Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-03-16
IRISH EVENING
Entertainment Given By c. W. A.
al jacques Opera House.

the sketch and the grafton of the
evening by John J. Splain were excel
| lently rendered and were deserving OF
| the liberal applause given.
The opening number was fantasia
| of Moore's Irish melodies arranged
by OdelD by the Derwin Mandolin
| Orchestra. Notwithstanding the fact
that the Irish melodies as arranged
| We're much more difficult than the
average selection for the mnndolins
the club played them almost faultless-
ly. These scholars Of Professor Der
| win certainly reflect much credit upon
their instructor. Moreover Mr. Der
win must be congratulated for the
numbers which he selects for his
faithful proteges, they always are of
the kind which an audience enjoys.
Edward Downey was next heard in
Believe Me If All Those Endearing
Young Charms" The sweet voiced
tenor was compelled to respond to
an encore.
One of the best papers heard in
this city in a long, long time was read
by Miss Cathie NJ. Leary Of Manga
tuck. Her subject 1.-The Celtic Revi-
vaP' impaired to her auditors much
information on the Gaelic language.
was a gem.
Miss Lauretta Mulligan rendered
Irish airs on the Mandolin and
Edward L. Maloney followed with
"Fontenoy."
Miss Ruth Tanning was heard to
good advantage in soprano solo and
one of the best numbers on the pro-
gram came next. 1t was, the sketch
1.-THE Warrior Bold" written by
Thomas NJ. Frenzy and very well
enacted by Miss Gertrude Auber,
John H. Cassidy and William Shan
nahan. The playlet is mighty good
ana is far superior to many presented
in this city by professionals.
The Derwin Banjo club played
itself into the graces Of the audience
with some very tuneful selections and
were given an encore.
Mr. Splain followed with his instruc-
tive address which shows how famil-
lar he is with the exploits of the Irish
race in this country. AS usual the
speaker was in fine voice. He said:
when one undertakes to consider
the achievements Of the Irish race in
America he inevitably opens the his
tory of this great republic from cover
to cover. From the day that Charles
Carroll of Carrollton stood by the era
die of American independence 10 the
present time when Il member of the
Irish American Historical society Is
serving as chief magistrate of the ma
ton that history is luminous with the
deeds Of men of Irish blood. No mat
ter from what angle we examine the
growth and progress Of the republic,
whether in the lines of its material
expansion of its intellectual advance
ment, we find Irish names on the
watch towers that light the way of
study. If our search takes us into
military struggles Of the republic
these names are found in crowding
clusters that overtax computation; il
II leads us into the arteries OF peace
where the conquests of industry and
commerce and intellectual application
TEEN like leaves of the forest, Irish
names shine like diamonds In a coro-
net of royalty. The brightest pages
Of American history would never have
been written had they not been traced
by the results of Irish effort"
He referred TO the early ages when
the freedom of thought and speech
and action characterized the race,
when Ireland was known as the land
Of the saints and scholars and the
intellect of the world turned 10 its
shrines of learning as the most fruit
full font of inspiration and national
liberty became lasting tradition of
the Irish people. He said il was
only natural that the Irish emlgrants
should bring to this country a rove OF
liberty and devotion TO ideals that
have made them conspicuous in the
arteries of American life.
What prominent part the Irish
played In the Revolutionary war was
plainly discernible i'm view Of the
statement of John Culinary Shea that
of the 2ss.OO0 men that fought under
Washington fully one half were ma
tive born Irishmen. After the war
a Mr. Galloway when asked by
committee Of the house of commons
Of what the Continental army was
composed answered that scarcely one
fourth were natives OF America:
about one half Irish and the other one
fourth principally Scotch and English.
He referred to the fact that Washing
Ion when encamped at MOrristown,
y. J. in 1850 made public proclama-
lion Of Irish participation in the war
and the day est Patrick'sl was OBJ
served as one Of gratitude for Irish
cooperation in the fight for liberty.
He made mention OF the fact that
when the army was in dire uced Of
money twenty-seven members OF the
Friendly Sons OF st Patrick contri-
Juted one hundred thousand pounds
sterling for the cause Of liberty.
And another instance Of Irish SYM
lathy was when 1000 Irish soldiers
n the English army declared they
would rather die than fire on the stars
md stripes. lie said these soldiers !
were the Irishmen who
lad TO be bound hand and foot when I
eaying England as they refused to /
20 aboard transports.
The concluding number was the
'lsying Of the Star Spangied Ran /