“James Anthony Froude, in his recent rapid passage across the country on the homeward stretch of his round-the-whole trip, was interviewed in New York and among other things was asked for reminiscences of his visit to the United States.
“The reading of the notice of his interview revived the memory of an incident of that visit, which is perhaps worth relating.
“During this visit, Mr. Froude delivered lectures in the principal cities on the Irish question. The theory which he propounded and advocated was, that the troubles in Ireland were not the result of bad government at all, but of bad blood in the Irish race. But he was anxious to get more light on the subject, if possible, and so, when in Boston, he wanted to visit public schools which were frequented by children of the Irish race. Accordingly, I took him to some boys’ schools and some girls’, where the children were almost wholly of Irish parentage. At the last of these girls’ schools, of the grammar grade installed in a splendid new school house of large size, after passing through twelve or fourteen rooms, filled with bright, well-dressed girls full of animation in their recitation in the various branches of instruction, Mr. Froude asked: ‘Do you mean to says that these are the children of Irish immigrants?’ ‘Yes,’ I answered, ‘I believe there is not a single pupil in this school of the Yankee race.’ ‘Well,’ he continued, ‘I must confess I’m staggered.’ ‘Now,’ said I, ‘I will take you to a mixed school (boys and girls being in separate rooms and classes), which stands on a spot that two years ago was a mud hole in a marsh surrounded by poor dwellings, mostly occupied by Irish immigrants.’
“After passing through most of the rooms in the fine building, in which were neatly-dressed pupils in the most perfect order, earnestly engaged in their work, we came to a boys’ room where a recitation in history was in progress. Here he took a seat and proceeded to question the class, from which he got very prompt and appropriate answers. At length, he singled out a little tan-headed boy of the Irish nationality and plied him with a lot of pretty hard questions, but every one was answered with admirable promptness and accuracy. Mr. Froude stopped, remained silent for a short time with his eyes cast down as though in a profound study. He then addressed the boys again and said: ‘My boys, where did you learn this?’ ‘Out of a book, sir,’ was the ready reply. ‘And where did you get the book?’ ‘Out of the public library,’ was the answer.
“Mr. Froude then arose to leave and I said: ‘Now, Mr. Froude, I will take you to the Girls’ High School, where you will find representatives of the Irish nationality in a higher grade of instruction.’ ‘Well,’ replied Mr. Froude, ‘you may take me where you please; it makes no difference; I’m full; I can’t hold any more.’”
Spencer says: “The Irish had the use of letters long before the English, and that Oswald, a Saxon king, applied to Ireland for learned men to instruct his people.”
Camden says: “Ireland abounded with men of genius and erudition when learning was trampled on in every other quarter of the globe.”
Plutarch calls Ireland, “Ogygia,” i.e., the most ancient isle.
Ralph Waldo Emerson says: “The sources from which tradition derives their stock are mainly three. And, first, they are of the oldest blood in the world, the Celtic. Some people are deciduous or transitory.
“Where are the Greeks? Where the Etrurians? Where the Romans?