AN GAODHAL.
431
A Voice from what may justly be called a Char¬
ter Member of the Gaelic Movement.
Poquonock, Conn.,
Dec. 19, 1894.
Mr. M. J. Logan, Editor of the Gael.
Dear Sir :— For many years I have been watch¬
ing the colums of The Gael hoping to see therein
a proposition from some practical and patriotic
member of the “Clan-na-Gael" interested to in¬
crease the prestige, the patronage and the circu¬
lation of the only Irish paper in the U. S. which
seems to be imbued with the true Irish patriotic
instinct. I may be mistaken in my observations,
but I think that from the occasional suggestions
of the Editor of The Gael nothing has appeared
in its columns with the views above stated. Now
does it not seem humiliating by comparison to
know that the Welshmen, whose numbers in the
United States are not one tenth of that of the
Irish, should have several organs in their native
language, looked for every week as an indispensa¬
ble friend, while we Irish have only the poor lit¬
tle "Gael" to keep the electrical light of true pa¬
triotism alive.
It is a sad, severe reflection on our patriotism
and manhood which should make every one of us
hang our heads in shame. Our boastings, our
brags and our long-tailed lineage are mere shams
in the light of the exhibitions we here make to
merit them. It is said that in the penal days our
forefathers were forbidden to acquire an educa¬
tion, but if they showed the qualities of their
degenerate descendants, it seems doubtful if they
cared for the acquisition. As I have already said,
failed to see any suggestion in the line indica¬
ted, so I will bring forward one of my own. I
have no means of knowing the number of Irish-
speaking people in the U. S., (and among them
include those who speak Irish and English),
but I believe it is estimated that there are 7 or 8
millions [25 millions, — Ed. G.] of Irish descent.
Now among this multitude are there 1,000 men
who will sacrifice the sum of 5 dollars each, or
500 who will contribute 10 dollars a piece to cre¬
ate a fund with which to start a Gaelic weekly. I
believe there are, and more the merrier. The con¬
tributors could appoint a board of directors (and
it would be easy to find them in New York city
and vicinity) who could select a staff to manage
the affairs of the paper. Every stockholder could
resolve himself into a practical canvasser for the
circulation of the paper, and I am perfectly satis¬
fied that each of said canvassers could easily pro¬
cure 5 other subscribers, and in many cases four
times as many, so that the new enterprise could
start with an assured circulation of 5,000 or more.
I would be the first to hand over my 10 dollars at
the call of the Editor of the Gael, and will guar-
antee to get 4 other subscribers in this little vil¬
lage of a few hundred inhabitants, even if I have
to pay the first year's subscription out of my own
pocket.
I have not gone into any details over this matter
and merely throw out a hint hoping that influen¬
tial, willing and worthy Gaels will push the pro¬
ject forward. My knowledge of the Irish lang¬
uage in its written and printed form is very limit¬
ed, indeed, but I can fairly speak the vernacular,
having learned it at the knees of my father and
mother. My means are also limited, but I hate
to see the old tongue die and, with it, all its leg¬
ends, its poetry and its patriotism. Hence I hope
this idea will be favorably considered, and I will
stand ever ready to extend my practical sympathy
as far as my opportunity and means permit me.
Very truly yours,
Thos. F. Tracy,
A native of Athenry, Co. Galway.
A voice from the South — an fíor
Éireannach — Timothy Gleeson.
Lioschaoinleán, Baile-Mhac-Óda,
Contae Chorcaighe,
16adh. lá Gionbhair, 1895.
Chum M. J. Ua Lócháin,
Fear Eagar "An Gaodhal."
Mo Chára Dhil:
Leis an leitir-so, cuirim chughat, cei¬
re sgillingídhe, airgiod Sacsanach [ no
d' réir airgiod na Stáitidhe Aonda,
aon doilléir; mo dhíolaidheacht-se chum
"An Gaodhal," air feadh m-bliadhana
Fanaim Mo Chára Dhil
Do Sheirbhíseach Umhal,
Tadhg Ua Glasáin.
The Fables are both instructive
and entertaining. We shall publish
one or more in each succeeding issue,
as a lesson, so that any Irishman
who speaks the language will have no
difficulty in learning how to read and
write it in a very short time.
The Philadelphia Philo-Celtic Society meets at
Philopatrian Hall, 211 S. 12th St., every Sunday
evening, where it imparts free instruction to all
who desire to cultivate a knowledge of the Celtic
tongue.
