The Washington herald., 1907-05-22
DIR. EGAN UNDECIDED
Choice of Diplomatic Posts
Not Yet Made.
GREAT FRIEND OF PRESIDENT
Drawn Together by Mutual Literary
IncIinatiOns-Mr. Roosevelt Owes
His Interest in Celtic Folklore to
the Professor Whom He Now
Wishes to Make a Diplomat.

DR.. Maurice Francis Egan Of the Cath
olic University OF America, has not de-
cided whether he will take the diplomatic
mission 10 Denmark or Portugal. The
choice of these places was offered to DR..
Egan by President Roosevelt prior 20 the
Presidents departure for his Virginia out
ing. Lisbon naturally looks attractive to
DR.. Egan. because II is a Catholic court,
but Copenhagen has many advantages
tempting any one with aspirations 20 a
diplomatic career
DR. Egan and President Roosevelt are
great friends Their intimacy has been
based mainly on mutual literary liking.
but in addition. they were drawn to-
gether by common personal qualities. of
which enthusiasm Is one. It was Dr.
Egan who excited the Presidents interest
in the movement for the revival Of the
Irish language and folk literature A
pretty story is told Of how the subject
first came to be mentioned between them
The Roosevelt children had an Irish nurse
whose bedtime tales were full Of the
pranks Of leprachauns, pookas, and others
Of the gentle people Of the Emerald
Isle
The President was we'll versed In the
legends Of the brothers Grimm and Hans
Christian Anderson. but he admitted
woeful ignorance Of the Irish fairies, and
his children began 20 think that their
father was not such a wonderful man
.Fs .f1
Egan about II, and Or Egau told him
that there was a mass Of literature on
the subject
Hears of Heroic sagas.
He told Of the heroic sagas of the Irish.
of Finn MacCoohil, Diarnd, Cuchuladin.
queen Meave Brecrin of the Poison
Tongue, and the TWO famous bulls About
that time the President was preparing 90
make a journey 10 the West lie wanted
something to read on the way.
IN send YOU something said Dr
EgaH. When the President boarded his
train he found there pile of books deal
ing with ancient Irish tradition. His iu-
terest I'm these tales and in Irish Literature
generally was aroused before he had read
much and since then he has been one
of the most enthusiastic exponcnts Of the
Celtic revival
II was the study thus begun that en-
abled the President 20 write his maya
zine article on the old Irish saEas. One
OF DR. Egaus most priced possessions is
the original drawing in colors OF Queen
Melve. used 10 illustrate the Presidents
article. II was given 20 him by the
President
Buries Himself In work,
The Irish sagas article was written by
the President under interesting clrcum-
stances. Senator's Tillman and Bailey had
accused Mr. Roosevelt Of having made
coalition with them through former Sen
ator Chandler, Of New Hampshire. 10
bring united Democratic support 20 the
railway rate bill in the Senate. The
President denied their aIlegE Etious. and
accused Mr.. Chandler Of having departed
from the truth For week or more the
country reveled in the details Of sensa-
tional charges and counter-charges.
The President came TO the conclusion
that the controversy would lead Co no
good end, and I'm order 90 divert his mimi
from the things that We're being said of
him In the Senate he wrote the article
about the Irish sagas. When Dee had fin
ished It the controversy was over