The Irish standard., 1905-05-27
WOMEN OF ERIN
Always at Work and Joyous
Over Life Itself.
Outdoors Much of Time, They
Are Strong and Healthy.


where. is as nearly ideal as it is posi-.
BILE to find in this world says the
Catholic Columbian. That is perhaps
why the heart of the Irish emigrant,
no matter where he makes his home
or how prosperous he finds the world,
goes back with such passionate yearn-
ing to the dear green isle where he
spent his childhood days.
Persons in this couDtry have little
knowledge at most of the life of Irish
women in their native isle, and what
idea they do have is not an attractive
one; yet the life of Irish women is
really very picturesque, and although
they are poor they are not often in
want, and they lead happy, contented
lives, working at something always
and joyous over life itself.
Nowadays all Irish girls are edu-
Gated; even the poorest attend school
long enough to learn to read and
write. there being two school terms
one from May till September 1, and
the other from November till March
and for this reason the young Irish
woman is an intelligent person, and
reads and broadens her knowledge of
the world as eagerly as do girls of
other races.
Ireland is such green, sweet spot
that one could not be native born
there and not rejoice in the loveliness
of the land, and the girls and young
women are frequently as beautiful as
their native moors. They are fresh
and blooming, with shining eyes and
strong, white teeth. They live out of
doors three-quarters of the year, and
are strong and healthy in conse-
quence
There are many industries which
occupy the time of the modern Irish
woman, and let it be said to her credit
that whatever she does she does ex-
ceedingly well, and whatever is sent
to the worlds markets by the daugh-
ters of Ireland is the best of it's sort
The most charming industry is that
of "sprigging." This is embroidering
on linen and cotton in the most deli
cate and beautiful fashions, for lin
gerie, handierchiefs and gowns. The
girls learn "sprigging' in the con-
vents and are as skilful at it as the
French.
Although "sprigging" is the most
difficult hand work. the pay is exceed
ingly small. from Is to 90 cents a day
being the return for their labors. And
this is not all. for the worker has to
travel miles usually to get the work
to do, and to return ii when finished;
but the young Irish woman is accus-
toned to walking many miles and she
never thinks of complaining about
the distance OF the village.
Although girls and women "sprig"
all summer il they have nothing else
to do, it is usually looked upon as a
winter industry, for then nothing can
ment is got out of this work in win
ter, for instead of working at home,
each by herself, the "spriggers"
gather at one another's houses, and
these gatherings are called "sprigging
camps" After supper the girls and
young women from all about gather
nt tniv thr;
work and stools with them. There is
much fun and jolity. for the Irish
woman is always merry and her wit
is famous the world over.
At II o'clock the "spriggers" fold up
their work and go to their homes;
each having some young man call for
her to shoulder her stool and to see
her safely home, and many happy
marriage is the result of winters
"sprigging camp"
The spinning wheel and the flax
wheel are still found in the Irish cot
tages. and many a girl has her we'd
ding dowry of linen and homespun
Al'uS tt uOiiiS, dHu, dltuOlSH IL Is IL
task pursued more by the older Irish
women. there are girls who still do
their spinning stunt and lay by Il cer-
tain amount for their wedding out
fits.
1t is Il pleasant sight to see elderly
Irish women outside their cottage
doors spinning flax or wool, for as
long as the weather is warm the
Irish woman, old or young, scorns a
roof except to sleep under; the free
air and sunshine are her choice.
There is still an excellent market
in Dublin and London for homespun
and woven goods, and many women
of the nobility Of late have done much
to restore the industries Of Ireland to
their former place. and they wear
gowns of homespun wool and lingerie
made in the cottages of Ireland.
When the spring-time comes, or
ware" the "shinetime," as they put
it in the Irish tongue, many of the
girls and young women go into the
fields and help with the planting, a
task in which they delight, as they do
only the lightest part of the work, and
they are out in the glorious ware"
weather which is so much to them.
Later, the having time takes these