The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-06-06

great store of legend and myth
which is the traditional heritage Of
the Irish race. For years past read
ings for children have been drawn
from the mythology of antiquity and
of the Morse nations; the legacy of
Ireland has been neglected. Now,
with free INSTRUMENTATION and
ample opportunity in the revival Of
interest in things Irish. boys and
girls Of coming generations shall
enjoy riches drawn from the treas
ure houses of Irish legend that their
fathers knew not of. 1t is this
material with which the ''shana-
chies" of the Donegal mountain
country enthrall the Preside group;
1t is this same material which Mr..
MacManus is constantly presenting
to the public. Years ago he was
'shanachie" in the little Donegal
village where he was born and bred,
where he was schoolmaster. until
one day he turned the key in the
door, and came over the range of
mountains and away to America.
With spirit saturated with the feel
ing for the old life, and with memory
rich in quaint and beautiful stories,
he comes yearly over seas to be
"shanachie' to the New World, tell
ing many a real old tale such as he
himself told many years ago in the
light Of Toal-a-Gallagher's candle, by
the blazing forge Of the smithy, or
among his friends at the house of
the tailor Of the town.
Mr.. Seumas MacManus has, aside
from these tails, done large num-
Der Of Irish plays and social sketches.
His dramatic pieces are mostly
short one-act affairs, but with adj
mirable point and apt character
ization. His situations are ingenious
and we'll handled. The plays were
not written for the Abbey Street
Theatre, but rather to supply a de-
mand felt among the country So
cieties for typical sketches for anna
teur representation. Thus they have
been judged by the severest critics
of all, the Irish themselves, and
their ready acceptance and continu-
ed popularity in every corner of the
hills leave no doubt as to their truth.
In 1.-THE Bend of the Road, "a Lad
of the O'Friels'. and yourself and
the Neighbors Mr.. MacManus has
recounted typical incidents in the
life of the Irish mountain country;
the Harvest Fair of Glenties; the
handball contest; the reading of the
Nation" by freight; the visit of the
Thinkers; the turf-cutting barefoot
days-all of these he has pictured
with simple homely phrase, and in
clear and entertaining fashion. With
little difficulty we can surrender to
the spell of his enchantment. and
think ourselves back in Ireland, bow
ing to the presumption and within of
Nancy Kelly, postmistress at Knock
agar. sitting in charmed circle
hearing the strange "shanachie"
tales which he has told so many
times. or perchance being stirred by
the beauty of the heathery moors
and purple mountains.
In America. Mr.. MacManus has
two purposes to fulfil. He would
interest the Americans in Ireland
and the Irish life for their entertain
ment and instruction. Secondly,
and more significantly. he would
strengthen or renew an election for
the old green sod in the hearts of
the Irish lads and lasses come to
push their fortunes in a foreign
land. So he has dedicated one of
his books to those who have Jared
forth from their homes. travelling
away and away, far further than I
could tell you. and twice further
than you could tell me-" To them
he would recall the kindly pleasure
and the bright hearth Of the old
days: he would bring them again
to the spell of the turf smoke and
the sweetness Of the Irish country
ways:
Our bravest sons, our stoutest ones.
Have rushed across the sac,
And God He knows, each wind that
blows
Is waftin' more away!
It's sore distress does them hard
press.
They drop their heads and go
Och. sorrows Queen, it's you has
Their hearts big swelled with woe!
Though gold they make. their hearts
they break,
And they oft sit down and cry
For Inver Bay of a harvest day,
And the sun goin' down the sky.
WORK FOR THE SEC
THAR pI2ESo