Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-12
DOUGLAS HYDE
SEES CATALINA
DISPLAYS TRUE IRISH WIT
"DURING STORM"
GIimpses of Great Educators Off
Hand PIeasantries, as Noted by
Outing Party-The Doctor ADJ
nllres American Slang

If there is any situation so tragic that
it has no funny side it will take other
than an Irishman to discover it,
DR.. Douglas Hyde, the great irish
educator who has the language of the
country tingling on his tongue and the
hearty, whole-souled spirit of the coun-
try in his handclasp, failed to find such
q situation yesterday when California
wind and weather did all in their power
to make him stumble over it.
Santa Catalina island, the enchanted
isle of our summer seas as it is most
frequently alluded to, was the point
upon which the doctors attention was
centered.
In company with a few members or
the executive committee, lrishmen al!
of them, and their wives the doctor
and Mrs. Hyde started yesterday morn
ing for Catalint. A few forbidding
looking drops were falling from the
heavens and a glance upward revealed
the probable existence of more where
they came from, but members of the
committee were hopeful and the genial
Doctors smiles made up for the lack
of sunshine.
Slang Is Expressive
The excursion party started from the
Huntington depot in special car. Be
fore long the drops became more
numerous BY the time the party
reached San Pedro 1t was raining as
it rains in no other place in the world.
1t rained during the trip across the
channel; it rained during the three
hours on the island; it rained all the
way home, and when DR.. Hyde reached
his room in Hotel Alexandria last even
ing it was still raining.
The enchanted island was hidden be-
meath heavy clouds. The summer skies
forgot their obligations to California
and their duty in upholding her good
NAME and the summer seas were so
unkind as to make it necessary for
many of the passengers to seek state
rooms. Yet the doctor was pleased and
his Irish companions were not alto
gether displeased.
'"I am glad it is raining; why, it make
me feel as if were at home" said the
doctor. 1 did not know it could rain
like this except in Ireland This is one
of the greatest revelations L have had
in California, and / aSure you l have
seen many wonders since 1 arrived
Rain Falls
Only once did DR.. Hyde's face fall
and that was when he learned it would
be impossible for him to go out in the
glass bottom boats.
81 did want to see the bottom of the
sea-" he said. Il suppose that 1 will
have to leave that for another visit,
but tell me more about it."
Members of the committee told him.
and now the doctor is thinking of some
thing which he intends to see on his
next visit to Southern California.
If DR.. Hyde did not see anything of
the ocean garden he learned something
about western humor which he intends
to carry back to Ireland with him. 1t
is even to be hoped that he will not re-
peat all the stories he was told unless
he is very suEe there is no American
around to hear NAIn
Even a very few hours on boat. if
it happens to be a disagreeable day, is
quite a long time, and naturally there
were some stories tC pass away the
time.
What is this word manana, which I
hear the Mexicans say so much?"
asked DR.. Hyde.
"Manana? Oh, yes Eaid Joseph
Scott. "That means do it now"
''Oh; do it now. Why L have seen
that in the store windows" and the
doctor evidently put it away for refer
ence.
A course in American slang followed
and the different members of the party
added some choice words to the doc
tors vocabulary giving some original
explanations of them as they did so.
One Disappointment
It think your American slang is most
expressive" said DR.. Hyde. You seem
to be able to clinch an idea so well. 1t
takes dozen words to say what you
convey in a single one"
BY the time DR.. Hyde returns to
Dublin his friends are certain he will
"cinch'' an idea instead.
At times the doctor would break in
with few words OF his native
language and Immediately every MEM
Der Of the little party began ransack-
ing his or her brains for all the Gaelic
words which they possess
It was the doctors day, for whatever
his lack of knowledge of American
slang, no one dares question his knowl-
edge of Gaelic.
At Hotel Metropole luncheon was
served.
The party was composed of DR.. and
Mrs Hyde, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Scott,
Mr. and Mrs. P. p. Brien, Miss Marie
O'Brien, Phillip O'Brien and his daugh-
ter Miss Nellie. Mr.. and Mrs. John I.
Bodkin, Mr.. and Mrs. II. J. Rowe, Miss
Conneally, Lawrence Brannick and a
Herald representative.
DIR. Hyde's public lecture will be
given this evening in the Mason opera
house and the members of the Gaelic
league will be out in force to hear him.
The proceeds OF this lecture will go to
oil bn of bo