[ 49 ]We would ask our subscribers, as their subscriptions fall due, to renew them without delay, as the Journal is altogether dependent on their subscriptions.
The Gaelic classes of Providence, U.S.A., still continues to give proofs of the wonderful energy of its members.
The Ancient Order of Hibernians has voted the sum of £10,000 to establish a Celtic Professorship at the Catholic University of Washington. Dr, Shahan, of the University, addressed the last Convention of the Order, and in the name of the University accepted their munificent donation.
For many years the Royal Irish Academy has been preparing the materials for a great Irish dictionary, arranged according to philological principles. Most of the materials are now collected, and they have now to be arranged and classified. The Academy has issued an advertisement inviting two gentlemen, trained in philology, to assist in editing the dictionary. It is to be hoped that Irishmen will be given a preference.
The Royal Irish Academy has recently published (1) Father Hogan’s lectures on the Latin Lives of Saints, and their connection with the Irish Lives; (2) Dr. Browne’s monograph on Inisboffin. Father Hogan is continuing his lectures on certain passages in Leaḃar na hUiḋri. On June 11th, Mr. John MacNeill, of the Gaelic League, read a paper on Middle Irish poems connected with the “Battle of Mucrama.”
Pearls, of considerable value, have been found recently in the Shrule, Co. Tyrone.
Articles in warm recommendation of the Gaelic Journal have appeared in many Irish papers, and in Folk-lore, United Canada, Siam Free Press (edited by an Irishman), Montreal True Witness.
I am very thankful to those who have interested themselves in having the Journal sold by booksellers and newsagents of their acquaintance. This is the only means of introducing the reading of Irish to people generally. The Journal is now sold thus in Dublin, Derry, Belfast, Cork, Tuam, Claremorris, Carrick-on-Suir.
The only Gaelic weekly paper published is Mac Talla, and it cannot be recommended too warmly. The great object of everyone now studying Gaelic is to preserve and record every word and phrase of the Gaelic speech, and in this work Mac Talla necessarily plays a large part, as it publishes eight pages of popular Gaelic every week.
THE INTERMEDIATE EXAMINATION PAPERS.
Senior Grade—(1) For mionán read mionnán. The word is, of course, derived from meann. (2) For dorta read dórtaḋ; here the very termination which is the characteristic of the verbal noun is omitted. (5) The examiner does not seem to know what is the preposition for “in.” (6) What influence has the negative particle upon the mood of the verb!
[ 50 ]Middle and Junior Grade—The papers are fair enough. It might be said that the Protestant version of the Scripture is not a fair test to give to ordinary Irish boys for translation at sight. Some inconsistencies of spelling may be noticed; as, torrṫa and torrṫuiġe; sgiobóil and sgioból.
Junior Grade—The questions in grammar are more difficult than the questions in the higher grades. Question 5 rests on a groundless assumption. In the second piece for translation at sight, the first line (dár ṫuit) has no meaning, and, therefore, could not be translated.
On the whole, I must say the papers are badly graded as to difficulty, and the selection of badly-spelled extracts and words has made answering a matter largely of guess-work.
E. O’G.