6/20 "I heard some natives talking something I couldn't understand." "Of course there's an Irish language," explained his fair instructor. In this reign of Queen Elizabeth, the Irish language was forbidden. The English is now universal, but many still speak the Gaelic. In recent years there has been an awakening of interest in the old tongue. 'One who knows Irish well,' an Irish historian claims, 'will readily master Latin, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian;' and he adds that to the Irish-speaking people, the Irish language is 'rich, elegant, soul-stirring, and expressive.'" "I can well believe the latter statement when I remember the actions of those using it," said Chester. |