The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1881-01-21
APcn Picture Of ParnclI.
Az INTERESTING sKETCu or THE GREAT
AgtTArOR.

The London World has the following;
Since | forsook agriculture for politics,
said Mr.. Parnell, Il have not slept six
nights in Avondale house. The chief
agitator's country seat is an uupretending
residence situated on the slope of the
Wicklow mountains, with n beautiful
view of the forest, river and dale from
the windows Oft the living rooms. 1t has
"a rather barren and neglected look. its
whitewashed exterior harmonizing but
ILL with the tints of the meadow lands
stretching in semicircle, bounded by
lofty trees, in front of the house, The
house was built 10y Mr.. Parnel's grand
father, and on the lock of the entrance
door the date 1899 is inscribed. On
crossing the threshold the visitor finds
himself in a square hall of moderate di-
meusions, along the side of which runs
y gallery overhead leading 20 the sleep
inc apartments The most conspicuous
object in the hall sa billiard table. across
the states OF which no ball has, iuding
from appearances, ratified for generations.
The walls are decorated with the horns
of the ancient Irish elk, with hunting
spears and other implements of warfare
and chase. A log fire burns on n spa
cious open hearth. AS the visitor stands
examining the place,an aged dame floats
out OF a side apartment, and, expresses
surprise at the visit, asks Master Char
les if lac wishes that she should provide
breakfast The master gives the nod
aud then requests the guests to step
around the house with him Mr.. Parnell
is a man of singular mind and gracious
manners III private life but ones eyes
are constantly directed to the cold and
bloodless face in the endeavor to recon
cile the frigd exterior with the courtesy
of the lips.
The parlor of the Avondale House is
neither homely or cheerful, and the at
mosphere of the room is that of the
Laureautes forsa<en dwelling One
could fancy that the coverings had just
been drawn off the furniture at the cX-
plration of n chancery suit. The pic
lures are expressionless, and of no great
merit; but there is richly enamled fire
place,t the work of an Italian artist, whose
method of execution, Mr.. Parnell thinks
has become lost art The marble OF
this chief-d Puvre is inlaid in colored
earths, delcately shaded and twisted in
fantastic festoons of flowers. a volume
of Carlyle's "Micellanies' lies on small
table beside the fire, but the presence of
this symbol of life is accounted for by
the fact that one of Mr.. Parnell's sisters
from across the Atlantic has been re-
siding for some months under her broth
ers roof The drawing room has been
painted and ornamented by the same
Italian artist spoken of above, the chief
feature of the work being n number of
cleyerly-wrought medallions containing
sea-views. Various blue books are seat
tered about the apartment, having ref
erence principally TO Irish matters, such
as fisheries and agricultural returns
The library of Avondale House is a
handsome square room, bookshelyes oc-
cupying every side. There are many old
calf-bound editions of the classics, and a
comprehensive collection of all the Eng
lish authors of note from Piers Plow-
man downward. "An ancestor of.yo,us
has been immortalized by DR.. johnson,
| believe?" remarked a guest, taking
down volume Of the Lives of the Po-
cts. ''EIe belonged to branch of the
Parnell family, but is not relative in
the direct line, was the reply Mr..
Parnell is no great reader. The only
books of recent date, or of apparent re
cent issue, to be seen were few novels
and about dozen volumes relating to
Ireland, such as the Irish IN America. and
some histories of the country. 'When
| have any leisure ! employ my time in
working out new mechanical contrivan-
ces, said Mr.. Parnell: sand in helping
to tit in its place the water-whecl OF my
saw-mill,l nearly had this finger cut off,
lifting up a much sacrificed finger In
the corner of the library is collection
OF old volunteer banners, belonging to
the Wicklow volunteers before the '9s
rebellion. These are somewhat torn and
dishgured, but the first land Lacquer
takes much pride ir them, since they be
longed to his great grandfather, who was
colonel of the regiment. One of these
ensigns bears the following inscription
independent Wicklow" with the mot
to, ''Velox ct acer ct fidelis amicis," and
an Irish wolf-dog for crest.
Above Avondae House. and bevonC
the ampitheatre of trees, is a clear leve
space which has been used by Mr.. Par
nclls father as Il cricket ground. "My
father was once the captain of the Etol
eleven observed Mr.. Panell, ''and
was always very fond of cricket myself
before 1 took to politics. From thi,
spot view of several of the battlefield,
of the rebellion is obtained, with mag
nificent sight of the Kerry mountain,
and the waters meeting in the vale O
Avoca.
Mr.. Parnell is very abstemious, drink
ing little but water and tea. He smokes
great deal, and is never in want of
good ''weed, which he proffers very lib
orally TO his friends. AT the same tim,
he keeps neat little wine cellar, anC
can, when the occasion arises, regale hi
guests with choice vintage. In Other
respects his style of living is very come
ly. His only retainers are the venera
BILE matron we have seen, and a MAJ
who looks after his horse, the garden
and the general affairs of the house. Ii
the intervals of agitation he is a grea
rider, a moderately keen sportsman
something of a farmer, and often speak,
of himself as a Cicinnatus who has beer
regretfully compelled to relinquish hi,
cabbages. Mr.. Parnell has always beer
more or less solitary man, seeing little
company and leading rather an intro
spective life. lie has plans and object,
beyond those which he has yet unfolded
: but he has no objection to enter fully
into discussion of the merits of hi,
case 1t is noticeable that he is ready t.
catch up quickly and assimilate to his
purposes any fact, idea or phrase that
may be casually dropped in conversation
or-mention in newspapers.