coquet-
ish hats that form part OF the Sunday
Ittire of the majority of female wor-
hipers are much more irreverent,
hough In my opinion the outward
overing has little 10 do with the in
ward feeling.
The vicar might just as well con-
emn those who object TO wear mourn
ng clothes when a relative dies and
he Is TO quote st. Paul for the use
I hats. he must. logically. forbid also I
he entrance into his church of those
aides who braid the hair and wear 4
ostly apparel
The garments OF meekness, temper