196
AN GAOḊAL.
is also bad grammar, because tíoraṁ¬
uil is in the Genitive Case and assumes
the genitive form, tíoraṁla. Taking it
as a whole, the piece is badly written
grammatically and idiomatically.
B. A. Detroit — Write to O'Dono¬
van Rossa, Editor UNITED IRISHMAN, 12
Chamber st- New York ; he is agent
for several lines, and you may rest a¬
sured that he will see every thing all
right.
E. O'L., New York — We hope that a convention
will assemble. We have taken no further steps
with regard to the Dictionary. It would cost $3,500
to get a proof of an Irish-English and English-
Irish combined — about $3.00 a page — the cost af¬
ter that would be only paper and press-work. If
say, fifteen hundred individuals subscribed $2.50
each, the work could be produced, of course, such
subscribers to be guaranteed a copy of the Diction¬
ary.
A work of this kind is much needed. If a dic¬
tionary containing O'Reilly's Irish-English and
Foley's English-Irish, with a short sketch of Gram¬
mar appended could be produced, and that could
be sold for, say, three dollars; it would be a great
help to the Irish Language movement, — in fact it
cannot progress satisfactorily without it.
With regard to the Boston proposition to call a
congress in the interest of the Irish Language, we
hope all the Irish societies and individuals, who
are interesting themselves in the cultivation of
the language will second the proposition and, col¬
lectively and individually, do all in their power to
make it a success, and that the production of a
dictionary, such as that outlined above, will be one
of the first matters considered, and we would sug¬
gest that the convention be held in either Phila.
or Boston, or say, the metropolis of the country,
New York. The Brooklyn Philo-Celtic Society, as
indicated by a resolution endorsing the action of
our Boston friends, is prepared to take action.
We are in communication with a large number
of patriotic men throughout the states who are en¬
deavoring to organize societies for teaching the
language and we hope to hear their sentiments re¬
garding the proposed convention.
The GAEL's pages will be open to short discuss¬
ion of the matter — we mean by "short", short com¬
munications and to the point as our space is limit¬
ed. "In Union is Strength", therefore, its forma¬
tion should not be delayed.
England has 180 different religious denomina¬
tions, thirteen new ones being registered last year.
For Sixty Cents a yeur, what Irish family would
be without a journal in the National Language ?
OUR FALL.
From "Songs For Freedom", by Father McHale,
Ho! beggar at the rich man's gate,
Through doleful centuries whining there,
With loopholed hat and suppliant stare,
What small coins on the begging plate?
Ah! begging is a thriftless trade,
And only gains the brave man's scorn,
Because the meanest creature born
For far another end was made!
And keen contempt befits its plight,
When spurned a thousand times, it stands,
And sues, and craves from robber's hands
The restoration of its right.
Oh, baseness curst! the mastiff bares
His whetted teeth at alien curs,
And, raging round his den, demurs
To league or truce with them or theirs!
If stranger hands but ply a lash
Across his bones, then seek to soothe
His smarting sores, his glittering tooth,
Will fail their aim with edge and gnash!
But you, although your heritage
Are stripes and taunts, will make no sign;
Will palter with your dower divine,
Nor fling to scoffing hordes your guage.
"Your fathers knelt and sued the same;"
Ay, true, at times; but other whiles,
In serried ranks and fleshy files,
If beaten once again they came:
And with their blood their protest signed,
Through scaffold, dungeon, sword, and rack,
Against despoil, demanding back
The rights they never once resigned!
And you, an heir of blood that ran
To issues such as those we tell,
But fit to fill a driveller's cell!
Surrender up the name of man!
Yet, hark! beneath thy tattered vest
And inert ribs there beats a heart
Will help thee to some noble part,
If thou will put it to the test.
Beginner's arrows seldom pierce
The inmost ring; but failure schools
The eye to sharper aims, and rules
The nerves into precision fierce.
You have been unsuccessful : yet
So have all conquerors with us
In part; they persevered, and thus
Their lives with rich results are set.
With you the one transcendent sin
Is apathy; you flash no lance
Against the despot circumstance
That, from your birth, hath cramped you in.
