1 CHIEF SECRETARY'S OFFICE, DUBLIN CASTLE. 20 th April, 1916. Dear Starkie, There seems to be something in the
complaint of the people who produce books to meet
the syllabus of the Intermediate Board, though
some of the words in 'Kidnapped' to which exception
is taken are good English words and in one case
Irish. Will you, if you see no objection, bring
the matter before the Board for their consideration. Yours sincerely,
Matthew Nathan.
The Right Hon.
W.J.M. Starkie, M.A., Litt.D.,LL.D.,
Board of National Education,
Marlborough Street,
Dublin. 2 INTERMEDIATE EDUCATION BOARD FOR IRELAND.
MEMORANDUM with regard to the objections raised to 'Kidnapped.' 1.That the book is copyright and that money will therefore
go from Ireland to England. The Board deliberately selected a book of which an
annotated school edition could not be brought out. The Board
were led to adopt this course because they find that where such
editions are brought out an immense amount of time and labour
is expended on learning the notes by heart. 2. That the atmosphere is Scotch and so uncongenial to the
vast majority of Irish boys. A similar objection might be
urged against many of Scott's novels which have frequently been
on the Board's programme, without exception being taken to them.
There seems nothing in the book to which the least exception
could be taken by any fair minded person, and the book itself
should be interesting to young people. 3. That the language is in parts incomprehensible to Irish
boys. This is of course true of many of Scott's works also.
As to the list of words appended several are either good English
or well known Scotticisms. In other cases the meaning is
perfectly obvious from the context. One or two are Gaelic.