Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1915-07-29
DAILY News. Chicago, Illinois, July 9, 19l4.l
THE SOUL OF IRELAND
Giving 1t Expression in America.

Very little is known outside of Wis
consin of the scope and steady growth of the
Irish collection of books and paintings at the
University of Wisconsin. A pamphlet, giving
an account of this unique collection is shortly
to be distributed among the friends of Irish art,
Irish letters and Irish history and current pro-
gress. but the University is DESTROYS of reach
ing even larger audiences than booklet can
reach, for it counts ON the interest, sympathy
and generosity of the sons. daughters and low
ers of Ireland to realize its ambitions and hopes
in connection with this collection.
What these ambitions are was thus
stated by Professor Richard T. Ely, head of the
economics department of the University, on the
occasion of the presentation to that institution
of the first sets of books of Ireland. why not
have here in Madison a collection not only by
Irishmen, and books relating to Ireland. but
also collection of Irish art-the best collection
in the country: I want books describing Ire
land, relating to Irish history and conditions,
and also to the achievements of Irishmen in all
lands. want to have here in Madison repre-
sentative gallery of Irish art and specimen of
Irish workmanship in all directions. And |
want Americans to know better what Ireland
stands for
The idea of the collection originated
with Professor Ely during a visit to Ireland in
1913. He was studying land tenure and land
problems. and was planning course for gradu-
ate students on Irish agricultural and agrarian
history. He was much impressed by the ex-
traordinary and perhaps unprecedented process
that was then-and is still-going on in Ireland
under the famous land purchase legislation.
That process consists of nothing less than the
transfer, without revolution or disorder, CT
large part of the country from the landlords to
the tenants. 1t is making ireland over econom-
ically and socially, and is certain to have pro-
found political and even artistic effects on the
people.
DR.. Ely conceived the plan for forming
a general collection of books, pictures, lace and
other specimens of Irish arts and crafts. The
present collection is the result of this plan.
While the University of Wisconsin has reason
to be proud of what it has already accomplished
in that direction, it regards the collection as the
mere nucleus of a really unique and great col
lection.
There has been no appropriation by
the Wisconsin legislature for any of the books
Or other features of the collections The money
to purchase these has been contributed by gen.
erous and loyal sons and lovers of Ireland.
Thanks to the interest in the plan of the then
chief executive of Wisconsin, Francis E. Nc
Govern; Of Father P. B. Knox of Madison, an
eminent scholar and student of Irish literature
and folklore, and other, wealthy and educated
men and women Of Irish ancestry have nobly
responded to the appeal for funds and gifts.
The collection is we'll provided with
books on Irish history, Irish economics and
Irish politics. There some rare and old
books issued by the Royal Society for Anti
quarian Publications, There are reports of ia
nous political trials speeches from the docks,
orations of great lawyers, books on alleged and
actual conspiracies. There are books on the
Gaelic revival and books on ancient and modern
literature and drama.
There are, further, in the collection |
books on religion, mythology, architecture and
travel in Ireland. Some of the books are trans
lations of important words of French and Ger
man travellers and observers.
However, it is a comparatively easy
and simple matter to purchase books, whether
old or new on any given subject, any
country with history SO rich dramatic and
romantic as that of Ireland. 1t was not so easy
to lay the foundation of an Irish art collection.
or to start kind of art gallery. This problem
was solved in a rather original way. Sir Hor
ace Plunkett. the we'll known Irish leader and
economist was appealed to. and it was sug
gested that commission be formed to select
six paintings representative of the best con-
temporary art of Ireland. Sir Horace appoint
ed an able and competent commission to select |
the pictures. and the following were chosen and
purchased; "Ships on the Beach, by Nathaniel
Hone; "Sligo Quay and "The River by Jack
Yeats; "The River in the Sands,' "Boglands,''
and Children Dancing on the Strand by
George Russell
None has won an international rep
utation as one Of the greatest landscape paint
ers of his age. Yeats paints vivid human
dramas on canvas and critics have described |
his work as characterized by amazingly vivid
realism TRANSPORTED by imagination Russell /
is the "a. E. of George Moore's we'll known
trilogy of typicaIly Mooreish volumes on the
Ireland of today. He is poet and writer as
we'll as painter, and his pictures have been
called haunting melodies in COLOR The mys-
terry and charm of Irish landscape are felt even
by the ordinary laymen who sees an exhibition
a strongly marked individuality, yet in the
work of each there is the unmistakable Celtic
note. The pictures are genuinely Irish.
These paintings were donated by
generous citizens of Madison, Milwaukee and
other Wisconsin cities. They are temporarily
hung, together with other pictures in a spa
cious, we'll lighted class room of the University
High School,
The Ancient Order of Hibernians has
taken deep interest in this collection and in
the plans of the University of Wisconsin with
reference to its further growth. The collection
is steadily growing and it's founders are enthu-
siastic and confident. Wider knowledge of the
enterprise, they think, will bring them more
and more liberal support and will enable them
to make the collection internationally unique
and famous. Ireland is being made over"
home rule is on the statute book of the united