The San Francisco call., 1907-02-18
TELLS OF |RELAND's
HOPES AND PROSPECTS
Seumas MacManus, Poet
and Gaelic Champion,
Given Royal Welcome
AUDIENCE IS MOVED
Gifted Speaker Faithfully
Portrays Conditions
Existing in Erin

Fairies, conjured out of the mem
ories of old Ireland by Seumas Mac
Manus, the story writer and Gaelic
champion. peopled wa1tons Pavilion
in Golden Gate avenue yesterday
afternoon. The Knights of the
Red Branch celebrated the one
hundred and twenty ninth anniver-
sary of the birth of Robert EN-
met the young Irish leader who died
on the scaffold, and as a feature OF
the day MacManus, who is touring
America, was invited to make an ad-
dress on the subject, How Is Old Ire
land, and How Does She Stand?'
Fairies were not included in the orig
inal pronouncement.
But as MacManus is chiefly known as
writer of tales. and, since yesterday
was the only time at which he was
able to appear before San Francisco
audience. Father Philip Organ, chair
man of the day, stated that the speaker
would do two things: He would read
from his published works and tell some
or the Irish stories which are related
about the peat fire by the old folk
of-the Emerald Isle, and he would also
give his lecture on conditions in Ire
land as made anew by the Gaelic
League and the Sim Fein movements
FAIRIES WE'RE ANGELS
The tales of the gentle people," as
the respectful Irish folk call the fairies,
came first. According to the legends
the fairies are of celestial origin. They
were the neutrals in heaven at the time
of the rebellion which resulted so dis
astrously to Lucifer and his cause be-
fore the triumphant legions of the
Archangel Michael. When the war was
over and Lucifer and his cohorts were
cast into outer darkness, action was
taken against the neutral angels. They
were not wicked enough to be cast into
the painful pits created for the fallen
angels, SO they were simply put out OF
heaven. Some of this body fell in the
sea and became mermaids, others fell
on land and became fairies. Since this
unhappy incident the fairies have
roamed the world, ever seeking read
mission to heaven and striving to pro-
pitiate the supreme power by assist
ing man.
One of the tales, told was that of the
aged priest, Father Phil, who met an
army Of the gentle people, gathered
from all corners of the world. The
fairies refused to let him pass on the
road until he answered the question
Was there a hope of them receiving
the negative and the armies vanished
in the night, wailing down the wind. A
story of more humorous nature was
told of a poor man who received g
cow from the fairies under the condi-
tion that he would treat the good beast
with the respect to which Christian
is entitled But the covetous mar
started to sell the kline, after it hac
generously presented him with severa
~ n e
vanished over the hill, leaving the mar
penniless.
MacManus read seTeral amusing pas
sages from his novel, THE Lad of tn,
O'Feils.' Both by his reading and hi
story telling the author won his audi
ence. His quaintness of narration anC
humorous recital appealed strongly t,
his hearers.
MANY IRISH GATHERED
Walton's Pavilion was crowded will
enthusiastic Irish and Irish-Americal
men and women. Father ORyan opened
the programme with remarks on tn.
character of Robert Emmett who's,
| birthday falls on March 4, date an
ticipated in the exercises of yesterda.
owing to the presence of MacManu
in the city. David Manlloyd san.
Back to Ireland" and as an encor
The Minstrel Boy" Miss Lorett
Barr sang in Gaelic The Wearing o
/ the Green" and warmed every drop o
! Emerald blood in the pavilion. En-
NETS address from the dock after h.
had been condemned to death was re
cited with dramatic effect by Thoma
w. Hickey A reel was danced by Mis-
Pearl Hickman. Miss Clara Coyne, 10
seph Kelleher and Dan Cotter
WANT IRELAND FREE
~ -.
gramme MacManus delivered his ad
dress on present conditions in Ire
land, which are due to the movemen
! started a dozen years ago by a ban'
of young enthusiasts. who first com
menced a revival of interest in tn
Gaelic tongue. DR.. Douglas Hyde
head of the Gaelic movement, and VIII
liam Butler Yeats, the esthetic poe
/ of the cult, have preceded MacManu
| to this city, but since the work of tn
new Ireland champions spreads daily
each new leader has an augmente,
message to bear to those who hav
i left the old home for America, but al
1 lowed their hearts to stay in Erin
! MacManus spoke largely from the ma
terial side of Ireland today. He sal
i that wages have doubled there an
many large corporations and railroad
either prefer that their employees speal
the old Gaelic tongue or make that
| qualification for employment. Twelv
years ago but thirty of the 5000 school
in ireland taught the old tongue, nov
5000 have it in the curriculum.
It is the hope of the Sim Fein move
/ ment that immigration out of Irelan
will be stopped through the establish
ment of means of livelihood for tn
young people. But most of all it i
| the desire of the leaders and the peo
! pie that Ireland be freed from tn
government of England. That is tn
dream of the Irish people. and the
| have every confidence in the realiza
! tion of their fondest hope.
/ Seumas MacManus left the city las
] evening for Los Angeles.
pinion he was laboring under such