The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1905-01-14
IRISH 1. PROVERBS
',t:! = :. 80 .,.i.' >.
Old Time Sayings. Many of a
Humorous Nature. .
Not Wit TOUT Their Influence on
Human Thought.

for studying the peculiarities of ma
tions than that which is offered by an
examination of their proverbs and old
time sayings. In these examples of
rrystalized wisdom which have been
handed down from times when even
the hills were young. it is highly inter-
esting to trace the traits and habits
of thought of the various races among
whom they are current They are the
small coin of popular philosophy
stamped in the mint of experience and
passed from hand to hand at an ex-
change rate far above their face value.
Where existence has become COM
pick. proverbs have lost much of their
authority but in simple lives, like
those of the Irish Gael. they still have
large influence on human thought
and action. 1t needs but short stay
in any Irish speaking district" to
recognize this face, and to realize what
Il recompense for absence of books
and literature is offered by this
proverIlial lore, which is known to all,
and is quoted at all times and deals
with every phase of existence.
Even the speech of the Irishman
who knows no Irish is plentifully
sprinlsled with racy smiles-"As fat
as a hen in the forehead" 'As lively
as a bag of fleas." AS idle as a piper's
little finger He's like a bagpipe, he
never talks till his belly is FULL Gas
goodnatured as man after his din
ner;' Hes like the echo, no one
knows where he lives" Although the
life OF the Gael is Il restricted one he
brings to bear on it's affairs Il native
sharpness of intellect, Il force of quiet
lrouy that seldom fails in distinguish
ing right from wrong, the true from
the false, the genuine from the make
believe 1t would be very difficult for
Il splf-Sepker to impose on Il man whose
mind is stored with aphorisms like:
Ills for his own sake the cat purrs;;" |
'Nearcst the heart, nearest the
tongue NO one ever gave advice but
part was for his own good" The say
in%s about self and self interest are
AS numerous as they are biting. "Let
yc tear it as,Inder. says the man in
the middle of the blanket Ito his bed
fellows, whose struggles only kept
him better covrredh '"The man who
was dividing Ireland did not leave him
self ast;' "A worrying man is al
Ways deaf" II have only little and
find it wholesome for myself" 1.-THE
fove Of a follower is for his own COM
fort" Cupboard love-; "Even a blind
man finds his mouth" There is we'll
Known saying, "O'Brien's gift and his
two eyes after it," which is said to
have arisen in this way: One of the
D'Brieus, Lords of Incliuuin, was Wis
tied once by some royal parsonage who
warmly expressed his delight with the
lovely castle, lake and grounds. set
Nike an oasis among the stone fields of
East Glare. Ina fit of impulse o Brien
offered them to him as Il free gift.
Tie distinguished visitor prOfusely
thanked him, and in return offered
0Bren anything in his power to be-
stow. ",Thcn let me take them back
again" cried Inchiuuin, who by this
had time to cool down. and regret his
generosity. Hence, "O'I'rien's gift and
his two eyes after it, longing for IT'D
are applied to the unwilling giver.
cow gets into his garden" is a well
aimed shaft at the thin veneer of good
nature that often ulMlcrieS much I'M
amiahility Hut if inonelinate love of
Number One" is Scatllel as it de-
serves, ii is not that its due need of
praise is not given to self-rclance and
''Bettcr ones cabin and goats milk
than allotler's castle" THE owner of
the COW at ler tall Ito pull her out
of the l'o%,; "Trottng after the great
is the poorest nmrchng;" 'Tis slOb-
berry road. the road TO the big house."
But the way to independence is
through honest work, and the sayings
about labor and toll are very numer-
GUS, and clearly prove that despite the
Dleasure-oving spirit of the people
they know the value of honest indus
try. 1t is indeed said that IF you get
the name Of rising early, you may lie
till the afternoon" but that is a soil
tary example and easily matched
among other people Idleness lazi-
ness, proscrastinm alton are sharply
dealt with. You'll do it when the
cuckoo builds Il nest;" Listen to the
sound of the river and you'll catch
fish, "What's put off will be put off"
"Better be tired than be dead" ''Do it
once and tits done forever" Pussy
workers are reminded that 1T is not
the pot stick makes the porridge, but
& the meal;' and e:lrnestness is incul-
s Gated in the advice. "When you are
i going to kill your mother, kill her."
s The awkward worker twill make !,
4 spoon or spoil Il horn;" and the boast
" ing one is told to edo his work and not
& mind his best" Yet, with that fatal
\ ism which is said to have come from
the East as an element in our charac-
& ter, we are. reminded that. "Better is