The Washington times., 1914-02-26
GAELIC PARAMOUNT
ON HEBR|DES ISLE
StaIwart Fisher Folk Who
Ousted Laird Prefer Own
Tongue to English.

DUBLIN. Feb. 96.-One Of the most
.Dt.restinS centers of Gaelic life and
houyht TODAY is Natersay. the most
-outherly island of the Hebrides. Here
;aelic is the mother-tonSue. the home
language of the islander.
Gaelic books, cathochisms and works
II derotion arc III common use in ever
l.ousehold. Gaelic is taught hard-ln-
land with English in the school conun-
ustion classes. The head teacher Is 4
native speaker. and carries out all his
instructions through the medium 81
iaelic. The priests arc native Gaelic
peakers and hence confessions, pray
IS and sermons are all in the native
ongue. One young man, nshefH;tIl
rofter like the rest has for wears m st
been contributing Gaelic articles lot
apers in Canada and Australia
Proud of Language.
The u hole community. while realizing
the practical advantages Of u Hno"i-
edge of English, are nevertheless proud
Of and strongly attached TO their own
I..ns,IaCe. The hi.dreu never hear one
ord OF English spoken out of school
hey beg their teachers to allow them to
sing their own traditional Gaelic songs
rather than the regu alton English ones.
The permission is always gladly accord
cj. They have the sed stories of his
tury. in English and Gaelic, at their
juugueS' end.
The recent history of VateTSsy is in
IcreSting. -Four or five years ago one
Laird possessed the Tholo island,
" hile scores OF poor fisher-cotters
starved in the surrounding isles. In
so. however, they banded themselves
together, and, having vainly endeavored
% persuade the landlord to sell his
sIperfiuous acres. they. without more
ado, landed and took forcib!e possession
o. them. OF course, there was a law
suit, and ten of the raiders spent long
months in Edinburgh Jail. Then tie
government came to their relief, bought
the island, compensated the Laird. and
sent the stalwart raiders home victor
iCus
Divide Land.
Wooden shack" houses We're quickly
erected, lands divided, schools and
teachers residences built Ctle latter by
The Barra school boardl, and then the
enterprising little colony settled down
10 the pleasant monotony of daily life.
Horses. dogs, and grazing grounds are
all held in common. and il is interesting
% mark the spirit. of true fraternity
which is the result of this sense of Joint
ownership.
T-Iey are simple, primitive people,
light-hearted. and generous. The bag
pipes IS their musical instrument. Wlen
the days work is over the men gather
into their favorite ceilide houses to talk.
tel stories. or sing the songs Of their
own musical language. so nearly akin
10 the ITisl. The girls are there. too.
but sit apart knitting, and gossiping in
whispers, while the beaT-a-tige spins
wool in the corner: for here every house
has its spinning wheel. and many
houses handlooms. with which the wom-
en- weave quilts and blankets.
The herring season. from Nav to
July. is harvest time with them. Then
rhe waters are crowded with boats from
all parts of the United Kingdom: Curing
stations are erected: the men fish, the
women and girls sort, salt, and pack. bv
task-work. which they find very profit
able, many of the girls clearing a net
croft OF $50 or so during the season.
This. with the earnings Of their men
folk, enables them TO live securely for
another year.