162 HISTORY AND ETHNOLOGY. 



found in remote districts, and the Gaelic language still lingers on the 

 domestic hearth. However, the days of these relics of the olden time are 

 numbered, and the steam car and the steam press are silently doing what the 

 sword had failed to accomplish. 



The Scotch are a bold and hardy people ; industrious, thrifty, and 

 persevering ; shrewd and cautious in their business undertakings ; honest, 

 hospitable, kind-hearted, and friendly ; proud of their country and its history. 

 The lower orders are generally better instructed than the corresponding 

 classes in England. The form of religion is the Presbyterian. 



The population of Ireland is of Gaelic origin. As in the case of Wales, 

 the ancient language of the country, which is a dialect of the Celtic, is 

 much in use even at the present day, and probably with much the same 

 disadvantageous results. But the social and domestic condition of the 

 Irish is far inferior to that of the inhabitants of the sister kino^dom. 

 Though the land is fertile and the climate propitious, scientific agriculture, as 

 a general thing, is unknown ; the soil is not half cultivated, the manufactures 

 are only nominal, and the great mass of the people are in a state of abject 

 destitution. If we seek for the cause of this anomalous condition, we are 

 lost in a maze of contradictory^ evidence ; books and newspapers are 

 filled with discussions on the subject, but the cause or causes elude the 

 keenest research, and unhappy Ireland still remains an object of wonder and 

 compassion to the whole civilized world. The prevailing religion is the Roman 

 Catholic. 



The character of the Irishman, like his physical conformation, exhibits 

 distinguishing features from that of the English and Scotch. He is far 

 more impulsive than either ; bold, even to rashness ; patriotic, generous, 

 and hospitable ; quick tempered ; overflowing with fun and frolic, and witty 

 by birthright ; fond of music, singing, and dancing. He is, however, too 

 frequently revengeful, extravagant, and idle ; the slave of prejudice and 

 superstition ; and more inclined to repine at than to repair his moral and phy- 

 sical condition. The state of education is exceedingly low. 



To return to the English, who, as the leading race, may be considered 

 as the type of the national character of the inhabitants of the British 

 Islands, we may remark that they are especially distinguished for bodily 

 vigor, activity, and muscular strength. This characteristic is attributable 

 to the fondness for athletic sports which is common to all classes ; and 

 yachting, hunting, racing, boxing, wrestling, cricket, quoits, and other 

 manly exercises, which call for the display of skill and strength, are popular 

 diversions. PL 6, jig. 1, represents a horse race. Races take place at 

 regular intervals, on established race-courses, in different parts of the 

 country, the most celebrated being at Ascot, Doncaster, Epsom, and New- 

 market. They are attended by crowds of the nobility and fashionables, 

 and royalty itself is often present. The prizes run for are made up by 

 subscription. The betting is generally very heavy, and a favorite horse 

 is frequently backed up to a large amount. Fig. 2 represents a steeple 

 chase, so called from some prominent object at a distance being selected 

 as a goal, when the contending parties ride across the open country in as 

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