The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-12-30
CHARLES STEWART PARNEIL.
A sketch Of the Home Life Of the Distl
guished Irish AgitatOr.

| sketch ut the Home Life Of the Distln
guished Irish AgltatOr.
! A writer in The London World has beer
visiting Mr.. Panell ut the Avondale house
II seems that the Irish leader IL very alb
stemious, drinking very little but water o.
ten. He smokes great deal and IL never
in want Of a. good weed" which be prof,
fers very literally to his friends. At tn.
same time he keeps neat little wine cellar
and can, when the occasion arises, regale
his guests with q choice vintage. In othe,
respects his style of living il very homely
His only retainers are u venerable matrOn
and man who looks after his horse, the
garden, and the general affairs of the house.
In the intervals of agitation he il great
rider, a moderately keen sportsman, some
thing OF farmer and often apeaks of him.
self M Cincinnatus who has been regret
fully compelled to relinquish his cabbages.
MIR. Parnell has always been more or less
solitary man, seeing little company and
leading rather an interpretive life. He
has plans and objects beyond those
which he has yet unfolded, but he has
no objection to enter fully into dis
cussion of the merits of his case. II il no.
ticeable that he is ready to catch up quickly
and assimilate to his purposes any fact, idea
or phrase that may be casually dropped in
conversation or mentioned in newspapers.
MIR. Parnell in no great reader. The only
books OF recent date or of apparent recent
use to be seen were few novels and about
a dozen volumes relating to Ireland, such
as the Irish in America" and some histo-
ries OF the country. when / have any
leisure / employ my time in working out
new mechanical contrivances," said Mr..
Parnell; and helping to fit in its place the
water-wheel of my awmill nearly had this
finger cut off, lifting up much scarihed
finger. In the corner of the library Is a
collection of old volunteer banners, belong
ing to the Wicklow volunteers before the
9S rebellion. These are somewhat torn
and disfigured, but the first Land Lacquer
takes much pride in them, since they be-
longed to his great grandfather, who was
colonel of the regiment.
Above Avondale house, and beyond an
amphitheatre of trees, is q clear, level space
which had been used by Mr.. Parnelps
father as cricket ground. MY father
was once captain of the EtOn
eleven, observed Mr.. Parnell, and was
always very fond of cricket myself before
took to politics." With the comments of
journalists Mr.. Parnell processes to be but
little acquainted, though he confesses to be.
ing tolerably close student of the national
press. His time is much occupied, ether
in open warfare or in friendly secret con-
claves. Those acquainted witk the body Of
men whom the agitator leads know that
they form the nucleus of u new national
party in Ireland, one of whose chief aims is
to eliminate the clerical element from poll
tics. "The north fear the priests; without
H.
fall: if the ecclesiastical element can be in
duced to confine its energy to its own prop.
ersphere We shall gain the north and nothing
car then prevent the restoration of national
independence. argues Mr.. Parnell and all
his followers. Mr.. Parnell says he is
prepared to wait, and he will not be satisfied
with any attempts at remedial legislation
which have not at first received his sanction
and approval.