New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-16
THE IRELAND OF
OUR OWN PERIOD
The True Story" Of the Sim Fem Uprising-Three
Accounts of d Iragedy-Lteraturc in
Ireand-An Irish Renaissance

book written In time Of excitement
10 is remarkably impartial and we'll
balanced. II is a book of permanent
value. for while the author takes pains
not 20 idealize the rebels he is unspar-
ing in his condemnation of the stupid
ity. weakness and want OF Imagination
and insight on the other side the folly
Of the government in creating condi-
tions that made the rebellion possible
and the persistence Of their folly after
IL had been suppressed.
Mr.. James Stephens's little diary is
more superficial, and much less pene-
trsting. In so far as IL is narrative
of events, il is worth reading, but it
has the same defect as some of his
later work in fiction. Just as his fan
ciful writings are interlarded with
puerile phlosonhical reflections and
sentimental platitudes, so this book Is
spoiled by solemn specUlatlons on the
causes and probable results Of the ris-
ing. together with ofFhand judgments,
which. IL may be hoped. he will live
long enough to be ashamed Of Among
these we must reckon the lnsensate and
utterly ungenerous attack on Mr.. Red
mond. lie apologies in his preface to
another Of his countrymen whom he
reyiled bitterly only few months ago
as a hypocrite and humbug, but now
recognizes suddenly as valiant
thinker and great Irishman.' So 1t may
be that his emotional and smiable, but
Uniformed, mind may IN time learn 20
look with more indulgence on one who,
whatover his mistakes, laborcd earn
estly and disinterestedly for his coun-
try. Parnell was not mistaken when he
said he had children TO deal with and
that they needed man TO guide them.
There was no Parnell TO guide this
hopeless enterprise: there were SIN
cere men and enthusiasts among those
who directed IL, but none with the
qualities essential IN real leader.
Mr.. Stephens observes with justice OF
Pearce that "if there was any person
in the world less fitted 20 head an in
surrection it was he" Il seems vast
pity that the zeal OF such men as he
and MacDonagh and Plunkett should
have led 70 so futile and unfortunate a
climax. We shall be told, OF course. that
il is impossible "a yet 20 say how far
reaching or how beneficial the results
Of the rising may be, yet IL is difflcult
10 believe that the real value OF such
men was not rather in intellectual ac-
tivities. which in the long run would
have had a more useful influence on
Irish thought and Irish life.
At any rate. it is impossible not 70
regret the loss Of so accomplished a
poet and so discerning a critic as the
author Of Literature IN Ireland shot
AZ Kilmainham with the rest OF the
leaders. His book is an acute and
scholarly study OF the possibilities OF a
true Irish and Auglo-lrish literature
of "the value of the old literature, the
prospects Of the new" 1t Is an emf
nentlv thoughtful book. far from the
fustian and froth of blind patriotism,
but full Of fervor and a deep convic-
ton OF the reality of an intellectual
Gaelic revival. As a logical endeavor
10 formulate definite idea of a litera-
ture distinctively Irish. 10 analyze the
character OF what has been called the
Celtic note" in poetry or, to use
MacDonough's own happier term. the
Irish Mode"-there is 10 treatise so
clearly thought out or so complete as
this.
Mr.. Ernest Boyd's book is a more
elaborate chronicle Of literary activi-
ties in ireland during the last thirty
wears or so, and the best of its kind.
Mr.. Boyd is himself "in tho move
ment" and for on active participant
he is a slngularly acute critic and
shows a commendable catholiclty OF
taste and judgment There is no more
comprehensive and Trustworthy intro
duction 20 Irish imaginative literature
Of our time.