The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1845-03-07
MIR. O'COmmeIA's Habits and Reli-
RiOWS views.

giOuS views.
Mr. O'Connell is one of the pleasantes
men ever met with. No one can be many
seconds in his company without feeling at
the most perfect ease. He convorsss, as
may be inferred from what have already said
in the most free and fameiar manner with
all who are admitted to his society. There
is nothing stiff or distantin in his manner; moth
ing in look, tone or word, or action, which
indicates any sense of superiority to those
around him. There s'a simplicity and art
leness about him which are perfectly child
like, and are exceedingly winning to stran-
gers. You ask yourself, can you be actually
conversng in this easy and familiar manner
with one who, for the last thirty years, has
filed so large space, not only in England
and Ireland's eye, but in the eye of the
world? You ask yourself, can this bo the
man who has played so prominent part on
the stage of political life? who is at this mo-
ment, in some respects, the monarch of Ire
land? Yet so it is. Such is Mr.. O'Con-
nell. No one, no matter how opposed TO
him he may be in politics can be any time
in his society without being fascinated by
his pleasing manner, and delighted with his
conversation. In private, Mr. O'Connel has
no enemies. He never had any; it is i'm
possible he could. They who have never
met with him often entertain, owing 10 antago-
mist views on political questions, very strong
prejudices against him; but the moment such
persons enter into conversation with him,
their preudices vanish, and feelings of ad-
miraton and friendship take the place ofdis-
like.
Some very extraordinary instances Of the
transformation of violent prejudices against
Mr.. O'Connell into equally strong prcpos-
sessions in his favor, as the result Of u short
personal interview, have at different times,
come under my own personal observation
In private he rarely talks of politics. A
stranger might be hours in his company be-
fore he discovered, from any thing that es-
capped his lips, that he is the greatest poiti-
cal agitaor which the world has Produced
He talks about every variety of topics with
out saying word, unless led 10 it by others
respecting the part which he himself has so
long played, and still continues to play, on
the stage of political life. He is 4 man Of
superior conversational powers; his iniorma-
ton is varied. | was surprised TO find that
a man who had devoted so much ofhis time,
ever since he was called to the bar, to pro-
fessional pursuits, a2d the emancipation of
his country from what he considers an un-
Just, and degrading bondage--l was sur
prised to find that such man, in a company
of about twenty persons, most of them be-
longing to the learned Professions, should
display a variety and accuracy Of knowledge
on general topics, which none of their num-
Der could make any pretensions TO. His al
tainments as theologian are also Of suPe-
rior order.
MIR. O'Connell is a man of excellent bust
ness habits. This fact is not known in Eng
land. | am not sure that it is so even in
Ireland, beyond the sphere Of personal ac-
quaintances. lie does every thjag by sys-
TEN; all his movements are made in accor-
dance with previous arrangements. Even
when in the zenith of his professional repu-
tation and success as barrster, he was ever
assiduous and systematic in his attention TO
matters Of miscellaneous business. What
may appear still more extraordinary, he was
never known to omit or neglect the most tr-
vial matters, provided he had engaged 10 give
his attention to them, during the five months
oflast year when the monster meetings were
being held. | met with a gentleman in
Dublin who has mad word of private busi-
ness to transact with Mr.. O'Connell and he
assured me that never, in all his intercourse
with public men, did he meet with one on
whose punctuality to his appointments, or
fulfilment of his promises, he could more
confidently rely, than on those of Mr.. o.
Connell. The reader will not, after this,
be surprised to learn that Mr.. O'Connell is an
early riser. He is usually up between five
and six in the morning, in winter as well as
summer. He is also exceedingly temperate,
if left to his own taste, he would seldom, if
at all, partake of even single glass o. wine.
For the sake of others, he does taxi one or
two glasses, but rarely more, at dinner
Whiskey punch, which is so great favorits
in Ireland, is not patronized by O'Conpell
He retres to bed early. Except in some
very peculiar cases, he never remains in
company after ten O'Clock; no matter whose
guest he may be, or who may be his guest,
he leaves the table at ten o'clock, and very
soon after retires to bed. His regular and
abstemious habits have, doubtless, much to
do with the excellent health which he is
known to enjoy And here may mention,
by way of parenthesis, that though | have
been in the habit of seeing Mr.. O'Connsll
for nearly twelve years, he looked quite as
we'll, and as hale and hearty last autumn, as
when l first saw him in the beginning of
1888.
There IS another trait in Mr. O'Connell's
chara cter, which ! mention last, in order
that it may make the deepest impression
He is religious man; eminently so, accor-
ding to the views of the church to which he
belongs. My own principles being Protes-