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INTRODUCTION. XV
Irish and Old "Welsh Declensions, but also attempts to x'cstore the
Old Celtic Declension. A concise account is given of the " des-
mential changes," and also of the Gaulish inscriptions. The other
paper is upon the Neo-Celtic Verb Substantive, and it contains a
most important account of vocalic change. Dr Kuno Meyer has
published valucible editions of the Cath Finntraga and Merugvd
Uilix. Professor Rhys has been the Hibbert Lecturer for this
year; his subject was "the Origin and Growth of Religion as
Illustrated by Celtic Heathendom." He passed in review the
whole subject of Celtic Religion and Mythology, and advanced
such interesting and startling theories that his published work
will be waited for with some eagerness by enthusiastic Celtists.
The Educational Minute of May of last yeai-, which we de-
scribed in Vol. XI., has been embodied in the new Scotch Code.
But unfortunately, though Gaelic is allowed as a specific subject,
it is, nevertheless, not placed upon the specific schedule: only a
note at the bottom of the page informs the public that Gaelic may
be taken as a specific subject, "provided it be taught upon a
graduated scheme, to be approved by Her Majesty's Inspectors" !
The Gaelic to be taught is to be settled for each school by the
caprices of teachers and inspectors ! Evidently, however, this is
only a temporary device, and next year we may hope to see Gaelic
on Schedule Four beside Latin and Greek. A committee of this
Society drew up a Gaelic Scheme that may be worth reproducing
in the circumstances :
—
1st Stage. Reading of 50 pages of ordinary Gaelic prose.
Reciting of 50 lines of Gaelic Poetry. General knowledge of
Gaelic Declension.
2nd Stage. Reading 100 pages of Gaelic poetry and verse.
Writing to dictation from the same. Reciting of 100 lines of
Gaelic Poetry, -svith meanings and allusions. General knowledge
of Gaelic Grammar.
3rd Stage. Reading of Gaelic prose and verse. Reciting of
150 lines of Gaelic poetry. Composition of a theme in Gaelic,
and some knowledge of the history, construction, and literature
of the Gaelic language.