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gf x shall here say a fewywords on each section of the
x
prog-ramme, necessarily short, but still, we trust,
of some tissistance to our Excise students:
Ilow’ '10 XYORK.-Tlirimgliqut the'wh5lg era-,
mination keep up to your best form. Neatnees
often decides high percentages, and, consequently,
high places. Without allowing anxiety to annoy or
pain'yo'u,,disnose yourself’ to a. serious mood of
thought,‘ trying to grasp the true import of every
question proposedito you for solution, and to see
what ‘exactly the examiner wishes to have in
your replies. Give, if you can, all the examiner
requires-if possible no less, but certainly no more.
It wearies a man of exact habits to have to wade’
-if he will wadee-tlirnugli long learned dis-
courses which it is not his desire to hear. Finally,
work seriously, work neatly, and always‘ up to
your highest standard. ‘ V ’
IIANDWIIITING--Should you, at the start, feel
-anywaynervous or shaky don't be a bit alarmed;
you can in half a minute banish the annoyance.
Steady your hand for a moment, and try to pass
the Amuaculargenergy of the upper part of your
arm down into the wrist and" hand. No matter
how slowly you do it, force yourself to write even
oneline up to your best level; you will then find.
that the ‘tendency will be not to degenerate.
Don’t persist, if the hand be strained, in writing
very long words without lifting the pen; but be
sure to set the pen at the oint of connection so
that the break will nct be noticed. All headings
‘ should bewritten a little larger than ordinary
'writing,Vand be centrally placed over the matter
which they govern. Keep margins, indentations.
columns of figures, and beginnings of paragraphs
in perpendicular columns. We shall here assume
that all our students are acquainted with the
style of the approved models. Excellent as
that style is, there is,in writing. it a. ten-
dency to make the Ling letters too low
or- short, to blind the small loops, ' to
give too little space to capitals, and to drag back
from their pmper relative position the dual
strokesiofp all letters ending with the hanger of
the old caligraphistsg This last tendency, instead ‘
of being‘,fostered,should’ be carefully guarded
against. Avoid flourishes ; you ought not; how-
ever,’ leave out entirely those initial hairstrckes
which give a“ freedom to the hand, and add a
beauty to the style. In conclusion, we say write
-neatly; pmrluce it just as plain as print, and
keep your, pages as clean and clear as possible.‘
Oaruocrmnx’. -Those who have mastered
'Sul,livan‘s' Sbelling Book, and had a good prac-
tice in dictation exercises, may feel safe in this
subject. ‘The Orthography and Etymology in
I-Iiley's Grammar, or indeed in any good gram-
mar, would bcof use towards an understanding.
of some‘0f the rules. I A knowledge of ivord-for-
'mation,' letter change, and assimilation -will
always help acnnclidate in spelling. Learn diffi-
cult words in common use; but don't lose time
with “jawbone-brral'crs." Be sure you know well
the rules for division into syllables, as also. those
for the incorporation, or otherwise, of compound
Words ; unless in the case of very long words,
however, don't subdivide at the end of a line.
Learn where to use capitals. When a comma
occurs leave a little wider space than between
two words a little more at alsemicolou, and a little
more still at a colon or period. Paragraphs
should begin about an inch in from the margin.
Don't allow the writing to touch the margin line.
At the dictation exercise you will need to be very
attentive, catching up the phrases one after ano-
ther as they are read out, and retaining them in
full until they are again transmitted topaper.
Should you not hear 3 word distinctly request
firmly, but politely, that the superintendent re-
read it. You should practise repeating or writing
whole sentences just on hearing them read.
Finally, we say be -very careful not to make mis-
takes in spelling; be always ready, in case of diffi-
cult ', with the rules which grammar or usage set-3
down; and attend to the proper forms of words
and the correct use of capitals.
Cdurosmox.-Sliould the examiner give a
choice of subjects, select that about which you
know nfost. Let your introduction’ be short,
clear, and prt-cise., Treat your subject in a na-
tural, sensible way, avoiding pondcrous verbiage
and a succession of long rcriods. The length‘ of,
assay required from an ,Exciso candidate reaches
about 480 words. Within that‘ limit endeavour
’ to curnplete your subject-p;ixjc opinions and draw‘
..m.-,iu.;.m'.,. gwlicn (lone, read it oveiig, eliminate
what appears suncrlluo'u‘s."nml im.r-mluce.-‘liere and
, A - . V
THE IRISH FIRESIDE. .
there .1 strengthening word; all the better, how
ever, if this practice is not much if at all needed:
Aairnnzrid.-Botll plain and higher arith-
metic must be well known, from the simple tot
to the scales of notation, the examiner scours
around for tliedanzers and dilhculties of numerical
calculation. Make up well in intricate fractions,
"proofs, principles, and processes ;- in proportion,
interest, discount, and the stocks, and be well
prepared in 'mensuration of surfaces. There is
us much legibility required in arithmetic as in
any other written matter. ‘Show the work in full,
as short as you can, and as correct as possible.
Place your‘ answer to each exercise at the lower
corner to the right.
G)?.oonAr1nr.--Get oil" well all about the British
Empire and her colonies. The latest changes in
political geography are likely to form subject of
inquiry--hzwe them all well in your mind. Be
able also to answer questions on the general geo-
graphy of Europe.
We have now gone hurriedly over the various
subjects forming the programme for the Excise
examination, and we trust that when the hour of
struggle comes some of our students, by follow-
ing the advice just given, will prove victorious.
OUR. WRITERS. '
We propose the fnllowlng subjects for Composition-
(a) Our Own Fire lde. '
(b) Winter Joys in Ireland.
(c) “ “irtuc, oh, how sweet and dear 3"
(cl) Cursing, Coarseness, and Cowardice.
ANSWERS T0 QUERIES. -
Par Mouor-All the books you require can be had
from Gill and Son,50 Upper O'Connell-street, Dublin.
For atradcsman, llamblin Smith's Slaiiu would be
most suitable. Goodere on the Steam Engine la the
latest and best,
Banrrsi Composition. 90; handwriting, 80 per cent. ’
Don't nllow any of your loops to run Mind: make yunr ,
long letters somewhat taller, and croes your 913 in full.
Pllannioxn-Composition, 59: us ‘hograplzy and copylng
full merit. There is a mistake in the se ,uencc of
ten-es in “It was one. beautiful morning a group may
be seen." The writing is sure to pass.
D G R-l. About 4 years. 2. Better the College course,
but it is not essential. There are apprenticeships in
the profession under such eminent contractors as W J
Duherty, C E. Dr Stoney is, as a matter of fact, one
of the greatest living engineers. 3. The cost would
, vary, but certainly never fall under ‘
J J FLE.‘ll.VG-If you have even a small reading power of
the German, we advise you to et Menzel's work on
German literature. Other goat. hooks for your pur-
pose‘ nrc " Genie delnlanzue Alleman<le." by Charles;
Zacher on German Philologymnd Dr Morris's " His-
torical English.” ‘ . g
Porsva-Prm-ure Dr Morell’s work on Composition; Gill
and sun can supply it to you; price Ii-i Gd. '
.
OUR, I NATIVE. ToNdUE.‘
A CHAT IN THE STREET
Walking up O'Connell-street, the other day,
near the Post Office, I fell in with two acquaint-
ances eugaged in an animated discussion. One
was enthusiastically devoted to the dissemination
of the Irish language, and a ripe scholar both in
Irish and other languzrges; the other was What is
known as n Philistinc-that is, a man whose ideas
are bounded and principles influenced by com-
mercial considerations, though otherwise intelli-
gent, and a fairly good Irishman as far as the ma-
jority of Duhliners go. lie was protesting against
calling the Irish “ our native language.” " Why,”
said he, " there is not one Irishman in five who
understands it, and fewerslill who speak it. It is
of no earthly use in Dublin or any other of our
principal towns; it is banished from our schools,
our chapels, our public mcetin;:.=a, our Press, our
literature, the social life of the higher and middle
classes, from trade and commerce, from the law
courts, from the whole province of Leinster, and
from more than the half of Ulster. Do you even
hear it in the streets of Dublin or Belfast? My
dear fellow, it is preposterous to call. such a
language our native tongue.‘ English is now our
native tongue, and so mucll the better for us,
so I." ‘ - -
lily Gaelic friend was indignant at this style of
argument, “ If Irish," said he, “ is not the native
tongue of Ireland, of'what country is it the native
tongue? . It must surely be the native tongue of
some country.‘ English is the native language of
l-England, and on will surely not maintain that
England is Ire ndl, lfyou or‘ the likes of you,
‘either by the isfortunc or fault of your parents,
I 2711.‘
guage, that is nrrreasofx . why you should try to
make all your fellow-countrymen partners in your
misfortune or fault. Lcall it nothing less than
unpatriotic selfishness. Accorning Ito the
last Census, there are still in -‘Ireland
nearly a million people" speaking ' or under;
standing Irish; and, when we remember howmany":
knowing it deny this knowledge, I think that thn. .
number approaches a million and a quarter in.
reality. As far as the usefulness of Irish’: goes,
if you were a shopkeeper in Waterford, Galway,
Trnlce, or many another town, you would soon
find it your interest to have an assistant who
spoke Irish, and then your commercial instincts
would make you change your tune as you are not ‘
influenced by national considerations. If it is
banished from our schools it is because the ,
so-called “National” Bdard, regarding it’ as one’
of the most distinguishing marks of Irish nationa-
lity. wishes to destroy it; but I am very much ‘
mistaken if the Irish people‘will not soon second
the efforts made for its introduction into the
elementary course in It-ish-speaking districts.
Its absence from the courts of law was noticed or
the trial of Myles Joyce, not to the advantage of
the courts. Dublin, of course, is thoroughly
English,:u3Belfast. is’ Scotch, and because you
breathe the atmosphere of these two towns on
cannot realise tu yourself any other state ol
things. We All know, what kind of men ‘the
majority of Irish magistrates me,. so we do not
wonder if they give little fair play to Irish-speak
ing persons brought fore them either ' as
witnesses or otherwise. But you are not an Irish
magistrate or an Irish National School inspector. -
You pretend to a certain faint flavour of nationa-
lity. Now, as in order to discuss a subject people
should first make themselves acquainted with it,
I would advise you to learn something of thc ,
Irish language, and of the state ol the people in 4
the Irish-speaking districts, before attempting
to dogmatise on our native tongue, which will re-
main our native tongue when you and I are dead
and gone." , i '
My Gaelic friend
up the Philistinc.
then departed after shutting‘
COLONEL MICHAEL Doilsifzf
---v--- ‘ ::r .
The mind: of the remaining less‘ in Leland pl
lllullaghmnst anv.l- Tara, who’ detlouied.u‘:eel:;by‘ "
who followed the Young Irelanders through their
endless vicissitudes; to all these-the ‘name’ cl"
"Counsellor Doheny” will bring back memories
of that bygone time as nothirg else couhlido.
What atype of that wonderful phalanx of .1111:
accurate historion, a. stirring orator, a wonder-
fully able lawyer. a talented essayist, and, above '
all, a dashing soldier-Doheny stands today.’ in ‘
the history of that period, second to none for
power and versatility of genius. Whenever a
poor peusa.nt'a case required the lawyer's services,
Doheny was at his complete disposal. Were an
orator needed to move a meeting, in town or
country, to its lowest depths of pathos,-to stiftit ,
to its highest pitch of enthusiasm--there Doheny
was again in demand. Of his poweras a histo-
rian. his work on the “American Revolution” is p
of the Young Ireland productionsi-irliich is high’ ‘
praise indeed. Doheny was not one of the draw-
ing-“room" military: as orkaniser of the famous
69th Regiment of the American Army, and as -
a soldier. Ilad Death not cut him down in '61,’
at the very time when a brighter epoch seemed td -
liadiianothertalie to tell.‘ - ' ‘ "
. have sulfered
t le great loss of your native lan-
g ‘ .
t‘.
'suit.‘. =
week the stirring articles in theold Natiovi, and j; ,
colonel of the 75th, he showed himself every inch g’ .
be dawning on Ireland,"6,5-and ’67‘miglit have. ,-
; A'Dublin in..." advertises,-“;dll-wool boys‘! i
suits."‘-‘Au all-wool boyiought to make aeigoogdi ','
Cunsni. ’- . 1
those who years ago’ stood round-0'Cunnell:a.l‘ '
“ Forty Decade” l A brilliant pbetpa cleier and pi ,
suilicient evidence; and his brilliant-pgetic writ-' -
ings are well worthy to rankgside by side with any , '
6.... IT"