The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-05-15
REFUTES STATEMENTS OF THE BRITISH WRITER'S
An Irish Nation Still Exists Made Up of Many Bloods,
United in Many Sufferings, Destined for
Glorious Future.

A most interesting lecture on the
Dark or Middle Ages, which. according
to Hallam. lasted for nearly 1000 years
from about 500 to 1.50O A. d.. was re-
Gently delivered in Dublin by Mrs. John
Richard Green. wife Of the late Eng
lish historian. Mrs. Green is an Iris,
woman and a historian of acknowl-
edged ability. The lecture was given
under the auspices of the National Lit.
erary Society.
DR.. George Sigerson. President of tho
Society, occupied the chair and in in
Producing Mrs. Green, said he had
great pleasure and honor in welcoming
her on their behalf. The history OF
Ireland had been somewhat like 4
buried city. another a'ompeii. over
whelmed by a volcanic lava of preju-
dice. and the overwhelming ashes OF
ignorance. There had been, however,
some pioneers of intellect. who had.
with much labor and great research,
removed some OF those misleading lay
ers. And foremost amongst the pio-
neers he thought was the lady who
was now before them. and whose works
had contributed to the rehabilitation
| Of their nation.
Mrs. Green referred to some of the
criticisms Of her book lately published.
1.-The Making of ireland and It's I'm
doing" and to some of the sources
from which she drew her conclusions
about medieval Irish history. Con-
tinuing, she said:
The study Of mediacval history must
begin by the gathering together OF
positive evidence as to tho state of
ireland. Now. there does exist cumr-
lativc proof that the ireland of tho
Middle Ages was not country OF
mere bog and forest. full OF wild cat
tie. and wilder men, but a land tra-
versed by roads, divided into estates
and farms. fenced and titled with fields
of flax and corn and orchards in the
lower grounds. while the mountains
and rough lands We're allotted accord
ing to fixed rules for the grazing Of
an ordered number of cattle. And so
far from tho cattle being wild, as
F'rOude would have It, the very deer
on the hills were marked with the
owners brand. Rents went on un-
changed for centuries, and the dues to
as definitely, on the whole. think
they were more definite, than those
levied from English people by their
mediacval kings. Law and contra cts
were sacred. There are three pc
riods." said the Irish laws,
when the world dies: the period Of
q plague. Of a general war; of the dis
solution Of verbal contracts
The towns traded on the manufac-
lures and tillagc OF an Industrious
country. All surplus products were
sent abroad. not only cattle and hides,
but woollcns. linens, cheese. salted
meats, corn. marble and timber. They
sent fine cloaks to Bologna and Rome.
brought back cloth Of gold, velvets,
and satin. Irish coinage to carry on
this trade existed. for statutes Of Par
Lament and Royal ordinances were is
sued to forbid it. The Irish gentry had
houses Of fine timberWork or of stone,
white washed: we hear Of French roofs
and inlaid doors, and bright hangings
and tapestries on the walls. and car
pets to be bought in the markets. The
people clothed themselves in linen and
woollen garments SO comfortable and
suitable that the Norman settlers
adopted them. and the Elizabethan SOL
diers rejected English dress and took
to the shoes and stockings, the shirts
and tunics and cloaks made by the Ir.
ish Richer men bought from Genoa
or Florence velvets and cloth of gold
for state occasions.
They had varied food of all kinds
of meats and game of every sort, and