MR. EDWARD FITZPATRICK,
Of Kentucky.
Staff of the Louisville Daily Times.
MR. MICHAEL GAVIN,
Of Tennessee.
Residence, Memphis.
FOUR STATE VICE-PRESIDENTS.
THE “SCOTCH-IRISH” AND “ANGLO-SAXON” FALLACIES.
BY JAMES JEFFREY ROCHE, BOSTON, MASS.
Mr. President and Gentlemen of the American-Irish Historical Society:
A few weeks ago I attended a performance of Sheridan’s comedy, “The Rivals,” very ably interpreted by a new company of players.
One of them, an excellent performer, taking the part of Sir Lucius O’Trigger, interpolated a “gag,” as it is called in theatrical parlance, to the effect that modesty is a word which has no equivalent in the Irish language. It was an interpolation to make the unthinking laugh—but to make the judicious grieve.
For the Irishman is not immodest, not as the word is meant to imply—impudent. Thackeray, the shrewd judge of character, rather condemns the Irishman for his national bashfulness.