The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-11-24
PRESIDENT LIKES
SAGAS OF CELTS
Revival of Gaelic Language
Interests Roosevelt.
ENGLAND'S OPPOSITION
Government Using Every Effort to Stop
Use of Language Of the
Irish People.
ENGLAND'S OPPOSITION

president Roosevelt has made marvel
ems progress in his study of the Gaelic
literature which Douglas Hyde viii ex-
pound when he comes to Washington to-
morrow" said Maurice z. Egan, pro
fessor Of English literature at the Cath
Ollie University Mr. Egan was the
man who interested the President in the
Gaelic language about three years ago
by sending him translation Of some OF
the principal poems. They struck a
sympathetic chord in the nature OF
President Roosevelt and since that time
Rir- Egan and he have been fast friends.
studying and criticising together.
THE revival Of the Gaelic language has
cached such development IN ireland
hat at present the language which was
0rmerly the dialect of the common
'eople is now the language Of the lords
md barons OF the island" said Mr..
1gan- Through the efforts OF Doug
as Hyde and William Yates, the two
irish poets. several theaters for the
production Of plays of the Gaelic tongue
have been established.
Opposed by Government.
The opposition on the part of the
British government 10 this movement Is
shown in the recent order OF the post
Office department forbidding the ad-
dressing OF letters in the Gaelic. So
universal has the language become in
ireland and Wales that it is said that
the people OF these countries refuse to
use the English. The British govern
ment has given no support to the re-
cent movement for the revival of the
Gaelic togue. in fact they have opposed
II wherever possible. with the result
that at present the funds for maintain
ing the schools and theaters of Ireland
and Wales are exhausted The object
OF Hyde's visit TO this country is to
raise sufficient funds for the mafnteu-
ance Of the schools already established.
The present trip TO Washington, how
ever, : simply a preliminary visit to
me lecture tour 10 be given later. On
that trip he viii deliver a series OF lee
lures AZ the Catholic University and at
the Columbia Theater, which viii be
open 10 the public. Mr. Hyde is at
present al New York lecturfng He
chose this country because of the in
terest OF the people and the President
IN the Gaelic language and literature
" nile he is in this country he will
be the guest of the President at a lunoh-
con to be given IN his honor and TIE
faculty Of the Catholic University will
hold q banquet in one of the hotels in
his honor"
Relation to Ancient Latin.
IN discussing the qualities of the
Gaelic language Mr.. Egan said: THE
language. which is in all probability
corruption OF the ancient Latin forms.
possesses a peculiar adaptabiIity to the
gay and the melancholy alike It is the
most flexible of al languages. The
sagas. or songs. which are the special
delight of the President. are the re-
counting in simple yet effective verse OF
the exploits Of the ancient chieftains OF
the Isle. They rank IN literary quality
with the songs of Homer and Virgil.
In three years the President has made
himself master OF all the principal saSas
and many Of the love songs OF Con-
naught To show what a wonderful
reader the President is, II is due him
10 say here that the other day when
the italian ambassador came 10 the
White House and began to converse
with Mr. Roosevelt on the literature OF