New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-05

Nowadays all Irish girls are educated: even
the poorest attend school long enough to learn
to read and write, there being two school terms
one from May till September l and the other
from November till March, and for this reason
the young Irish is an intelligent person
and reads and broadens her knowledge of the
world as eagerly do girls of other races.
ireland is such green. sweet spot that ono
could not be native born there and not rejoice
in the loneliness of the land. and the girls and
young women are frequently beautiful
their native moors. They are fresh and bloom
ing, with shining eyes and strong, white teeth
They live out of doors three-quarters of the year
and are strong and healthy in consequence.
There 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 exceedingly well. and whatever is sent to
the worlds markets by the daughter of Ireland
is the best of it's sort.
The most charming industry is that of "sprie-
ging.' This is embroidering linen and cot-
ton in the most delicate and beautiful fashion,
for lingerie, handkerchefs and gowns. The girls
learn "sprigging" in the converts and are as
skilfu at it as the French.
Although "sprigging" is the most difficult
hand work, the pay is exceedingly small, from
Is to % cents day being the return for their
labors. And this is not all, for the worker has
travel miles usually to get the work to do and
| to return it when finished; but the young Irish
| woman is accustomed to walking many miles,
| and she never thinks of complaining about the
distance to the village.
Although girls and women 'sprig' all sum-
mer if they have nothing else to do, it is usually
looked upon as a winter industry, for then moth
ing can be done out of doors. Much enjoyment
is got out of this work in winter, for instead Of
working at home, each by herself. the 'sprig-
gers gather at one another's houses and these
gatherings are called "spriggng camps" After
supper the girls and young women from all
about gather at certain house, carrying their
work and stools with them. There is much fun
and jollty, 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 mar
riage is the result of a winters "spriggins
camps"
The spinning wheel and the flax wheel are
still found in the Irish cottages and many .
girl has her wedding dOwry of linen and home
spun made at home and. although it is a task
pursued more by the older Irish women.
there are girls who still do their spinning stint
and lay by a certain amount for their wedding
outfit
1t is a pleasant sight to elderly Irish
women outside their cottage doors spinning aax
or wool, for long the weather is warm the
Irish woman, old or young, scorns a roof eX-
cept 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 gowns of