The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1868-09-04
O'Connell and tue Sculu.

One of the drollest scenes of vituperation
that Daniel O Connell, the celebrated Irish
orator, ever figured in, took place in the
early part of bis life. Not long after he
was called TO the bar, his talents received
rapid recognition from all who were casual.
ly acquainted with him. His talents for
vituperatiye language were perceived, and
by some be was, even in those days, con
sidered as q matchless scold However,
there vas at the time in Dublin a certain
woman, Biddy Moriarty, who had huck-
ster stall on one end Of the quay, nearly
opposite the Four Courts. She was Vi Vi
rago of the first order, very able With her
tongue. From one end of Dublin to the
other she was notorious for her powers of
abuse, and even in. the provinces Mrs.
Moriarty,s language had passed into cur
rency. The dictionary of Dublin slang had
been considerably enlarged by her, and her
volubleness had almost been proverbial.
Some of Connelly's friends, however, tho't
he could beat her at the use Of her own
weapons. Of this. however, he had some
doubt himself, when he had listened once
or twice to some minor specimens of her
blllingsgate. 1t was mooted once that the
young Kerry barrister could encounter her,
and one of the company, in O'Connell' s
presence, ridiculed the idea of his being
able to meet with the great Madame Mort.
arty. O'Connell never liked the idea of
being put down, and confessed his readi
ness to encounter her, and even backed
himself tor the match. Bets were offered
and taken, ard it was decided that the
matter should come off at once.
The party adjourned to the huckster's
stand, and there was the owner herself, su.
perintendiBg the sale Of her email ware
A few loungers and idlers were also linger-
ing around the stalls, for Biddy was a
character, and, in her way, was one Of the
sights of Dublin. 4. 9,gaa1
O'COnnell was very confident of success
He had laid very ingenious plan for
overcoming her, and with all the anxiety
OF an ardent experimentalist, waited to put
1t In practice. At this time O'Connell's
party and the loungers about the place
formed an audience sufficient to rouse Mrs.
Moriarty, on public provocation, to due
exhibition of her powers. O'Connen com
menced the attack by saying: 4g 4aI
What's the price of this walking stick,
Mrs: What's your name?'' ae tad
a." Moriarty, sir, is my name, and good
OhO AZ ics tOU, 6uu Wb2t udSc yc I'D say aQiQ
it ? And one and sixpence is the price of
the stick: Troth, it's as cheap as dirt, and
so it is. :" fpa6 sli ,gi a,'e.
"One and sixpence for such walking.
stick? Whew! Why, you are no better
than an imposter, to ask one and sixpence
for What cost only twopence.
Twopence, your grandmother. Do you
mean to say that it cheating the people
am? Imposter, indeed II
Ay, imposter and it's that I tell 70,
to your teeth, replied O'Conneli.
Come, cut your stick, you cantaLkerous
''5
"Keep q civil tongue in your head.
you old diagonal, replied O'Connell,
calmly. e'ila 7ffi
Stop your jaw, you -nosed badger,
or by this and that" cried Mrs Moriarty,
I'll make you 60 quicker than you
come" sa7 t.}B ai3o'
Don't be in passion, my old radius.
Anger will oaly wrinkle your beauty"
BY the hockey, if you say another word
II lmpudence, I'll tan your dirty hide, you
bastely common scrub and sorry I'll be to
soil my fist with yonr dirty carcass. y s.'a's
When, boysl what passion old Biddy
IS in; / protest, as I'm gentleman.
"Jintleman! -jintlemanl The likes of
gou jintleman Wisha, by gor, that
bangs Banagher. Why, you potato faced