Evening journal., 1909-02-04
MACMANUS TALKS
OF FAERY LORE
Noted Irish Writer Delights
Large Audience Here
Last Night
IRISH-AMERICAN CHORUS
ADDS TO ENTERTAINMENT

Seumas MacManus, who has warmed
the hearts of a multitude of Irishmen
with his stories Of Irish wit and faery
lore, and who has done more to main.
tain distinctive Irish literature than
any other man of his times, spoke f6i
the first time to a Wilmington audi
cnce in Irish American Hall last night
Tall. robust. fair, with a brogue and
a grace to be found IN no one else but
an Irishman. Mr. MacManus delighted
an extraordinarily large audience with
readings from his own stories and
poems and with tales of the Irish wit
that has made generations laugh.
Mr. MacManus has an abounding
faith in faeries He said so last night.
Whether he meant II TO be taken as a
poets license, or whether he has in
deed had his own experiences with the
gentle people" is to be conjecturedi
He told Of the origin of the faeries
IN way that convinced of the whole
souled affection of the Irish peasant
for the little men and women Of tho
moonlit Irish hills. The faerics, il
seems, were formerly angels who had
remained neutral in the conflict be-
tween Lucifer and st. Michael. Foi
their neutrality some of these angels
were cast into the sea and became mer.
maids. and other were cast on the land
and became faeries Now, the faeries
have a great regard for mankind, for,
as Mr.. MacaMnus said. it is through
man that they hope for their redemp-
tion. And then Mr.. MacManus. tolo
a number of stories TO illustrate how
the faeries will assist mortals If
mortals keep faith in them.
Turlah of the Double Hump.
II there is a man in Ireland who has
aided the faeries, oNif but an ancestor
has been kindly to the little folk. tho
faeries will help in thousands of ways.
But they will not tolerate offense. FoI
instance there was Donald of the
Hump, who lived in Mr.. MacManus
own parish. In the other parish lived
Turlah of the Hump Donald taught
the faeries how to sing, for. Il ap-
pears. faeries are miserable songsters.
For this great favor his hump was
forthwith "slid orr at the command
of the faery queen. Now, Turlah OF
the Hump heard Of It, and visiting tho
faeries one moonlight night. sought to
improve on the song that Donald had
taught them. Turlah. however. sue.
J ceeded only in destroying the meter
For this offense. the faery queen order
ed that Donald's hump be "slinped on
nim. And thenceforth Turiah was
known as Turlah of the Double Hump
Mr.. MacManus told the story with q
relish that was almost as charming
as his pronunciation of Donegal, oi
which he Is native.
Then Mr.. MacManus told a number
of stories OF famous Father Phil
VINO was known over all the countr!
side as a great wit. once Father Phi
returned from a visit to the sick &
find twelve couples at his door at mid
I night, each couple eager TO be marriei
, first. Father Phil tried to quiet them
4 and to select the first couple. But tn
I others would have none Of it. 'Wel
them my children. kneel," Father Phi
finally told them. And then he mar
ried them, Mr.. MacManus said. ''ii
bulk" When he had done, Fathe
. Phil said Arise. my children, and as
sort yourselves"
; Father Phil had a great heart 70
the tramps that came over the country
. side Not a ragged wanderer wOul
appear but would be invited to su
with Father Phil. Father Phil
= housekeeper. Kittie Dolan. frowne
, upon them all. however. and littl
would they get il her ingenuity coul
get the best of them and Father Phi
once Father Phil became exasperatec
"Nittie." he exclaimed. when he wa
eating with a ragged old wandere
"Kittie, faith, and / wander some
times. child, II 1t is with a feather tina
G We butter the bread"
y Members of the Irish-Amer.ca
Choral Society sang before Mr.. Ma,
n Manus' introduction.