The New York herald., 1879-12-16
STARVING KERRY.

APPEAL FOR THE RELIEF OF THE DISTRESSED
INHABITANTS OF THE4 SOUTHWEST OF IRE.
LAND BY LADY BLANCHE MURPHY. s 81
NonTK Conway. N. H.. Deo TO- 1879.
To THE EDITOR THE HERALD:-
viii you give prominent place to the following
details concerning the threatened famine in Kerry
and other parts Of the poorest province Of Iresnds
Most OF the crops have failed entirely for the Last
three seasons the harvest Of 1879 being the worst
and some. such oats. which have been partially
saved. are not sufficient in quantity, though the
quality fair The potatoes nearly all black and
the only other food available for the majority II
Indian meal. As corn 10 not grown In the country
the meal has to be bought at the store in small
quantities and on credit. which means ruinous
prices to the purchaser. The storekeepors are Boz
ginning to refuse credit and the people soreiy
pinched. Provisions even Of tho cosrsest quality.
are rising In price. Neal has risen ~ shilings 1881
in tho two hundredwsight. What cattle remained to
the farmers have been sold to make mp little ready
money for immediate necesssries. and there is no
prospect of employment and wages during the
winter. The peat turf. which is the fuel of the
people. has been spoiled by the season. hardly
any OF it-even that cut early in the sprine--being
At to burn. Some of these details apply to many
other parts of Ireland but only In the west have all
these troubles come at once upon the people.
1t is needless to say that much sickness has been
people being Ill Of fever shiverng ct home with
out rags enough to cover them. without outside
without . state Of things bordering on the famine
scenes OF 1S47. The Convent of Poor Clares Ken
trsss in its neishborhood but the locality is more
than commonly poor and isolated. and there
resident landlords or other persons in good ciroum-
stances to lend helping hand. In this emergency.
and having already appealed to English charity
with. as yet. but scanty results. Miss Cusaok the
appeals to the charity Of America. from which. in
1847. Ireland received such timely and abuu.
ciusvey for the atefia relief Of the starving poor
of the district and one Of any denomination need
hesitate 70 contribute for fear Of his money being
diverted to religious ends of which he would not
approve. Mr.. Peter O'Leary, who has already ttav-
eiled considerably the American continent. is
agent of Miss Cusack and will collect and receive
donations for the starving people Of Kerry In sd
tons. and several other Catholic papers, believe
do tho same. Drafts can be made payable to Sister
Mary e" cns,o Kerry Ire
sent to any Of the collectors in America. some
sons to whom money is given: the Pilot and Mr..
O'Leary. or in southern and Western States the
spective bishops Of those States the best chan
nels. II any one wishes to send subscriptions per-
sonay to me will receive thetns having just got
letter from Miss cusack asking me TO collect what
Miss Cusack is at present engasedsous history Of
Irish literature modern and ancient, with biogrsphi
cal notices of living Irish celebrities In Europe,
America Australia &c.. the proceeds to be devoted
to the foundation and endowment of homo and
school combined, where girls could spend some
time, from few weeks to year. and
learn plain. sewing. cutting out, plain
washing and cooking. housework. &C., ana
in some fancy work and . few Of the
higher branches Of education sufnciont to At them
for governesses. The building Of this Home would
provide temporary employment for number Of
men. and in measure tend to alleviate some portion
of the present distress. For the OF this
dertsking subscriptions to the book will Of course
be needed That the accounts Of distress In the West
not exaggerated can vouch for from sources
Independent of Miss Cusacks appeal, relative Of
my made tour OF observation last fall through
some of poorest districts OF the West and South
west. and sent me descriptions of the sad state Of
things prevailing there even at that time. hope
some kind hearted people will respond to this call,
and whether the subscriptions are large or small
they will be equally welcome. .ll.sa .s