The Irish standard., 1913-11-15

~
!TEAxpAR!Dl'i'' ~ s ! y, %! No!yEM
ofsa million 81 the population. TWEEN
tyssyears1go there. was no room and
less desire for the study of Irish in
; the schools and colleges of ireland,
! while the Boards that controlled the
systems Of education we're hostile to
an extreme tnsregard to any modifica-
tons, being manned entirely. by those
whose sympathies were pro- British,
and whose appointment by the alien
government was reward of antina.
| tlonal propensities. But the Gaelic
League; through popular support, has
brought these boards to their knees,
SO that to-day Irish il an .honored sub.
Ject In all our departments of educa-
ton. It is taught in 3,066 out of a
total of 1888 primary schools; and in
those located in disappearing dis
tricts, the native tongue is the hon
ored medium of instruction. Still
greater success has been achieved In
the intermediate or secondary course
OF education where much more than
half the students present themselves
for examination in Irish. While the
greatest triumph was won, though
after warm battle, in regard to the
New National University (whose af-
hiiated colleges are located In Dublin,
Cork and Galway, when the senate
was forced to issue the decree that
q flor Can't 1910 mn Trlch hor,,
student may enter the halls of the
an entrance examination in Irish.
Thus was recognized the principle for
which the League fought long and
hard that the study of Irish is an es-
sential element in an Irishman's edu-
cation. This is but a small part Of
the work being accomplished. The
League has its national organization,
with $50 branches throughout the
island, which conduct evening classes.
The national convention and chief ex>
ecutive committee meet occasionally
in Dublin and legislate for the whole
body. It has one hundred paid Off
cials-organizers and teachers-who
superintend and encourage the work
in every county and locality. 1t has
its ten or twelve Gaelic colleges,
which hold their sessions during the
summer months where the best teach.
ers offer their gratuitous services, and
students and teachers of schools and
colleges turn to profitable use their
holidays in acquiring competent
knowledge, written and spoken, for
these colleges are located in the plc-
turesQue Irish speaking regions-of
their native tongue. Innocent amuse-
ments Of Gaelic character add zest to
their literary labors until work be.
comes play, and recreation profitable.
No wonder then that this Gaelic
movement has caught. one,' to use a
common expression, In Ireland, and
that Is broad and tolerant spirit Of
national good fellowship has succeed.
ed in bringing into its ranks as active
workers, or helpful sympathizers: men
and women of sall religious and .polit-
ical persuasions. The Gaelic League
lis thesQ4e society that has built a
platform on which all Irishmen may
stand and clasp hands in their COM
mon desire to uplift and cherish q.
common country. All honor then to
it's founders; tall honor to its leaders,.
Well does it merit sympathy and sup
port from Irishmen the world over,
and from all noble men who wish we'll
to humanity land civilization. For
what nation can advance and all the
ssls aa which m assis ls an nd.
ent history as % StVflizer and upholder
Of the idealism that, makes life worth
living-that the. whole race Is not
thereby :,advantaEed? We'll may we
look forward then to lfelapd'R repeti-
ton of, her glorious ;htBt0ry Of earlier
days, when she was the island OF,
Saints and Sage5.r,: ''The' Light Of
Western Europe i" Under the fostering
scare off, native parliament she will
basin q congeniaI atmosphere to .devel-
90 ana give to the world the best that
Is I'm. her, and what that best is her
life Of unfettereds freedom in the past
is our guarantees: :.
: Fittingly may we conclude this nee
essarily brief and Imperfect sketch of:
the work of the Gaelic League with
the words Of the poet: :.
TO-, Irishmen, be Irish still! Stand
for the dearsold tongue
Which, as ivy to q ruin. to your native
- land has chung; +..F.s'~. =.
o, snatch this relic from the wreck,
the only and the last, ...
And cherish in your heart Of hearts
the language Of the past"
Wabasha, MINI.
A pretty wedding took place last
Tuesday morning at $3.50 o'clock at
st. Josephs, Catholic church. Theil-