The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-15
MACDONALD PLEASED THEM.
Large Audience Hears His Lecture
1.-THE Music of Ireland"

An unouestionab BILE compliment was
paid John Macdonald by the audience
which comfortably filled the First Con-
gregational church Tuesday evening for
the purpose of listening to his second or
a series of lectures. About year ago
1 Iectured on the music of Scotland .
explained the lecturer, land some one
asked me when 1 would give another
and without thinking I told them that
1 would lecture in just one year and
then on the music of Ireland
Il had forgotten that promise until 1t
was called to my attention three or four
weeks ago and 1 couldn't break 1t and
this program this evening is my attempt
to keep faith with my friends 1 do
not like to commence my lecture with
an apology. but the truth is there is
something the matter with my epiglot-
It's"
The speaker eulogized Ireland, it's au-
thors warriors statesmen and musicians
to the skies and then made compari-
son with his native country OF Scot
land in which that country did not SUI
fer from the comparison. ireland, ne
continued lis a country OF beautiIuf Ell
fects, the lights. shades and water Ell
fects ell intermingle and the result IS
seen in the people of the island as well
as their music and songs"
Preceding each selection Mr.. Mac
Donald gave a brief description of its
author and origin favored with Tae
self and there was not a moment OF
the entire evening that the audience was
not in the best of humor and expectant-
ly awaiting the Introductory of the fol-
lowing number
asI would rather be the author of that
classical selection. Kathleen Ma
vourneen,' than the owner of millions
continued the lecturer, Tor IL is
classical production though the critlcs
may not agree with me. Ihey may
he
music of the day, but the really classical
music is the kind which lives on and
on and never grows old as this song
has done.
This has been labor of love as far
as am concerned continued Mr.. Mac
Donald but l trust that l may have
aroused in you an interest in this island
and its peculiar, responsive people. Tor
they are the most generous and entitled
to the best. 1t is a mistaken idea that
the Gaelic language is dying out and
that 1t is almost obsolete, for il is
stronger today than il has been for
centuries and is spoken by between six
and seven millions of people and is be-
ing taught now where TOT generations
it has been almost forgotten
This language is one OF the Oldest
known and has been traced back thou
sands of years and there IS no DOUBT IN
nv mind that it was used by Adam and
Eve in the garden of Eden. Noah prob
he gave his orders about the ark Ire
land is now passing into the hands of
the people and better days are in store
for the beautiful little island and its
downtrodden people
ireland has done much for the Htera-
ture and art of the country in the past
thousand years and in the succeeding
thousands IT will be more fruitful than
in the past The author of Father
O,F,Ivnn' has added ten years to my life
by having written the song and I wish
that some one else would write another
lust like 1T and extend my life ten years
longer"
Mr.. Macdonald was assisted in his
lecture-musical recital by Mrs John
Kleinhans, Miss Nellie Pond, Miss
Emma Gordon, Mr.. H. L. Shirer and
Mr.. Harry P Knowles. The music, both
vocal and instrumental. was uniformly
good and appreciated by the audience,
twenty-five selections being included in
the program as well as a rendition OF