30 THE IRISH. PEOPLE. 



other as any human races could be, on account of 

 the different media and environments in which they 

 have lived for the last two hundred years. 



The force of ill-nature could no further go, un- 



O 9 



less, perhaps, it stated as a fact well known to 

 " Science " and " the Saxon," that the Irishman was 

 adorned with a long tail, a prehensile hallux, tusk- 

 like canine teeth, partially coherent fingers, a com- 

 pletely hairy back with a cross on it formed by the 

 constant practice of making the Sign of the Cross on 

 his breast and a bald praeciput, rendered so by the 

 copious application of holy water by himself and his 

 progenitors. This fact would have been hailed with 

 delight by " scientists," as a striking instance of 

 Atavism and Reversion to long-dormant structures. 

 Gillmore (No. 3 above), saw this dimly and sug- 

 gested it ; but as he was only " a Scotch Celt," his 

 dull humour did not enable him to express his view 

 in a graphic manner. 



To defeat and overthrow this unholy alliance and 

 scandalous conspiracy of Punch, Puck, Platform, 

 and Press, would be difficult indeed. But to dis- 

 prove the mendacities of those " Forgers " is an easy 

 task. For that purpose it is not necessary to ran- 

 sack old graveyards for bones and skulls, "grandia- 

 que effossis mirabitur ossa sepulcris;" or to 

 measure living specimens according to the methods 



