GEORGE MOORE IN IRELAND.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 5832, 24 February 1906, Page 12

GEORGE MOORE IN IRELAND.

11l a recent interview with a "C incr.irlo” representative, Mr Crc-orse Moore the well-known Irish . novelist .■-(Hike deploringlv of the social future or hU country. ‘ Of Dublin-he asserted that it is ••growing more and more pi ovincinl every day. _ There is no life, intellectual ar artistic, or social, in any true sense of the word. 1 stayed 'hero until I round myself tho omi solitarv ]>erson who was m Dublin for anv other reason than that of having to’ he. Then I gave it tip. The only people who live there are officials. ' Kvcn they are getting into the habit of living out of the town. The place is emptying, house by bouse. Franklv. 1 think thev will soon have to Iniiig in a Hill just to compel officials to take houses in Mention square and St. Stephen's green!” Vnbc.ppiiv, tbi-t is net all. Mr Moore's account of Ireland in general is hardly more cheering. The whole country, in his view, is doomed only t-- ever-growing decok'd ion. Tie talked of many reasons for this melancholy Mate of things, and was particularly emphatic’ about one. This was the attitude of the Catholic priests towards social freedom among the young penpie of the villages—a topic which, it will he remembered, as dealt with in -The I'ntilled Field,” and. in its moral aspect. in his recent novel, “The Lake.”

V.'eethor as novelist or not, Mr Moore seemed to be intensely impresse:l with the sinister effect of this moral guardianship—or ‘‘gaolership,” ns_ be expressed it—on the part of the priests. “As you know,” be said, 'the pries-i s throughout Ireland, have been growing in power ever since the death of Mr Parnell, not only forbid the 'keeping company’ of young couples—in the name of morality—hut are in the habit of denouncing from the altar any who transgress. Von cannot conceive the disastrous result that this has upon Iho whole nation, it weakens the will power of the peasantry. it puts an end to the most harmless, social pleasures, it brings about loveless mnyinges. As for those who have been denounced from the idler—above all in the ease of girls—they leave the parish only to fall into far mere grievous temptation elsewhere.

“There was a notorious instance a Httlo while ago, in which a priest refused to allow the young men and women of the village even to attend the meetings of the Gaelic League—utterly innocent: ns they are—lost they r.honld meet under pleasant conditions. “f conld give yon.” Mr Moore added, ‘‘many more examples, both of this and of denunciation from the altar. To my mind it is an attitude entirely contrary to the teaching of Christ—pitiless,' merciless. There was even ono case In which some money was given in charity to help a poor girl who had got into trouble and was so denounced, and whose mind was weak. The priest used the money just to park the girl elf to .America—without friends—where heaven only knows a hat became of her.'' ‘The priests r,?em to think,” exclaimed Mr Moore, ‘'that their responsibility ends with the parish boundaries, but that within the e they have the rigid, to command every action of the young re-; pie. Was ever anything more illogical? It. is not a question of Catholicity—it is merely the desire for power. In no ether Catholic country in Kuropo do the priests assume these rights. There are. indeed, several enlightened Irish priests—as. for instance, Father Xugcnt. of Liverpool—who see and confess the harnv that is bring done.” Against this dark picture cf Irish peasant life, an he draws it, Sir Moore’s farewell impressions of Ireland afforded practically no relief. ‘‘These things,” ho said, “are simply sapping the last drops of vitality from the country, and not in the peasant classes alone, but in alt. Even tho sporting spirit is going—tho hunting squireen w:-!! soon l;c a thing of the past. In a little while Ireland will ho nothing else bid a place of petty graziers and priest*. As regards Homo Rule, I don't. think the priests genuinely want it. It would be sure to mean, in one way or another, a Reselling of (heir power.” I suggested, in a final gasp, tho literary revival. “There is no literary revival,” replied Mr Moore, crushingly. “There is only ono man, Mr Synge, and ho has written only one beautiful play, ‘The AVell of the Wise.’ ” An for Mr Moore himself, lie confessed that ho was tired of contending about Ireland. The only plan, ho remarked, is never to answer, always to avoid controversy. It was Goethe’s. Ho never mentioned Ucina.

Accordingly, tho coming years of Mr Moore’s literary labour are to bo divided, so ho told mo, chiefly between London and Paris. He is meaning to write an autobiographical book to lie called, “Memoirs of a Dead Life,” and, after that a novel about Nonconformists. This lie described as “a tragedy of the altruists.” Perhaps, after all, tho Catholics will hare their revenge I