Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1870-07-30
Letter from Rev. Mr.. McGiffert.
nuMnEn TWO.

NUMBER TWO
DEAR TELEGRAPH You have neveEvisiied
the North Of Ireland, yet every American has
a general idea Of this country from his acquaint
anco with It's inhabitants, who have swarmed
to our shores Still, hearing Is not seeing, and,
pcrchance, on even so trite a subject may
write few words, not wholly without inter.
est have passed over the country from Lon
dOndcrry, to Belfast, and stopping at several
villages, and visiting among the farmers.
The country is perfectly charming,--a con-
slant variety Of hill and valley, as in Central
| New York, with an occasional halfmoun-
tain or bluff resembling the Berkshire hills Of
Massachusetts. But the whole surfacc, except
ing the precpitous faces OF the bluffs, Is in the
| highest state of cultivation and the face Of the
country is as a mottled checkerboard, made
up of the varied hues Of wheat, oats fax land
grass,-the small fields mingled together beau
tiluly. The entire absence Of wooden fences
and of frame buildings gives an utterly un-
American aspect to the scenery. In the place
of fences, the hawthorn hedge al;crnates with
the stone wall. The latter is built usually with
mason work, four to six feet, and sometimes
twelve feet in hight. The gate posts in the
hedges are usually built of stone, and are fire.
quently two feet in diameter, and six or eight
feet in hight, and are neatly whitewashed The
houses also are whitewashed externally
As you look over a stretch Of country, the
white houses nesting among groups of shrub
berry, and the hundreds of white pillars in the
green hedges renders the picture a very charm
ing one.
Much of this charm, however, passes away
as you approach the houses, and find them low
one-story buildings, with thatched roofs. The
whitewash, so pretty at distance, appears
rough and plain. AS many other pictures, ii
will not bear investigation. But inside these
houses, we find thrift and comfort quite equal
to the average of our American farm houses
very different, am told from what l shall
find in Southern Ireland.
There is, of course, no encouragement TO the
farmer to build tlne house, when every i'm.
provement is the landlords property. If Glad
stones Land Bill passes through Parliament
a few wears will bring about great improve
ment in the dwellings and their surroundings
1t seems wonderful that these farmers car
, lay up anything, yet many Of the nj do. l am
told, have money at interest. They pay, on al
average, from seven to eight dollars an acre
yearly rent for their land--in addition 10 al
taxes. The land is not naturally feriile-anC
is only kept in its present condiucn at grea
expense of labor and enriching material. La
Dor is very cheap, yet as the farmers cmplo.
fully three times as many men, or women, al
with us, the expense for labor must be nearly
equal. What we do by machinery is here
done mainly by hand, yetthe farmers are pros
perng generally. The poverty seems to be
confined mainly to the laboring classes.
am disappointed in the Railroads, whicl
are much rougher than the trunk roads in oul
country. here found it well nigh impossible
n to read. presume 1 shall find the Englisl
a Roads very different. One of the srangest fea
lures to an American in Irish conveyances il
, the Jaunting Cara two wheeled vehicle will
seats on each side facing outward. 1t is con
tined l am told, entirely to Ireland, but hert
it takes the place of stage and hack, and pri
vate carriage. Scarce any one, but the LANDED
, proprietors, drives anything else. l hav,
, heard of this mode of riding highly praised by
r travellers; can only say that find it exceed
ingly uncomfortable with no redeeming fea
ture save that you could eXtricate yoursclfin 6
- moment if II horse were to become fractions
G Londonderry, wherc,we landed, is peculia
city especially so to an American-old, quiet
- narrow streets and low stone buildings. Th
n center of the city is walled, with huge gate
, ways over the streets. Belfast is American il
, appearance, with broad streets, and fine build
ings. 1t reminds me very much of Baltimore
, The principal features which impair the Ameri
|, can aspect are the constant iaunting-cars, am
y the cobble stone sidewalks in all but the ver
. best streets.
n Our American Consul, DR.. Rca, gave dc
lightful entertainment on the 4th of July, {
?. the Americans in or near Belfast; the pre-
4 gramme was supper with toasts and speech
es followed with fireworks. We almost in
. agined ourselves, for a little time, in our ow
= dear land There were about $50 American
or quasi Americans present; oyer 80 of thel
y, travelers-the others, persons who had reside
:, for time in our Country. DR.. Rea has set a
N example which would be much appreciated b
p, American travellers, if our Consuls in otht
y countries would follow il.
l have omitted to notice the Giants Caus
of way, where we spent one day; must ref
y you to our Biographies for description.
y. Yours truly,
Jos. N. McGIFFERT.