The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1908-09-26

were taught in the bardic schools of
Fire some dozen or more centuries
ago, and were sung by gray bearded
bards at Tara or in the great feasting
hall of O,Donnel or O'Neil. Some of
them are so long that several days
are consumed in schanting them, and
they are given pfecemeal.
The tunes, If tunes they can be
called, fall strangely upon ears whose
musical standards, are those set by
Beethoven or .Schumann. There is
no air, no melody; in the accepted
sense, only Rhythmic intoning in
thirds and sevenths, strangely ca.
denced and with sudden jerks and
pauses. The effect is weird, but not
unpleasing. To those who under.
stood the words it must have been,
Judging by the continued applause. a
most inspiring performance.
Thursday and, Friday evenings were
given over to the presentation of the
prize dramas, of which there were
four, all one act and Of Irish life. The
first prize was awarded to Patrick
o'vonaire of London, for his play of
Galway peasant life. 'sBairbre Ruad"
(Red-haired. Barbara.) 1t was very
creditably presented by company of
amateur players from London. whose
command of 1rish.diction was all the
more remarkable in that many of
them were London, born and most of
them had learned Gaelic only within
a few years, 'f
The second prize was accorded to
the Rev. T. O'Kelly of Summerhill
College. Sligo, who Ave years ago had
no knowledge of Irish whatever. The
plays called to the .Rotunda a goodly
representation Of s1relard's literary
celebrities, among them William B.
Yeats, Edward Martyr. seumas o'Con.
molly, seumas MacNianus. Mary But
Ter. Agnes O'Farrelly. Padriac Colum,
Alice MHligan, !Taig O'Donohue and
Susan Mitchell. -.,. ss,... ,l.t
During the. sntires ;ssek the sindns-
trial section held an exhibition in the
pillar room of the Rotunda, which was
visited by interested throngs. The
section devoted to the Dun Emer
Guild was presided over by Miss Glee-
son herself, and no exhibits were
more admired than her beautiful rugs
and enamels.
The designs are for the most part
the work of Miss Gleeson, but il do
sired copies are made of Oriental car.
pets, as the method Of weaving is that
which has been employed in the East
for centuries. The wool used is
grown, dyed and spun at Athyone, the
looms are of Irish wood and Irish
manufacture. and Miss Gleesons de-
signs are mainly notifications of Gel.
tic ornaments and tracery.
There was also a varied collection
of exhibits from the Irish Art Compa-
nies of Dublin, linens, muslins. hosiery
from Balbriggan, pottery and sculp-
ture. An interesting display was the
showing of the Kilkenny Woodwork
ers, an association of craftsmen who
are turning ont some hand carving
and joinery. They exhibited num-
ber of pieces of furniture and series
of bookcases on the American sec
tional plan, decorated with carved
Celtic tracery.
Unique in the annals Of Irish agri.
culture was the display of the Irish
Tobacco Company: 1t consisted of a
large quantity of cigars and cigarettes
all made in Ireland from Irish
grown tobacco. The cultivation of the
leaf has lately been extensively en-
tered into by Lord Dnnraven, Lord
Barrymore, Col. Everard of Randles.
town, and others and offers new
field for the Irish husbandman.
There: were of course many speci-
mems of tweed, linen; lace and en-
broideries; there were poplins, hats
both felt and straw-traveling rugs; ;
books--both English and Irish-sta-
tionery and papers of various kinds
and goodly showing of Irish made
bicycles. An important industry hav.
ing place in the exhibition is that of
grain products, and sn appeal is made
to the public not to let millions Of
money go out of the country for the
purchase of foreign ground -four when
an Irish manufactured article can be
supplied to them.
These and many other exhibits II.
lustrate' one phase of the Gaelic
Leagues endeavors. II may almost be
said two phases, for, symbolizing az
they do The industrial advanceme mt Of
the Irish people. they also bespeak an
intellectual progress. The hand which
guided shuttle, needle. chise! or ma.
chine was in turn guided by a rein.