The Washington herald., 1913-03-16
BY WILLIAM l.. ALTDORFER.

The story of the Irish language is one
of unusual interest. not only TO the Irish
people themselves, but TO the world at
large. The struggles Of the Irish peo-
pie to preserve their nationality is well
known, but the centuries-long fight to
save the language from oblivion is not
nearly so familiar How a few patriots
from time to time have fought against
almost overwhelming odds and risked
imprisonment and death itself for the
sake of the language is full of human
interest and forms one of the most
thrilling stories of ancient and modern
history. The story might well be termed
The romance of the Gaelic language"
and il would not be misleading, for it Is
a romance interviewer with tales of
love and war from earliest times. and
even to-day the advocates of Irish ma
tionality and the preservation of the
Gaelic language finds great difficulty in
forwarding their propaganda.
OF late years the movement has -
ceived its greatest impetus from the de-
scendants of lrishmen living in Amer
lea The Gaelic League was founded
about twenty years ago in Dublin. Ire
Irish language as a spoken tongue and
of publishing it's literature and creating
a new literature in il. Douglas Hyde.
well known throughout Ireland. was the
first president. and he has been annual
ly reelected ever since. For the first
five or six Years little progress was
made. Several Of the enthusiasts who
composed the early league died of over
work. The country was absolutely apa-
thetic. But their efforts told in the long
run. and Ireland. hopeless and de-
spondent, was at last recalled to feel
ing of nationhood once again.
Doctor Hyde and his associates brought
before the Irish people the great past of
Ireland at the time when she was the
teacher and christianizer of the whole
of Western Europe. Her marvellous pure
Aryan language which has left the most
consecutive literary track behind it of any
the vernacular literatures of Europe. eN-
Cept Greece alone. was brought to the
surface. The beautiful music Of the
island which was being laid aside for
the latest things from London music
halls was restored to place of honor.
Irish dances and games were called back
to life. An Irish drama was created.
The old literature was published. Scores
OF new books appeared. and a great
activity swept through the country. As
a result of all this almost every town
throughout Ireland now has its well or
ganized '1eis or festival at which prizes
are given for Irish literature. Irish music
and Irish dancing. Hundreds Of organiZs-
tions are now at work trying to save
the spoken language in the West and
South. and more than two hundred thou
sand books and pamphlets are being dis
tributed from the offices of the league
every year.
Gaelic Taught in Public Schools.
And all this literary activity is having
a healthy result upon the industry Of
the country. The output of Irish mills
is said to have nearly doubled during
the last three years. The national Ian
guage which was practically banned
when the Gaelic League was started, is
now taught to more than 10000 children
in the national schools of ireland, and
there are nearly as many more learning
il in colleges, schools, and academies and
Gaelic League classes all over the coun-
try.
This is what is Familiarity known as
the Irish Ireland movement" 1t is
absolutely nonsectarian and people of
all religious beliefs can and do meet in
a spirit of the best and heartiest good
fellowship Politics are unknown in the
Gaelic League. Its watchword is Ire
land as a nation. not an imitation Eng
lsh country. From all this it will he
seen that through the medium of the
ma tive language. which a dozen years
ago was almost extinct, a determined
and hopeful effort is being made to con-
solidate the Irish race and to raise il to
higher levels and ideals than ever before.
Douglas Hyde is to-day the best
known. the most popular. and perhaps
the greatest man in all Ireland. 1t has
been said that this era will be known