The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1908-07-25
named o'Lothchain refer. to the bar.

\ named o'Lothchain refers to the bar
& racks:
{ speak further Of the fortress Of cham
pions,
81 Which was also called the Fortress Of
Foolish Women;
The house Of champions was not q
weak one,
With its fourteen open doors.
The members Of the Fianna had a
L fixed stipend, but from May to Novem-
Der had to support themselves by hunt
abstinence and exercise. Their duty
In time of peace was that Of a national
.polioe-to Check thieves, enforce the
payment Of taxes. check outlaws and
all other evils which may effect the
u country" There were several severe
conditions which every man who was
received into tho Fianna was obliged
Ito fulfill.
The first was that he should not ac-
! ospt any fortune with his wife, but
select her for her beauty. her virtue
sand her accomplishments.
Tho second was that he should not
Insult any woman.
4 The third was that he should never
deny any person asking for food.
II The fourth was that he should not
turn his back on less than nine foe
1naen
Additional conditions, introduced by
Finn MacCumhaill, were attached t.
the military degrees which every man
was obliged to accept before he was
received into the Fianna.
I. No person was admitted to them at
1.-The great meetings Of. Uisnsach, nor
at the fair Of Tailten, nor at the feast
Of Tara. until his father. mother and
relatives gave a guaranty that they
would never attempt to avenge his
death on another person; that the can
didate should not expect anyone to
iavenge him but himself, and no matter
what evils he might commit, that his
4! friends were not to be sued for them
4 The second condition was that tho
4 candidate should have read twelve
d books Of philosophy.
i; No man was received into the Fianna
4 until wide PIT had been dug for him.
In which he was to stand up to his
!. knees, with shield in one hand and
sfa hazel stake the length Of his arm IN
the other. Nine warriors, armed with
s;spears, came within distance of ninc
! ridges Of ground Of him and threw
4 their spears At him all at once. Should
slhe be wounded. despite the shield ana
Il hazel staff, he was not received into
the order Of the Fianna.
t No man was received into the Fianna
!. until his hair was first braided He
was then chased by selected runners
through a forest, the distance between
them at the start being one tree. #
.they came. up with him he could not
be taken into the Fianna.
No man was received into the Fianna
II his weapons trembled in his hands
No man could be received IL single
braid of his hair had bsen loosened by
q branch as he ran throrsh the forest
No man was received into the Fianna
/, whose foot had broken a withered
a branch in his course. (This to insure
4 light and careful as we'll as swift run
ners, who left no trail)
No man was received unless he
4 could jump over tho branch Of tree
az high as his head ana stoop under
one as low a. his knee.
No man was received unless he could
pluck thorn out Of his heel without
coming to stand.
And finally. no man could be re-
ceived until he had first sworn fidelity
and obedience to the king and COM
nander of the Fianna.
It's sin that there is no place for
kvisitors to stay at Tara. The nearest
hotel is seven miles away and tho lord
OF the manor cannot entertain every
American tourist that comes along. l
a know Of no lovelier landscape or moro
attractive site for summer hotel, but
suppose the patronage would be linn
tied, because we are a long way from
The railroad and an automobile costs
1S suineas q day ana an allowance Of
~ shillings for the board and lodging
Of the chauffeur and whatever gaso-
line may be used
We were sorry to leave the historic
place. Ono is sorry to leave almost
every place. in Ireland. 1t is such a
fascinating country. But the next stop
will develop something else quite as
novel and interesting as it did to us at
Castle Dunsany, the ancient home Of