182 / 244
182
info@adams.ie652
HYDE, DR. DOUGLAS (AN CRAOIBHÍN) AND ST. ENDA’S
An autograph signed letter, 6 pp (two folded sheets, on his Frenchpark headed notepaper, dated Sept. 3 1912), to Pádraig Mac Mághnasa (MacManus) in
Mountcharles, Co. Donegal, with the original postally used envelope.
‘I have been urged to let you know my opinion about the Saint Enda school run by Mr. Pearse. I consider it a great national asset if it could be run on business
lines and got to pay for itself. It is the only Irish school in Ireland which really educates on Irish and not on English lines. Nobody could go to it without turning out
a good Irishman. So much I know about it with certainty.
‘The financial part of it I do not know about, except that it is in very bad care, and cannot last without outside support. Mr Wilson of Belfast, a very shrewd
business man, went I believe into the accounts and satisfied himself that if the school was pulled out of its present difficulties, placed upon a sound basis, &
certain things done, it could and would be self-supporting. I understand he offered €1,000 if €2,000 more could be found for that purpose.’
If Wilson’s view is correct, Hyde says, ‘it would be worth any money to the cause of Irish nationhood to have such a school, quite independent, quite Irish, taught
by laymen and Gaelic Leaguers, and giving a good education. Indeed I would go so far as to say that such a school would be a prime necessity in the new Ireland
which we are building up .. Please pardon me for taking the liberty of thus writing to you. I have written about the school exactly what I think.’ Hyde does not say
by whom he was urged to write to MacManus, but it seems likely that it was by Pearse or someone acting on his behalf.
€300 - €500
Lot 652