Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1905-03-16


mirth.
Long the bards had been arranging to
hold grand Fels Cecil, |
Which would wake celestial echoes and |
delight each heavenly soul
With Erin's classic music and sweet.
Not yet lost to those departed from
earthly scenes so long.
The committee. on arrangements. ever
competent and true,
Comprised such souls as OiSin, Thomas |
Davis. Brian Boru.
OCarolan and Talbot, Lord Edward ana
Tom Moore,
Lyons, Hempson, Katharine Hayes, who
sang so sweet and pure.
No mortal e'er conceived scene so elab-
crate and grand
AS that erected for the Feis by this de-
voted band,
TIL four provinces of Erin, her plains
and mountains, too,
With surprising splendor reproduced in
panoramic view.
Enthroned upon a feecy cloud, irradiant
Sat the venerable Patrick with st. Bridget
on his right;
On his left the "Lion of the Fold" the
faithful John McHale,
While around them stood the hierarchy,
the brightest of the Gael
l
Patrick in fall view
OF the countless multitude of souls who
on earth were ever true
10 his teachings; so with accurate and
able scenic skill.
His throne was situated just above cid
Tara's Hill.
In amphtheatral order was the multitude
arrayed;
And each soul occupied the spot from
whence in death it strayed;
In the center was the spacious stage, To-
Gated near Athlone.
While on the whole a heavenly light in
rich refulgence shone.
A silence deep and reverent o'erspread
that mighty band,
AS it saw st. Patrick stand erect, his
crozier in his hand,
With sublime appreciation OF the homage
offered there,
He blessed his faithful followers and
then resumed his chair.
Pat Gilmore was selected by unanimous
desire
To conduct the music of the Feis and
guide the tuneful choir,
A task which found him fitted by his con-
fidence and grace
And an honor we'll deserved by such
champion of the race.
The varied programme now begins. the
initial part appears:
1t had not been enacted within eight
Since the halcyon days of Brian's court
when harperS were i'll sway,
And wore gold circlets on their brows
and robes of colors gay.
An ancient band of harpers was led upon
the stage,
In quantity gorgeous costumes only known
in history's page;
With heads erect, their features shone
with intellectual light,
Their demeanor full suggestive of their
old-time Bardic might
AS Gilmore gave the signal their harps,
with sweet accord.
Rang out upon the heavenly air in pleas
ing, tuneful chord;
Their voices pitched in perfect key, first
low. then rising higher,
Perfected by long service in the great
ethereal choir
| Their songs, in purest Gaelic told of an
cient Erin when
Twas the land of sanity scholars and OF
most gifted men:
When twas Europe's seat of learning
from which Pauick's light went
70 emblaze the pagan darkness which
prevailed throughout the North.
They sang the Caoine. which oft has been
compared to the Lament
OF David over Jonathan" with bitter an
guish rent:
They sang of ErinS holy men. her poets
and her bards;
They sang in praise of Erins faith. which
| Patrick ever guards.
| The harpers now retired amid the plaud
| its loud and long.
And Gilmore in stentorian tones an
nounced the'd have a song
! From that gifted Irish nightingale, adept
in Irish lays
The matchless queen of melody, the peer
less Katharine Hayes.
A vision Of sweet loneliness and pure, an
T gelic grace,
Rich golden hair encircling her classic
| Irish face.
AS she stood picture. waiting there the
| welcome to subSide,
The beloved of that great multitude. its
| heroine, its pride.
Her voice, superlatively sweet, her hear.
ers did enthrall;
Her tender cadence were heard from
| Kinsaie to Donegal;
She sang believe Me-" "Paustheer
hionn." The Last Rose" ane
''Shule Agra"
| Which stirred her hearers to grand
| spontaneous hurrah.
And now appeared, with harp in hand,
venerable man,
With hoary locks, his sight restored
twas great O'Carolan,
The widest known and best beloved O
] all the minstrel band,
Which wrought that priceless treasure
/ the music of our land.
He struck his harp, the empyrean wa!
| filled with sweetest strains,
That will live while e'er a yestige of ou
| Celtic muse remains;
AS his fingers deity touched the string
his face with pleasure shnne
| Recalling pleasant memories Of the tri
\ umphs he had won.
That gem of plaintive melody, "O'Caro
/ lan's Farewell
He rendered with a pathos which n,
harper could excel
AS, also, his Concerto" and Receipt TO
i Drink SO fine,
And his stirring "Planxty Peyton"--ma,
his memory ever shine.
Now seated on the stage, with anion pipe
upon his knee,
Appeafrn the fa;sous Talbot; farnilia
sight Was he
To those contenfporaneois souls from
Cavan, Louth and Meath,
Who, when in flesh, oft placed upon hi
L brow a laurel wreath.
x That Talbot was master of the art hoy
almost lost
An art in these degenerate days whic
very few can boast
4 Was amply demonstrated by his master
full control
Of the instrument which never fails t
charm an Irish soul.
He played the grand old melodies in pur