The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-12-21
FINDS NEW FOLKSONGS HERE
MRS. FOX cor TEN FROM FRgSH
SERVANT MAIDS.

- x,
an expert In Irish folksong. who has come
to New York to lecture and publish and
perhaps to found folksong society with
the aid Of such solid men a. Msssrs.
Crimmins. Keogh and Quinn. Indeed.
I've seen no reporters ! was told I'd
be met at the ship by three or four &ud ]
h nd q little paper ready for them. but
dye know. they all went instead and
talked to that Mr.. Carnegie. who told
them he'd crossed on she Raltic eight
times and enjoyed 10 more each time than
ever. Why. stayed In my first three
days in New York just waiting for re-
porters. Then I thought Id 60 out and
enjoy myself.
MIR. Carnegie s's Just . nice old
man not bit assuming or impressive.
You get no feeling Of the power OF vast
wealth at his hack. I was on the ladies
committee for the ship sports and We
played q little joke on Mr.. Carnegie.
When we were getting money for the
prize cups and things we didn't 60 near
him at all. So then he sent us his secre-
tary to ask u he couldn't help. No. We
said. Mr.. Carnegie's bothered . great
deal too much for contributions and we'd
.
And besides We had lashings OF money
without him. And afterward. At the end
OF the voyage. when We had . meeting
and awarded the prizes. MIR. Carnegie
rose and made an elegant little speech.
saying how nice the games had heen and
so on. He sent IA his secretary again
to know II there was nothing he could 10
for va. But there wasn't.
-rhe Gaelic Ieagie' Well I'm in
thorough sympathy with the league. Ny
sister is an ardent leaauer But they
are occupied entirely with preserving tho
language. and so my friends and | look
alter preserving the songs. Father
O'Flanagan OF the league-he's dear
young man-was on the Baltic 700. I
sang him six OF the songs I've collected
in Gaelic. Why I never knew you spoke
Gaelic. Mrs. Fox.' he said. So I didn (.
hut since April Id studied IL with n teacher
in Belfast just for my visit to America
Besides her nearer vision Of an irish
folk song society Mrs Fox has dreams
OF universal folk song society for Amer
lea whose members shall collect and
preserve the songs of the various nations
from immigrants. There should be an
expert. she thinks. for each language.
and il the thing could be done she would
live permanently in this country In charge
of the Irish song division Mrs. Fox
says she regards America a. the foster
mother Of the Irish and thinks she could
help lrelPnd more by working up interest
over here than she can by work on the
Old Sod itself Since IRVING she has
added ten new songs to her collection
which she picked up from Irish serving
maids she met She is in correspondence
..k. .-.l II ~. ssk
liceman over there Mrs Fox calls him
who has collected much folk material
from prisoners.
Locks them up and makes them sing
to him said Mrs Fox laughing
In 1904 Mrs Fox organized the Irish
orary secretary and the Earl Of Shaftes-
bury IL president. Organizing Ia Mrs.
Fox forte. she Gays II was to an an
~estress Of the Earl OF Shafte-bury "a
singing Tom Moore dedicated his Irish
mclodie~ ~ the first meeting OF the
society the Earl and Lady Maude War
render both very musical. sang aome Of
the songs arranged from the folk col
eCi ion
when I'm away the society waits
until come back 10 do anyfhi" &, smiles |
Mr. Fox
Mn Fox il publishing in this country
a book containing the old Gaelic poems
and upon Gaelic poetry generally. which
j. liza sed on he great collection OF fdwa nj
Bunting made at the Harp Festival
in Belfast in l1e. The collection she has
by Request from Buntings grandchildren !
and the original Mss. are locked in a
rasket in her room at $40 West Eighty |
Moore borrowed the hearts Of his lifting |
lyrics. and from IL too Samuel Love
lid little borrowing on his own account |
never grudged his treasures TO |
Moore's genius. but felt ls-s kindly toward !
Lover who touched IN. old lays with |
nut noticeable adornment. or 40 Bunting /
bought. and Mrs Fox thinks with him |
She han also a mass OF material which |
she has collected IN all parts Of Ireland.
On. old couple in the County Tyrone
gave her twenty splendid songs She
has arranged some OF the gems Of her
objection with translated words. har-
them IN accordance to the
IRISH scale Upon this scale. she says.
he Gregorisn chants are founded Mem
ion 20 her the so-cslled Irish melodies
Ind the barometer falls ominously Her
lsrriotisrn cant see. for instance. why
.er,ain German writers who know moth
ng about il should be trying TO write
IRISH songs anyway.
Here is a part Of one Of Mrs. Foxs
ongs-the original version. printed in
iaelic characters. is too weird and dread
al looking even 10 think Of reproducing Il
Iron the shield he Of, did wi-'d
Nos Connauxhts lord comes cold and low.
Ry warriors borne. whilst women mourn
And shT'-k aloud their vo~
tia. villa. uiia la. gone IL connachts gboryi
clan O'ConBor long shall honor
T-hr name and fame of Ruar.
Stately soon beneath the moon
The nourners lay their roysi dead.
T!th priests to pray TN dawn OF day
Ana lights at foot and head.
tia. uIis. &C.
The English words are by Miss Alice
Iillgan. Mrs Fox's collecting began
rith three songs that her mothers old
ook used TO sing while she worked
moug the saucepaps
She finds American audiences deli ght-
lilly apprecistive A lecture abe has
lready given brought her a beautiful |
stter from DIR. Parkhurst. Now, he's
clever man. Mrs Fox declares She
: full Of enthusiasm for America and
or American keenne-s upon the Gaelic
Movement and Hiberniana generally.
hough she doesn't say whether she thinks
his ~ due to brochure on irish ragas
hat appeared some time since over the
gnature Of Mr. Roosevelt