The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-04-16
SAD SCENES OF IRISH MISERY.
wRETCHEDNEss OF THE DwELLIEGs-HAR-
ROWING DETAILS or THE DEsTKUC-
TON OF TIE PEOPLE-HOw RE-
LIEF Is DISTRIBUTED.

LIEF Is DISTRIBUTED.
The New York Tri5une's special CORES
pondent in Ireland spent Sunday At West
port, county Mayo, investigating the results
Of the famine in that region Al the hamlet
Of ThOrnhill he attended church. After the
services were over, he writes, the Sunday
school met and brace OF babies were chris
tened. Meanwhile l walked down the road
with one OF the men to see an Irish cabin.
pointed out low cottage and asked him TO
take me into it, It was a filthy hOvel-the
foulest and dreariest human habitation had
ever seen. Alas only FIVE days have passed
since I saw it and already l remember it as
q tOleTable decent cabin There was no
floor save the cold earth e calf had its
share of the room it was stable a kitchen,
a nursery and a sitting all in one. As
in most Of these Irish novels there IS a large
niche in the wall near the fire, just large
enough to hold a rude bed. There, covered
with horrible rags, lay an aged woman,
ghastly, yellow and gasping. There she had
lain for a month OF two, dying Of slow de-
cline" No American family would have
suffered such rags as covered this dying wo-
man to stay even in their ash-barTels for
single day. The mother sat near the open
fireplace "a young woman with strong and
comeIy face and the head Of a Roman matron.
Her infant, IN its. homemade wooden cradle,
was beside her. There was a little dark
room back-the room where the children
slept. Six children lived here-a family OF
nine persons The mother and children
were in rags; but the woman wore her rags
with dignity.
had no wish TO see any other cabins, so
went back to the church. Most Of the men
had gone home, but there was crowd OF
about fifty women and 4 score Of old men
around the vestry-door. 1t was rainiug but
no one stirred. The tickets for Indian meal
had to be distributed as soon as the priest
was at leisure and for this meager help
from the charity of the world these poor
mothers waited with Il patient anxiety.
There were few young women, and fewer
girls among them. They were mostly wo-
men Of from thirty to sixty years Of age. At
/ least third Of them were baUefooted. Not
/ one OF them had q bonnet on her head They
i covered their heads with the hoods Of their
. old cloaks, or with little faded wooden
shawls. Not a merTy-eyed woman among
/ them all Deep wrinkles and sad faces
everywhere-nOt the fine noble lines that
the old artist Thought had chiseled but the
sharp cutters made by torrent Of calamity,
I the dark shadows cast by mean care and
gToveling want. They were the sign manuals
and signets-hunger and despair.
The priest came out and, one by one, read
the names or the little handful Of orders foI
two stones, or twenty-eight pounds, Of Indian
meal This was ali the allowance that thC
funds Of the local committee permitted TO be
given to families of from five to nine person:
pei week Ore by one wTetched womeI
from the crowd came up and took the ordc
that bore her name, and courtesied an,
thanked the donors and God. They wert
soon distributed. A babel of appeals "Sur
| have five children and not a mouthful 70
them =" This was one of the cries; and
was the truth. Again and again the prizes
told them that he could do 10 more.
But, he added, 81 have one blank order
= 1t must be given to the poorest family here
Now tell me who is the poorest? %
Only one man named himself, but he wa
thrown back by q dozen indignant voices
Not another one Of the eager voices tha
spoke named her own wants. It was
noble tribute to these poor Irish staTyeline
every one seemed anxious to point OJ
some one more Uretchcd than herself. An
when one man and his needs were stated
Sure, he is the worst of I'' shouted chorl
? of women. Whatever centuries Of misru
i and hunger may have made these people,
has not quenched the hottest light that
Eliminates the soul.
, We drove back to Murrisk, that we b.
T. passed on our way TO ThornhilL it is
!, cluster of hOYels built higgeldy-piggel
9 along the shore and up the sides of the lit
D hill near one os the arms Of the bay. The
r, is q rough barrier Of stone across the wat
s. which was built 10 keep the tide from oy
ct flowing the sweet water of the little po
rs that empties into the bay. Without it I
1r people could not drink the water, and th'
ID are no springs or wells near By. 1t '
" badly constructed. and has been partly
r. molished by the high winds and the lid
at It is dangerous crossing when the wind
is high. It required the utmost care tcv us
t.e., :, o:-- scer ir walking cvr- r.