Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-10-18
Ireland a. u ~

lPt,sburg Gazes'eI
A few weeks ago the Rev. Dr. 1onn
Hall was summoned to Ireland w
the death Of an aged parent. WINE
n the land OF his nativity 1t appears
he made extensive excursions visit.
inc aid friends and inquiring into
,be condition Of affairs In the Green
Isle. and he has given to the pubic
the result of his observations and In
quiries. $40, hy
According to the account giVen ~
this eminent divine, wonoeiiu'
and very agreeable change has 'aseh
place In his native land within q lew
wears. Every place he visited gave
signs Of prosperity. The people i've
more comfortably and enjoy many
more Injuries than they did for.
,aerly. In many places It would
seem that this is not tie case, De-
cause there are signs Of desolatloh.
Many stone walls are seen ssanoins
uncovered by roofs. These were LOT
merly inhabited by large families
who had taken their departure ior
other climes, and the consequence 49,
that the population in the rural as
tricts has become greatly diminished.
But even the uncovered walls do not
indicate fully the reduction that has
taken place in the population oil Ire
land within the past twenty-five OF
thirty years. 1t is well known tha1
many houses In that country were
built In former times OF material not
near as durable as stone. Ihese'
when abandoned by their occupants,
were soon reduced to ruins, and are
now mingling with their kindred
clay. Most Of these "mud-walP
habilations have completely disap-
reared, as we'll as those who dwelt
In them.
For years after the famine, many
families in Ireland suffered great
hardships before they were able to
emigrate TO America and other coun-
tries. 1t was then considered no
small matter for whole families to
expatriate themselves, and many
heart.rending scenes were witnessed
as they took final farewell Of their
humble but cherished homesteads,
and babe adieu to the sepulchers In
which repose the mortal remains OF
their forefathers. But ii was bless
ing TO themselves and the land Of
their nativity that they did so. The
population Of the country was too
dense-aIthough its soil would sup
port hundreds OF thousands of
people more than ever lived upon 1t
at any one time-and 1t required to
be thinned out q little. Before the
famine large numbers Of people lived
on the ragged edge of starvation
nearly one-half OF the time, and
owing TO superabundance of
laborers, were always low. Under
such circumstances, 1t was benefit
both to those who emigrated and
those who remained at home, that
the population Of the island was re-
duced.
In former times women would
work in the fields for from eight to
Twelve cents day, and provide their
,wn boarding, and men were glad to
abor twelve hours a day for the
mall remuneration of twenty or
twenty-five cents, and board them
elves. In this respect a wonderful
hange has taken place, and we are
that wages are nearly as
Ugh in Ireland at the present time
s they are in the United States, If
he purchasing power of money is
AIKEN into consideration. As a mat.
er Of course, the people live much
etter now than they did when they
My received a few cents for days.
,il. They are able to procure more
ibstantial and wholesome food, and
re no longer compelled TO wander
bout IN rags. As DR.. Hall remarks
lere was time in the history of
Gland when a young girl In some
dare not allow Il to be
nown she had strong or even a
'enk appetite for tea, for II she re-
called this fact her prospects for
Marriage were greatly injured. Par
nts often cautioned their sons not to
iarry any girl who "liked her tay.n
But 1t appears that tea and coffee
re used as freely In Ireland now as
hey are in America, and the COM
ION people dress much better than
ney did 10 days of yore. "Now the
arvest man expects and receives tea
vice, perhaps three times, a day.
o the matter of dress, the law of re-.
elton is in force, and gay colors
'rench gold, and most modern fash
ons have penetrated into the yer,
uietest districts. The writer knows
he region where the first umbrella
made a sensation. The parasols ans
fashionable sunshades In that neigh
,orhood are now numerous
Amid all the changes which hav
aiken place, dear old DonDybr0o1
has lost Its glory and reputation
and the faction fight and kindre
snjoyments only survive In the page
,f genial Irish writers--and thei
hey will live long," but II Is to
ioped they will never be heard |,
gain in the records of the constab,
arv