The Irish standard., 1905-04-29
They Live Out of Doors Three-Q Quarters Of
\ the Year and Are Strong and Heal
thy In Consequence.
And Whatever is Sent to tho World's Market
BY tho Daughters Of Ireland is tho
Best Of Its Sort.

1t has been said that life in ireland,
barring the famine and poverty, which
are not always prevalent everywhere,
is as nearly ideal as it is possible 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 yearning
to the dear green isle where he spent
his childhood days.
Persons In this country 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 /, 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 us eagerly as do girls of
| other races.
Ireland Is such a 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 81
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
women, and let 1t be said to her credit
that whatever she does she does ex-
ceedingly we'll, 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 fashion, for lin
gerie, handkerchiefs and gowns. The
girls learn "sprigging" in the con-
vents and are as skillful at it as the
French.
| Although "sprigging" Is the most
difficult hand work, the pay is exceed
ingly small, from 18 to 25 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 it when finished; but
the young Irish woman is accustomed
to walking many miles, and she never
thinks of complaining about the dis.
tance to the village.
Although girls and women "sprig"
all summer If they have nothing else
to do, it is usually looked upon as a
winter industry, for then nothing can
be done out of doors. Much enjoy
ment is got out of this work in winter,
for instead of working at home, each
by herself, the "spriggers" gather at
one another's houses, and these gath
erings are called "sprigging camps"
After supper the girls and young
women from all about gather at GER
tain house, carrying their work and
stools with them. There is much fun
and jollity, for the Irish woman Is al
ways 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 a happy
marriage is the result of a winters
"sprigging camp"
The spinning wheel and the fax
wheel are still found in the Irish cot.
tages, and many a girl has her wed.
ding dowry of linen and homespun
made at home, and, although it is a