A Story of Motors
Leinster Leader, Saturday 25 July 1903 - Page 7.
(written in Irish and translated into English)
IRISH SONG AND STORY.
WITH TRANSLATIONS FOR STUDENTS
SPECIALLY WRITTEN FOR THIS JOURNAL.
MOTORS IN IRELAND.
BY MICHAEL CLEARY.
Thomas - Whisper me, Paudheen. Were you at this big race that
was in Kildare a few weeks ago?
Paudheen - Aroo! what race? The Motor race, is it?
Thomas - Yes, indeed.
Paudheen - Indeed I was not. Do you think had I anything else
to do, but going looking at Motors. My turf is in the bog in
little heaps yet, without I having one to give me a helping
hand. My potatoes and oats are smothered up with wild mustard
and dirt (weeds). It's easy for you talk about your Motors.
There is in it now but Motors here and Motors there. Faith there
are other things troubling the poor people besides Motors -
trying to be struggling and to earn a living. Thomas - See,
Paudheen, it would have been worth your while to be there. I
didn't care for potatoes or oats or anything else. I would go
in it again if they were rotting in the ground. What good is
it to be alive at all, unless you have a good day now and again.
Paudheen - O! that's right enough. I know that very well; but
business first and pleasure after. The Motors will not give
me bread and butter. And another thing, Thomas, I didn't know
what business they had here at all. Tearing through the country,
and going as if they were mad. The poor country was bad enough
as it was; but it's my opinion that it will be nine times worse
when the Motors are done with it.
Thomas - What are you saying like that, Paudheen. Nine times
worse! Now don't you know that whatever good they'll do, they
cannot do any harm anyhow. I think they are a good sign - a
sign that we are going ahead; that we are every inch as good
as any other country on the face on the earth; that we are able
to keep up with either of them. O, indeed, we are going ahead
Paudheen!
Paudheen - Ugh! we are you think. We are going ahead finely
in poverty and want. Did you ever put yourself this question,
Thomas, "Is there any one of those Motors made in Ireland?"
I think it makes not matter to you. It makes no difference to
you but to have a good sign. That's the same sign that is on
the people who are ruining this country - making fools of themselves
letting on (pretending). Will the Motors be able to keep the
people at home, do you think? Will they be able in any way to
give work to Irishmen, boys and girls? If they were, I would
have one and twenty welcomes for them.
Thomas - Now doesn't any one know that it would be right for
us to welcome anything that brings in money to us. You know
that this country is poor. A couple of hundred pounds would
do her no harm. The big race brought in any amount of money.
The country is so much richer now. And again, Paudheen, we were
here half asleep and awake. We wanted something to put life
into the people. The Motors are coming to turn the wind, and
to awaken the people from that heavy sleep that was on them
for a long time.
Paudheen - Stop, Tomeen, don't be bleathering like that, or
you will disgust me with your raimeis (nonsensical talk). You
say the country is richer than it was before. If it is where
is the money gone? You nor I didn't get a red halfpenny of it.
The little money that was brought in is in the rich men's pockets,
who had too much already. We must be satisfied with potatoes
and gruel, as we were evermore. I think its cold comfort to
be picking bones, and looking at a man eating beef at the same
time. Just like that we are; that is, anyone that is satisfied.
Thomas - Well, perhaps that race didn't do much good to the
majority of people; but you know it was the first one. The next
race will be better, and the next better again, and so on -
getting better from year to year. It is short till Motors are
as plentiful in this country as donkey carts. Then the country
will be jumping with business and pleasure.
Paudheen - Ah! Before you see that day I'm afraid there will
not be many people in Ireland for business or pleasure, or anything
else. See the number of people who are leaving the country each
year. Young people, too, who would be able to keep the breath
of life in the country. But alas! they must go, and their country
dying.
Thomas - And sure that's it. The Irish manufactures cannot go
ahead without the Motors. Are they not thinking of bringing
out Motors in place of the railways?
Paudheen - But where are the manufactures? We must set manufactures
on foot at first, and give them attention and help. And as for
putting life and energy into the people by Motors, there's nothing
in that but bleather. We must educate the people so that they
will be anxious to do their own work. So that they will not
be waiting for their neighbour, and asking a helping hand form
him; and the neighbour perhaps humbugging him. That is how we
worked for a long time; but it is time for us to be annoyed
with this way now. As you said already about the motors we must
turn the wind, and then, welcome to motors or anything else
that will be able to improve our work.