Blair Collection > Deo-gréine

200
AN DEO-GHREINE.
doubtedly, of commercial value, and just because
of their knowledge of it they are able to find employ-
ment. And as Gaelic is in no immediate danger
of dying very many Gaelic-speaking persons will
continue to find remunerative employment in the
Highland area. English is quite as unscientific as
Gaelic and much less valuable to the philologist.
It was equally poor in technical and scientific terms
until it had borrowed these from several other lan-
guages. There is no law that we know of, to
prevent Gaelic from borrowing such terms. To
talk about Gaelic history and literature being poor
is absurd ! Why, the Gaelic manuscripts preserved
from the 8th century afford evidence of a wonderful
literary activity on the part of the Gaels at a time
when some of the modern nations of Europe had
not yet felt the breath of a national life, and when
there was certainly no Stewart in Appin 1 It ought
not to be necessary to tell anyone that the mental
exercise of acquiring "Gaelic is of the same nature
and of the same intellectual value as that of acquir-
ing any other language, be that language ancient or
modern. Mr. Stewart greatly errs when he says
that parents evince no desire to have their children
taught Gaelic. They evince a very keen desire
indeed now that they begin to realise the value and
advantage of a bilingual system (Gaelic and English)
of instruction in the schools. When the Oban School
Board recently expressed its readiness to provide
facilities for the teaching of Gaelic in the High
School, the great majority of the parents in the
town signified their intention to have their children
avail themselves of these facilities. At Inverness,
this session, so keen was the parents' desire to have
Gaelic taught their children that the teachers were
not able to cope with the numbers who voluntarily
attended Gaelic classes. These are fairly large
centres of population, but the same spirit prevails
in many of the parishes and districts throughout
the Gaidhealtachd. It needs no prophet to foretell
it, for already the cry is "Suas lets c? Ghaidhlig?
* • *
During the week ending Saturday, nth August,
the Irish language was much in evidence in Dublin,
the special occasion being the holding of the Tenth
Oireachtas in that city. This function was quite as
brilliant and successful as in any former year. The
attendance, which included an Indian Maharajah
and members of the Japanese Legation in London,
was larger than ever. Representatives from Scot-
land, Wales, Chicago and Bolivia were present and
delivered stirring addresses. On the opening day
Dr. Douglas Hyde was elected, for the fourteenth
time in succession, President of the Ard-Fheis, an
honour which he well deserves and which he highly
appreciates. So far as the literary section was con-
cerned there was a falling off in the number of
competitors as compared with last year, but this
was more than balanced by the increase in the
number of those who entered for the dialogue and
story-telling competitions. There was also a slight
falling off in the number of choirs competing. One
of the features of the gathering was the representa-
tion of a four-act play in Irish which was well
received by a very large audience.
* # o
During the last week of this month we hope every
Gael and every well-wisher of the Gael and his
language will discover that every road leads to
Oban. Beautiful at all times, Oban is delightful in
September and will be very specially so on this
occasion. For, beginning on Wednesday, the 26th
inst.. the fifteenth Mod of An Comunn Gaidhealach,
will be held on that and the two succeeding days,
and fellow Gaels, we must make this Mod the
greatest and grandest success possible ! By so
doing we shall testify that the Gaelic language
movement is not merely a matter of sentiment but
a matter of the most practical importance, a matter
worth working earnestly for, worth sacrificing much
for. The number of entrants for the different com-
petitions is equal to that of former years and there
will be one or two new features. H.R.H. Princess
Louise, Duchess of Argyll, is expected to be present
and to perform the opening ceremony. Our readers
may confidently depend upon a hearty reception
and a warm welcome from our Oban friends.
* * *
In addition to many interesting articles and new
features the October number of An Deo-Ghreine
will contain a valuable article on "The ARCH-
ANGEL Michael among the Celts," from the
pen of Mr. William Mackay, Solicitor, Inverness.
NOTES FROM OUR WATCH-TOWER.
The Stewarts as a clan do not all object to the
teaching of Gaelic in Highland schools. The Clan
Stewart Society of Winnipeg, Manitoba, concerning
whose doings we gave a report in a recent issue of
"An Deo-Ghreine," held a meeting in that city on
the 2nd July last, and apropos of Feill a! Chomuinn
Ghaidhealaick, came to the following conclusion,
according to the " Canadian Scotsman " : — " The
special committee appointed at the previous meet-
ing in connection with the proposed Highland
Colonial Bazaar to be held in Glasgow in aid of the
movement for the encouragement of the Gaelic
language and literature and Highland industries,
reported favourably, and the project received the
hearty endorsation of the clansmen. The services
of Mr. J. W. Matheson, the famous Gaelic singer,
have been secured for a concert to be held here in
the Fall in furtherance of the matter."
We are most anxious to keep in touch with, and
hear of, the welfare of any members of An Comunn
Gaidhealach, Mod prize-winners, and all who love
the Gaelic language, Gaelic music and song, and
who may have emigrated to distant countries. Mr.
Eraser of the British Linen Bank, Stornoway, has
therefore greatly obliged and conferred a favour on
us in forwarding for publication the following inter-
esting particulars, which he entitles — "Mod com-
petitors gone to other lands" : —
Among the stream of emigrants from this country
to foreign lands, during the past two years, have
been several of the prize winners in the musical
competitions at our Mod gatherings. In April last,
Mr. John MacLeod, gold medallist at the Dingwall
Mod, one of the very best Gaelic singers in Scotland,
and a most popular Highlander, sailed for Canada,
to take up his abode there permanently. Shall we
ever forget the musical power and rousing effect