Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-12-11

The Galway Fair.

for the sale of ponies, orthorses Of small breed
with some few cattle 90 this occasion, the COL
lection of people was surprisingly great and
could then well understand what was intended BY
the public meetings in Ireland, called monster
meetings." in respect TO which, until saw this
collection ofpeope, had always supposed the &C.
count of the numbers assembled had been much
exaggerated. There were here on this OCCASION
some cattle and sheep; but there were, also, four
thousand ponies, the catching Of which, for exam
ination or sale, as they had in general neither br
die nor halter, was sufficiently amusing, and was
about to add sufficiently Irish. The fair was held
on the sea-shore where the receding tide left
large bed Of mud The ponies, when required to
be caught, were surrounded and driven into this
mud; and here, in very ignoble way, they were
secured, though it was not always without some
difficulty they were extracted after being caught.
I. Temperance in Lreland-There were two
circumstances connected with this fair at Rose
Mount, reference to which, though not having an
immediate connection with the principal object of
my reports, yet having direct bearing upon rural
manners and customs, may not be considered
wholly out of place. Here, well as at the fair
at Donnybrook, where immense numbers of people
were congregaed, could observe most distinctly
the benehcient effects of that powerful reformatory
movement, which under the ministry of good man,
worthy of the name of an apostle, has effected
glorious moral triumph throughout Ireland, such as
the pages of history scarcely record. | cannot say
that at either place there was no drinking and no
quarrelling; but there was comparatively little
and knowing, from report and from the natural ex-
citeabeness of the Irish temper, what had been
usual on such occasions, | could not but feel how
much had been accomplished, when a foreigner
might truly say, Of such vast and mixed assemble
ges, they were quiet orderly and kind and we'll
behaved man, disposed TO keep his elbows to his
own sides, might feel almost equal security as
he would feel in church.
2. The GGhoay IPomen.-There was another
circumstance, perfectly unique in its character, to
which shall be pardoned for alluding There
was another species of live stock exhibited at the
fair, which cannot say is never seen at such
places but which does always present itself I'M
der the same frank circumstances. The kind no.
bieman who accompanied me, and who, like many
others, noble and simple whom it has been nv
good fortune TO meet with on this side of the wa.
ter, left no effort unessayed for my qualification,
after looking at the various objects of the fair, ask
ed me at last, "if would like to see the girls"
confess my natural diffdence at once took the alarm
and my Imagination cast few furtive glances over
the sea at some precious objects | had left behind
However, upon a voyage Of curiosity, why should |
not see what was to be seen and confident that
my good friend could have no sinister design,
gave him an affirmative reply. Upon inquiriny Of
one OF the trustees, masters of the fair, "if the
girls had come" we were informed they would be
there at twelve o'clock At twelve o'clock we
went, as directed, TO part of the ground higher
than the rest of the field, where we found from
sixty to hundred young women, well dressed, with
good looks and manners, and presenting spectacle
quite worth any civil mans looking at, and in
which, can assure my readers, there was nothing
to offend any civil modest mans feelings. These
were the manageable girls of the country, who
had come to show themselves, on the occasion, to
the young men and others who wanted wives and
this with the plain and simple custom of the fair
1 am Tree to say that saw in the custom no very
great improperly. 1t certainly did not imply that.
though they were ready 10 be had, any body could
have them. 1t was not Circassian slaye-market,
where the richest purchaser could make his selec-
lion. They were in sense of the term on sale
nor did they abandon their own right of choice but
that which is done constantly in more refined soci-
ETY., under various covers and pretences,- at thea
Tres, balls, and public exhibitions; will say moth
ing about churches,-was done by these humble
and unpretending people in this straightforward
manner. Between the noble duchess, who pre-
'ents long train of daughters rus,ing in silk and
ylitterng with diamonds, at the queens drawing
loom, or the ladies Of rank and fashion, who ap-
bear at public places with all the beauty and spen-
Tor of dress and ornament which wealth, and taste,
md art, and skill, can supply. meaning nothing else
'ut "admre me y and these honest Galway nymphs
With their white fred caps, and their red cloaks
md peticoats-for this is the picturesque costume
II that part of the counlry--all willing to endow
ONE good man with the richest of ali the gifts of
Heaven, good and faithful wife, | can see no es-
ential difference.
"Let not ambition mock their useful TOLL
Their homely joys, and destiny secure"
l hope shall be excused, if say something
lore of these Galway women. | never saw a more
andsome race people. have always been
reat admirer Of beauty-natura beauty, mental
eauty, moral beauty. For what did the Creator
rake things SO beautiful as they are made hut 10
e admired as they are made but to be admired
or what has he endowed man with an exquisite
ense OF beauty, but that he may cultivate it, and
nd in 1t source OF pleasure and delight As
ave grown older, this sense Of beauty-and deem
great blessing from Heayen-has become more
cute; and every day Of my life, the world and ma
IRE, nature and art the animal, the vegetable. and
ne mineral creation, the heavens and the earth the
elds and flowers, men, women and children wit
enlus, learning moral purity and moral loneliness
eeds oil humanity ioriitude, patience, heroism,
have seemed TO me continually
iore and more beautiful, as at the setting of the
nn, man looks out upon world made richer and
lore glorious by his lingering radiance, and skies
! up WIN an unwonted gorgeousness and splendor
'ut the human countenance seems in many cases
Q concentrate all Of physical of intellectual and
It moral beauty, which can be combined in one
right point Why should il not, therefore, be adj
nlredf In the comminged beams Of kindness
nd good humor Frightening up the whole face,
Ike heat-lightnng in summer on the western sky !.
e in the flashes Of genius sparkling in the ewes
nth splendor which the fires of no diamond can
wal or IN the whole soul Of intelligence and no.
ie thoughts, and heroic resolution, and strong and
ply passion glowing in the countenance -tbere