Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-06
THE Sim FE|N'S WORK
Patriotic Aim of the New Irish
Society.
ORGANIZERS ENCOURAGED
Marked Progress Shown by the Dub
lin Exposition.
REVIVING GAELIC LANGUAGE
Cooperation of the British Govern
ment-Wonders Accomplished by
the New Land Bill.
ORGANIZERS ENCOURAGED
REVIVING GAELIC LANGUAGE

the I'VE" Lduu Dill
Francis j Kilkenny of the office of the
controller of thu currency has returned
from his annual visit to Ireland. his former
home He found much To interest him
this time. especially in the agitation for
home rule and the work of the Sim Fem,
the new Irish organization. To a Star re
porter Mr. Kilkenny described this society
and present conditions in Ireland He said:
Sim Fem is Gaelic expression and
translated means We. ourselves The Sim
Fem movement has as its object the cult
walton of self respect and self-reIiance, the
revival of the native tongue. the teaching
% music the perpetuaton of Irish Gus
toms the development of home industries
and the purchase of home manufactured
goods in preference to all others. Although
the movement is of recent origin. it appears
to be gaining favor with the masses and
the organizers feel greatly encouraged by
the interest thus far manifested in their
undertaking. one of the planks of the
society's platform is the withdrawal of
representation of the Irish people in the
house of parliament. If this clause should
be eliminated. the platform would more
Than hkely be accepted by the people
through her members in parliament many
recent measures have been enacted tending
10 improve the present condition of the
people. For this reason. it would seem ex-
pedlent for Ireland to continue to have rep
resentation in parliament
Il was very faVOrably impressed with
the various exhibits of art science, inven-
ton and manufacture at the Dublin ex-
position. The Irish people. as a race, are
TO be highly commended for the progress
and Roadway which they have made in the
face of adversely in the past fifty years
In my opinion, the tide of emigration can
not he stemmed until factories are opened
up. market at home and abroad is found
for Irish products, and remunerative EN-
ployment given to the army of unemployed
who. otherwise, will have to seek their
fortune and livelihood in foreign lands
This cannot be accomplished. however. I'M
less substantial encouragement is given
them by investing capital and opening up
the marts of trade.
Reviving the Gaelic Language.
DIR. Douglas Hyde is the prime factor
in reviving the native language, and has a
substantial following. He and those active
~ interested in the work are justly en-
titled to praise for the excellent results ac-
complshed up to this time. The British
government has evinced an interest in its
revival by appropriatng a sum of money
AMI designating Sly organizers who will
act as governing board and whose duties
shall be to select teachers. fully competent
10 instruct in the Gaelic language 1t is
also proposed by the organizers of Gaelic
instruction to introduce the bi-lingual Sys-
TEN. which means the teaching of the
different subjects of the school curriculum
in both Irish and English. For example
mathematics may be taught one day in
Irish and the next day in English, until
by the end of the course all subjects are
being taught through each language.
Something should be done to improve the
present course of study in the national
schools. The curriculum is too elementary
and the board of education should devise
some means by which the system now in
vogue will provide for 4 more thorough
teaching of the common subjects heretofore
taught. The compensation paid instructors
is inadequate to secure the services of COM
petent people. and the position is not de-
sirable one with the present salary. num-
Der OF schools are in dilapidated condition
and steps should be taken by the govern
ment to build habitable quarters for the
pupils
Benefits of the New Land Bill.
The new land bill in Ireland though in
operation but for short time. has worked
wonders for the people. Prior to the pas
sage of this bill the tenants were compelled
to pay an exorbitant rent for their lands
In case any improvements were made on
the premises. the landlord increased the
rent, This has been eliminated altogether
and the owner has been given an incentive
10 Improve his land without fear of addi-
t'',6l 'dA@'ioh- II - great consolation TO
feel that some day the present tenants will
own their holdings in fee simple.
The raising of crops has been discontinued
TO great extent by the farmers in Ireland
within the last decade. due to the fact that
weather conditions have become such as
10 make IL Improbable: and the land is
now turned into pastures for grazing pur-
poses Another difficulty encountered is the
securing OF help with which to till the soil
as so many people have emigrated to Amer
lea. The paying of higher wages than was
formerly done is no inducement to those
VINO remain IN their native land because
they have enough work to keep them en-
pnycd taking care OF their own lands
From Present indications the potato croD
THIS year will be a failure in Ireland be-
cause OF the iuCesSant rainfall 1t was
with extreme hardship because of the con-
succeeded In saving the E1y. and the season
Is sad to have been unusually wet
Combining Small Farms
'The migration system has been started
in Ireland and think will be very bene-
fcial to the small farmers 1t aims to buy
up small tracts OF land and consolidate
them into one farm. thereby relieving the
congestion which exists at the present time
The great trouble is that farms of ten or
Twelve acres are too small To cultivate
The board proposes to induce the small
holder to sell at a profitable figure to his
neighboT. and a larger place is offered in
another section. In certain districts there
are number IF farms of about ten or
twelve acres of land that under the most
favorable circumstances lit would be as
much as any holder could do to make a
living out of. because the soil is so Door |
am Of the opinion that if this plan is car
ried out 1t will benefit the community"