The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-12-07

his homestead the BLUM below Bordent"wn.
Bv his wife. Della Tudor. ''the belle of Boston,"
Admiral Stewart had two children. Charles and
Della His son accumulated large fortune. chiefly
through the patronage of Napoleon ILL.,. to whom
Mrs Stewart was presented at the Tuileries. While
in Washington with her mother nearly forty years
ago Miss Stewart met her future husband. John
Henry Parnell. who travelling with his cousin.
Lord Powerscourt. The marriage took place IN New
York. and Mrs. parnell sailed thence to Ireland.
CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH.
There. at the old homestead in Avondale. county
wicklow. Charles Stewart Parnel was born in the
month OF June. 1916 From conversations with
members of his family residing here something of
Els boyhood and youth has been learned though.
rs he entered Parliament at early age. there is
little OF Importance to record of his previous
career As child, his mother says. he showed an
uncommon love OF study. devotins far more time to
his books than to the ordinary sports OF childhood.
His memory was admirable. ana he was by no means
deficient in wit and sprghtliness As boy OF ten
he amused his fellow passengers in coach on .
country road by comparing the population and nil
itery strength of the various countries in Europe,
with view to determining their respective chances
in the event of q general war. At this ume. how
ever. his mind less in the direction OF politics
than toward mechanical science, and he amused his
friends and taxed his own mind not u Little III
the effort to solve tho problem OF perpetual
motion machine, Again. when he wanted
to form them, he conceived the idea of making them
shot Is made-by dropping hot lead IRON high
they were startled by the buffers cry-"Come
down there you young rascal! What are you try
rushed up the winding staircase to the roof i'll time
to the ingenious lad from breaking his neck by
fall Of fifty feet to the ground below. where. on
the well worn stones. lay cake OF fattened lead.
Another anecdote Of the politician would cause
moments wonder that he has not become military
rather than civil leader OF men. as it certainly
shows remarkable genius war. The nursery at
home was we'll garrsoned with Liliputan soldiers.
of whom Charles commanded well organized
division. while his sister directed the movements
OF another and opposing force. These never came
into actnal conflict but faced one another impas,
sively while their respective commanders peppered
away with popguns at the eneIny's lines
For several days the continued without
One morning, however, heavy cannonading was
heard in the furthest corner or the room produced
by rolling spiked ball across the hoor). Pickets
wera called in, and in three minutes from the firing
Of the first shot there was general engagement all
along the line. Strange as it may seem; Miss Par
while those commanded by her brother refused to
waver even when palpably hit. This went on for
time, until. as she obstinately refused to sur
render the young lady 3 host completely routed
and victory perched upon the standards of her foe
after this Waterloo. that Charles had. before the
battle began glued his soldiers feet securely to the
table.
Mr.. Parnells education was begun at private
school conducted by Protestant clergyman at
Southampton. England, whence at the age Of eleven
he was taken back to Ireland and placed under
private tutor. Four years later he sent to pr-
his preparation for college. While pursuing his
studies here he was taken down with typhoid
s Since them ne has e enoye
the robust health Of his earlier years. He grew
rapidly and tall and slender youth of eighteen
ut the time Of his matrculation at Cambridge Uni
versity. Before entering the college where his
father was educated the latter had expressed wish
that Charles should study law. but the proposition
WAS not received with favor. The bar had no charm
for the young man. who declared that he would not
care to DO lawyer unless he certain OF being
celebrated one. As youth MIR. Parnell showed
no particular interest in the affairs OF Ire
land. and when he discussed Irish politics
with his sisters frequently took tho conservative
side, to annoy them in o harmless way This hulnor
sometimes worried his mother. who she declares.
John Henry Parnell, Charles skilful cricketer,
and whom at home always took part in the game.
which Is much played IN wicklow; low, IN those days
continually on q roar
His serious interest in politics dates from the
ecution of the Manchester rescuers Their terrible
fate it seems, determined him to enter Parliament
as "home ruler" After consulting with his uncle.
Charles Stewart who then lived in Paris he Informed
his mother OF this intention, which met with
opposition on her part. MIR. Parnelfs first
Ing which year he held the Office Of High Sheriff of
county wicklow. At the same time he contested the
county Dublin on the Catholic and national ticket.
but was beaten by Colonel Taylor. the con-
sentative aud Protestant candidate. Mr. Par
nell. who had accepted the nomination in the full
expectation Of defeat. received about one-half as
many votes as his opponent.
ELECTED TO PARLIAMENT.
The next year he ran for Parliament in county
Meath against o tory and "home ruler" and
returned by large majority to succeed John Martin.
the sometime colleague OF John Mitchell. In April.
and almost from the first provoked the hostility of
his conservative follow members by speaking when-
ever he had anything to say. instead OF listening
patiently to older and more experienced men. The
Construction policy" which he introduced into
Parliamentary debates rst attracted attention when
he opposed the Prison bill introduced by the
government, and succeeded in carrying certain
humane amendments. As he himself has often re-
marked. his system of persistent criticism and OPP
position would have succeeded it has had 1t
not been for the obstructive policy adopted toward
him by the conservatives. But there IL no need of
following Mr.. Parnel Is career in the House Of Com
mons; it il not only too recent and too familiar to
need rehearsal but the object Of this letter
is TO talk rather Of the in private life than
the politician in his public capacity.
MI parne arner 1,sa rev years ago. and MS
In 1873 she visited by her son. who spent some
thing over six months on this side OF the water.
While here he visited New York. philadelphia.
Newport, Bordentown and Alabsma His second
and last trip to America was made in 1876. when.
with John O'Connor Power, NJ. p. he presented to
Congress All address from the Irish people which
President Grant had refused to accept. This visit
was brief one. lasting only about two months.
brothers. or the latter. the eldest. John Howard
Parnell, has considerable property In county
Armagh, in the north Of Ireland. which has come
to him by inheritance; and he also owns an extern
sive farm in the State Of Alabama. The youngest
brother. Henry Tudor Parnell. who was educated
for the Bar. has recently purchased property
in county Kilkenny. Charles himself has
estate IN county dublin ana another IN county NIL
cent. while his brothers property in Armagh, which
in all leased out returns at present but little inter-
est. In the year 1874 Mr.. John Howard Parnel con-
tested the county Wicklow. and though not elected
himself succeeded in defeating the conservative
didate, q son of Lord Fitz-Willian.
MOTHER SISTERS.
Mrs. Parnell inherited her husbands and her
brothers property and has of late years lived much
in this town, where she and her daughter boarded
IN the Bonaparte Park. Her winters are spent in
Now York. Years ago she lived in Dublin. and by
her berality did much to alleviate the distress OF
the poorer classes. at was very untashionable to
like the Fenians." she says, "but found they had
many sympathizers among the wcalther shop
keepers OF the city, who are Professionals. Inoeed,
the British government knew nothing of the favor
with which the movement was regarded throughout
the country"
Miss Fanny. Miss Anna and Miss Theodosa Par
ncll-three bright and intelligent young adies-are
at present staying here. Like their mother. they
take an intense interest in their brothers actions,
and are ready to aid and defend him with pen
or voice. Recently Miss Fanny Parnell held rattle
for the benefit OF the sufferers in the West OF Ireland
to whose relief she had already contributed the sum
Of $75 When the tickets had all been soId and tho
prizes distributed she had tho satisfaction OF for
wurding SEQ in aid of the cause she has ut heart.
OF New York. now lives IN Paris.