article in this number, which is from his pen, and which is “as good as a picture.” The very “look” of it in print would do good to one who did not even know Irish as the old lady did Greek, “by sight.” It may be necessary to remark that this journal is not a commercial speculation, nor has it any connection with any project whatever founded as a source of gain to the promoters. No one has in it any personal interest of a pecuniary or profitable nature. It is the property of the Gaelic Union, who have collected a small fund by way of “subsidy,” and which with the subscriptions they believe will be sufficient for its support.
In our next number, amongst other good intentions, we hope to be able to commence a “Notes and Queries” Department, a column for “Folklore,” a space for “Desiderata,” and “Answers” to Correspondents. For “Folklore” we have already a fair collection; and Rev. Mr. Cleaver and other friends have lately favoured us with some interesting specimens to begin with.
The Literary Committee appointed with the Editor to examine all articles chosen for insertion in this journal, consisting of Rev. M. H. Close, M.A., and Rev. J. J. O’Carroll, S.J., is a sufficient guarantee that the principles on which it is founded, namely, “non-interference” in controversy, either touching religion or politics, will be strictly adhered to. On this point it may not be out of place to quote from Christopher Anderson’s “Native Irish and their Descendants” a few remarks which seem very well suited to the present case. He writes:—
A very cheap periodical work, if well conducted by a man of principle, who, upon certain subjects, well understood the doctrine of non-interference, but was thoroughly imbued with the desire of benefiting his countrymen in every way, cautious of admitting speculative opinions, and determined to insert no mere idle reports, on whatever authority, but resolved to put the native Irish reader of the day in possession of what is indubitable as to nature, science and art, would be of essential service. There is not a people upon earth who would read such a thing with as much avidity, nor would any reader have a greater number of such eager hearers.
It shall be our desire to conciliate all who wish well to the Irish language; the susceptibilities of all must be respected, and no friend kept out of the ranks by petty jealousy or private spleen, so long as he is willing to work heartily and honestly.
Stáid na Gaeḋilge agus Teangtaḋ eile ins na Stáidiḃ Aontuiġṫe.
Le T. O. Ruiséal.
Ní’l aon tír ’san doṁan in a d-tugṫar níos lúġa dé ċúram do ṫeangṫaiḃ, ioná tugṫar dóiḃ ’s na Stáidiḃ Aontuiġṫe d’ America. Ag so aon de na neiṫiḃ a tá go léir in aġaiḋ na baraṁla do ṫiocfaḋ a g-ceann duine naċ raiḃ riaṁ in America, agus do ḋeunfaḋ a ḃaraṁuil de réir céille coitċionna. Do ḃeiḋeaḋ fios aige naċ raiḃ teanga ’san doṁan naċ laḃaireaḋ in America, agus smuainfeaḋ se go nadúrṫa, gur riaċtanaċ do gaċ aon, leaṫ dusain teangṫa do laḃairt dá m-ba áil leis dul air aġaiḋ in a gno, is cuma cad é an sórt gnó do leanfaḋ se.
Ṫá an ḃaraṁail so míċeart go léir. Ní ċuireann na h-Americanaiġe aon t-suim i d-teangṫaiḃ. Cluineann siad beagnaċ gaċ teanga na h-Eorpa ’ga laḃairt in a d-timċeall gaċ lá ’san m-bliaḋain, aċt ní’l aon ḟear ’san g-céad míle ḋíoḃ, ḟóġluimeas aon ċeann de na teangṫaiḃ coigċríoċa d’á g-cluineann siad, agus is cosaṁail go n-inniseann niḋ éigin dóiḃ, go raċaiḋ na teangṫa coigċríoċa so ṫart mar ċeo, agus naċ ngeuḃfaiḋ siad freuṁ riaṁ in a d-tír. Níl aon de na teangṫaiḃ so ċo táḃaċtaċ leis an Gearmánaċ. Laḃairṫear í le ceiṫre miliun daoineaḋ in America, aċt tá si dul ṫart mar ċeo na maidne. Is í an ḟirinn go beaċd í, dá g-cuirfeaḋ cosg air aistriuġaḋ na nGearmánaċ go d-tí America, naċ mairfeaḋ a d-teanga dá ḟiċid bliaḋain. Tá so dearḃṫa in iomad móḋ. Ní ḟóġluimeann na Gearmánaiġe rugṫar in America, teanga a sinsear; feudann an ċuid is mó ḋíoḃ í láḃairt; aċt is anaṁ,
