, 1880-07-23
Venerable but Good


took place in the early part of his life.
Not long after he was called to the bar,
b,s character and peculiar talents re.
ceived recognition from all who were
casually acquainted with him. His tai
ent for vitupelative language was per-
ce,yed, and by sor he was, even in
those days, considr I'd matchless as a
scold.
There was, how YER at this time in
Dublin certain oman, Biddy Mortar.
;tv. who had hucksters stall in one of
the quays nearly opposite the Four
Courts. She was virago of the first
order, very able with her fist and still
more formidable with her tongue. From
one end Of Dublin to the other she was
notorious for her powers of abuse, and
even in the provinces Mrs Moriarity's
language had passed into currency. The
dictionary Of Dublin slang had been
considerably enlarged BY her, and her
yoluble impudence had almost become
proverbial. Some of O'Connells friends,
however, thought that he could beat her
at the use of her own weapons. OF
this, however, he had some doubts him
self. when he had listened once or twice
to some minor specimens OF her billings
gate. 1t was mooted once whether the
young Kerry barrister could encounter
her, and some Of the company (n OCon.
nell's presence) rather too freely ridi-
culed the idea Of his being able to meet
the famous Madame Moriarity. O'Con.
nell never liked the idea Of being put
down, and he professed his readiness to
encounter her, and even backed himself
for the match Bets were offered and
taken-it was decided that the match
should come of at once. ~" @
The party adjourned To the huckster's
stall, and there was the owner herself
superintending the sale of her small
wares; few. loungers and ragged. idlers
were hanging round her stall--for Biddy
was "a character" and, in her way, was
one Of the sights of Dublin.
O'Connell was very confident Of sue
cess. He had laid an ingenious plan
for overcoming her, and, with all the
anxiety of an ardent experimentalist,
waited to put it into practice. He re.
solved to open the attack. AT this time
O'Connell's own audience, and the loun-
gers about the place, formed an audience
quite sufficient to arouse Mrs Moriarity,
on public provocation, tn due exhibit
ton of her powers. OConnell COM
menced the attack: III
"What's the price Of this walking
stick, Mrs What's your-name y"
"Moriarity, sir is my name, and a
good one it is, and what have you to
say agen it and one,and-sixpence's the
price of the stick. Troth, its chape as
dirt, so it is" @Ss
"One-and-sixpence fo- a walking
stick ? whew I why, YOU are no better
than an iAposter to ask, eighteen pence
for what cost you twopence." ,--~-' ~
"Twopence, your grandmother" re-
Piled Mrs Biddy; ''d2 you name to say
it's chatting the people J. am Impcster
indeedp
"Aye, imposter, and it's that l call
you to your teeth" rejoined O'Connell.
"Come, cut your stick, you cantanker-
GUS jackanapes."
"Keep = civil tongue in your head,
you old diagonal" cried O'Connell,
calmly.
'Stop you jaw, you pugnosed badger,
or by this and that" cried Mrs Moriar
ity, "Ill make you 80 out quicker nor
you came.
Don't be in passion, my old radius,
anger will only wrinkle your beauty"
''By the hokey, if You say another
word of impudence, I'll tan your dirty
hide, you bastely common scrub; and
sorry I'd be to soil my fists upon your
carcass"
"Whew! boys, what passion old
Biddy is in; / protest as a gentleman"
"Jinteman! jintlemanl the likes of
you a jintleman! Wisha, by gor, that
bangs Banagher. Why you potato
faced pipoinsneezer, when did NADIA
gascar monkey like you pick up enough
common Christian decenoy TO hide your
Kerry brogueP
easy, now--easy, now" i" cried OCon-
nell, with imperturbable good humor;
''dont choke yourself with fine language,
you old whisky drinking paratlelogram."
"What's that you call me, you mur-
derin' villainl' roared Mrs. Moriarty,
stung to fury.