The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-10-07

inmates are well fed and comfortably clothed
their wants physical, mental, and spiritual, are
consulted, and, as far rs possible, satisfied. On
the whole, was gratifed and cheered by the
visit. In the Lunatic Asylum, a truly noble
institution, saw greater varieties Of insanity
than had ever remarked in any similar insti-
tuition in my own country. Some were melan-
choly in the extreme, some terrible, some gro
tesque, some merry and mischieyous, and some,
by far the saddest Of all, dull imbecile and
idiotic. 1t is strange, perhaps, but never felt
more deep and solemn conviction OF the i'm
mortality of the soul than when contemplating
those various forms of insanity To me the
great light shone with an intenser glow, a
more sacred and indestructible life, thus gla-
ring from the wild orbs of frenzy, or family
and fitfully cleaning from the heavy mistcd
eyes OF idiocy-like torch-light in a dungeon,
or star seen through drifting clouds, all
the more wildly and startlingly real. there
felt that to despair OF one of those poor
creatures, capable but of one thrill of kindly
sympathy, of love, or hope or remorse-of smi-
ling on child, or at the sight of flowers, or of
greeting gratefully the plying face of the
stranger-were sin almost beyond forgiveness
felt, that to say of the mind wandering for
years in the dark waste of hopeless melan-
choly, and of the soul islanded away from all
human companionship in the stagnant sea of
unconscious idiocy moaning up to God its in
articulate angush-to say of these, "they
shall utterly perish, were blasphemy. 1t is
strange that we do not learn more meekly from
Nature, who goes ON ever reproducing her
works in beautiful and glorifed forms. The
rough, dull seed arising to a glorious resurrec-
ton in the gorgeous flower holding in her
sweet chalice the purest dews of the skies: and
the butterfly, freed from his unsghtly chrys-
ais, ttuttering up at our feet, bearing the glory
OF heaven on his wings, should rebuke the UNI
believer. Shall such as these live again and
again, and that fullest emanatiOn OF the d.
vine--the soul of man-be flung aside as of no
worth in Gods economy, after one brief trial
of existence!
We visited the grave of 0'Connell in the
beautiful cemetery of Glasneven, where Cur
ran is also buried The coffin of the great
" Agitator," covered with crimson velvet, gor-
geously wrought in gold, is exposed in the
vault of temporary tomb. So we stood very
near the dust of him whose Overmastering elo-
quence had once stirred and swayed the minds
OF his countrymen as a strong tempest rouses
the sea, and drives the Wild waves before it
He did much for Ireland, and she will keep
his memory green.
We visited the Royal Irish Academy, where
We saw many curious antiquities the exhibit
ton Of painting and sculpture, where we saw
few good pictures; and the beautiful Bank
of Ireland formerly the House of Lords and
Commons
Hearing that the famous Donnybrook Fair
was under full Roadway, few miles from the
city, we drove out one pleasant afternoon,
hoping to see Irish character in some new va
rieties. But, on reaching the ground we soon
despared of seeing much in this way, remark
ing everywhere the presence of those patent
suppressors of popular spirit and jollity indi-
vidual originality and fun-soldiers and police
men. lt was a novel, a bustling and crowded
but by no means an animatng scene. There
was everything to be sold, and nothing seemed
to be selling. There was plenty of eating and
drinking, and nobody seemed the heartier or
happier. There was everywhere evident an
awakened effort at enjoyment and amusement,
un-lrish and lamentable in the extreme. You
heard little laughter or singing, and both the
tiddling and dancing were mechanical and
spiritless. There were half dozen theatres,
and every variety of show" and for an hour
before the performance commenced, managers,
actors, clowns, and Ethiopian minstrels," pa
raded in front of their booths, shouting and
bidding for customers, with furious ringing of
bells and mad beating of drums. "Lades and
glntlemin, walk in and see the RoOsian Lam
bert, the fattest man in the civilized world"
Ladies' and gintlemin, let me warn you agin
chdte, in q frindly way, just--sure it's no
Roosan at all, but poor divil from Skibber-
cen, fatted on turnips. Walk in here, and see
an Elegant collection of monkeys, and a beauti-
full famale kangaroo, all for penny" Ladies
and gentlemen, come and patronize the legiti-
mate drama, and witness the thrilling and
bloody tragedy of Jack Sheppard at tup-
pence an 'ead!n
AS matter Of course, there was on the
grOund large representation of beggars.
was struck by one poor old cratur's" peculiar
and touching blessing, May the Lord bless
yer honor, and yer honors husband prisint OF
to be, and grant you both health and pace, and
many happy Donnybrooks"
As we were returning to our car, through O
little crowded lane, | remarked to my friends
lt is quite true what we were told in Dublin
the glory of DonnybrOok has departed since
the advent of Father Mathew with his dispen-
sation of teetotalism, and the more perfect and
powerful organization of police, both throwing
cold water on its ancient spirit of fight and
frolic. One now hears no singing of wild bal
lads, and sees no swinging of shillelahs; there
is an unnatural propristy, dreary orderliness,
fiat sobriety, prevailing here.o Just then, |
was somewhat rudaly pressed on by sturdy
young woman, who seemed, with elbows and
knuckles, to be making rough medical ex-
animation of my spinal vertebr;e, testing the
elastic properties Of my ribs and the temper of
my shOulder-blades. Shrinking from this se-
we're infection, complained to the gentleman
on whose arm leant, of the too pressing atten-
tons of the person behind me whereupon the
damsel exclaimed, "Fm not behind you at
ALL" following this astounding declaration
with certain spirited expressions, and finally
INDUCED herself in some remarks which could
but consider irrelevant, consisting of COMPARE
sons between my personal appearance and her
own, decidedly unfavorable to the former
This was the first inhospitable treatment had
received in ireland TO have my slight femi-
nine attractions, my humble claims TO good
looks, not alone questioned, but fatty denied
at that Joyous ancient gathering place, that
high festival Of the kindly Irish peasantry-
DonnybroOk FAIRLY DOnnybrook fair, was
most unexpected dscourtesy
The society which we were 80 fortunate as
to see in Dublin impressed us most agreeably.
All you have heard of the beauty intelligence,
tact, and charming vivacity of Irish ladies, you
may belieye-you cannot believe too much.
The Irish gentlemen, for gifts Of conversation
and entertainment, and for a warm, familiar,
yet polished courtesy, are absolutely unsurpass-
able. Yet have somewhat against them. |
have frequently found them wanting in the
spirit of nationality-completely anglicised in
thought and feeling. They, many of them,
speak Of Ireland and the Irish as though not of
it, or them. An Irish aristocrat speaks of the
poor psasantry very much as the Southern
American speaks Of the blacks.
My illness in Dublin cost me the relinquish.
ment of a visit to Galway and Connemara, and