By Frugal Living
EIRE WILL SURVIVE
Prom Our Own Correspondent lemma
The Ddil was summoned specially, at the request of Mr. W. T. Cosgrave, to discum the problem of essential supplies. Mr. Cosgrave said that if the Government would take the country into its confidence, that confidence would not be abused or endangered. His object was to allay uneasiness which had shown itself recently, by giving the Government an opportunity to state the true position. Mr. Sean Lemass, Minister for Supplies, made a full statement. He explained that the sudden stoppage of petrol rations, with their subsequent renewal on a very small scale, was forced suddenly and unexpectedly upon him by the drastic curtailment of supplies which occurred at Christmas. A sudden crisis had caused this severe jolt.
However, petrol was the only commodity that had been rationed so far. Thanks to late economic policy, the country had large supplies of building materials— actually had an exportable surplus of cement—and could supply itself with leather. boots, clothing, furniture. medical supplies, sugar and most foodstuffs. Granted escape from the more direct blows of war, the nation could hope to weather the crisis by frugal living, even if imports should stop altogether.
TILL A MILLION ACRES MOREt
This speech told the country how it stands; namely, in danger of greater rigours, but better off than it would be if it lacked the new industries and its tillage and livestocks. The Minister for Agriculture has asked for the tilling of 1,000,000 more acres of land, and the doubling of all corn crops. Bishops have instructed clergy to appeal to the farmers to throw their energies into this gigantic effort to produce every pound of bread that the wheie population needs. Certainly, the unemployment problem ought to be eased by this mass return to the land. Such a ferment of rural activity has not been seen in our time, or our fathers'.
" IRELAND OF THE WELCOMES"
Sisters of the Marist Order, who have arrived in Ireland from France, Belgium and England, where their houses were destroyed or badly damaged in bombing raids, have found refuge in " Cill-Alaithe," Killala, a lovely residence in Mayo. The owner, Mr. J. Gilvarry, New York attorney-at-law, hopes that the refugee sisters will find peace and quiet there. " We are so happy to he here," an aged sister said. " We have peace and quiet. We shall never forget the hospitality and Chtistian charity of the Irish. May God repay them."
THREE LANGUAGES USED
The Archbishop of Dublin has taken formal possession of the See. There were simple but impressive receptions at the Archiepiscopal Palace, when the clergy of Dublin and the Corporation read addresses, and the Archbishop replied. The addresses and replies were delivered in Latin, Gaelic and English, in symbol of Ireland's Catholic and historical traditions.
(NB.—I slipped in stating recently that Dr. MacQuaid is the first Archbishop of Dublin to be so consecrated for 170 years; I ought to have added " in Dublin." Archbishop Walsh was consecrated as Archbishop of Dublin, but in Rome.)
BISHOPS AND CATHEDRALS
The 1941 issue of the Capuchin Annual offers a most remarkable series of plates— portraits of the Bishops and Abbots of Ireland, and a similar series of the cathedrals and the two Cistercian abbeys. This series will be valued far and wide, and it affords a means to estimate the quality of architecture in Ireland's " Second Spring." Many will think that Monaghan Cathedral is the gem of a century's building, while Longford's superb classicism, and the modern excellence of Mullingar (opened two years ago) are impressive. For !Gilmore, there is the architect's design of the cathedral-to-be, which Dr. Lyons hopes to complete. It shows a modern treatment of the classic style which ought to be very fine, in its quiet semi-rural setting.