New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-04-19

ton. We rode Eve miles Itdrizzled or rained all
the time Bleak. stormy, heatb-grown billsj soggy,
cold. sOoty-IOOking valleys, up hill and down,
across two little streams ono spanned by wooden
bridge, the other Of which We swan bere and
there the ruins of former villages and OF little
cabins once the homes of families driven into
exie-the landscape was not q clanged one nor dId
the memories they called up throw brighter halo
over them. Nature had been niggardly and men
had been remorseless. We visited two villages
ArdaTra and Shraheen. Ardarra is three miles ana
half from Aughagower. 1t is cluster Oh hgnt
novels the hllsides. The town land, and OF course
the village, is the property of Lord Sligo Inc rent
was EOS in 1851. Lord Sligo has not spent one
shilling since then in improving the land Its pres
ent rent is EOS. This town land IS one OF the bleak
est and tine most sterile aid DOGGY dis as cas
in County Mayo. When these tenants pald Gzo
they could live without charity, although so
wretchedly that no American would endure such
life. Now every one of them IS dependent on
charity hat is TO say they are nearly all in rags,
and all so poor that they would go hungry every
day unless they had help from foreign bounty:
Lord Sligo has refused to reduce their rent let as
late as 1869 he raised the rent to 99SI
Leaving this village we rode over rough noun
tain road and crossed two streams. for about
miie and then reached the hamlet of Shabeen.
Tins is the property of Colonel Logan. lie owns
the whole toWnlaud. There are thlrty-nlne houses
on it, scattered on either side OF the borheen sure
You know what bOrheen meansf 1t is wTetehed
mountain pass--nOt made by surveyors, DuJ Dy
constant travel 1t is filed with cObDlest0nes ana
full of Rulhes. The villagers were anxious tnat we
should visit every cabin. enteredone, aud wanted
90 stop But was induced to visit SIX of them, and
then l refused to see any more. HE appalling
wretchedness, the filthy cabins, the haggard
mothers, the blue-legged and ragged children. the
gaunt, and careworn men, the gray;iEeadtssd,
witches of Macbeth" on a stage than the
grandmothers of comelY girls in Mayo-I grew
sick and faint at these sad sights 3, every
where, and l mounted my horse and left them
behind me as fast as l could gallOp.
Outside, the cabins showed how desperate was
the poverty of these people. The thatch was old
and mouldy heather-nOt Straw-and overgrown
with grass. The walls were striped with greenlsh
oOzing Some Of the cabins had no ehimneysJ anu
no windows. Light entered only by the open door,
and the smoke went out OF hole in the roof. The
rental of this village IN 1916 was &45j now IT
is clio It's. Sd The Government valuation 10
TYPE OF DISTRESS
Colonel Logan never saw in India or in Africa
where British armies have fought 80 gallantly to
"extend civilization "-hOvels more wretched,
people more destitute than he can find in his
own village of Shraheen. 1t is said that he
has never seen it, Invite him, in the presence OF
two nations, to enter with me one of these cabins
on his estate It is the cabin of the Widow Kane 1t
was the last howell we entered The cabin was small
and cold and low. The walls OOzed a foul damp
ness the floor was wet and slippery the cattle
pen in the kitchen was empty; the children, ten in
number. were pinched and ragged and half naked;
There was not monthfnl IN tne WTetcned
cabin to eat save what the hand OF Tor
eign charity had sent there. Where would TINS
family have been if they had depended on their nat
ural protectOrs-the landlord and the Government
Dead from hunger, or begging on the streetsl No
GoyerDment officer has visited them-nO agent of
the landlord has called on them. The eldest girl
and eldest boy Of this poor woman are at service,
and they give every penny that they earn to their
mother.
We entered the inner room. 1t was dark, and
wet, and chilly. Here saw stepped oatmeal |
tried it: 1t was absolutely rotten. l turned
sick when / tasted it. 1t had been made
of the worst material And yet the
children drank it to make the Indian meal pOr-
ridge more palatable. am not more easily moved,
| hope than most Americans in the presence of hui
man misery. but could not choke back my tears at
the sight of this distress, gave the poor
down my cheeks.
NY Lord Sligo and Colonel LOgan-America
calls on yOu TO visit your estates May the scorn OF
n great Nation haunt you in your clubs and castles
| if you neglect this duty! JAMES REDPATH'