Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-05-06
Rent-day on an Irish Estate.

Rent-day on an Irish Estate.
Mr.. Clancy's Castle Clancy tenants
have attended the Office, where they
come determined to pay no rent withou
receiving a reduction of 80 per cent
Five or six armed policemen are wslk
ing about outside, and an inquisitivt
tenant may see the handle of revolver
in convenient position on ledge
under the oi1-side of the desk at which
the landlord sits.
"Well, boys; hope you come,to pay
the rent like honest men," is Mr.
Clancy's greeting. as the tenant, tilt
into the office one by one until the room
is nearly full.
All eyes turn on John Heffernan, whC
is evidently the spokesman of the ten
ants. He clears his tbroa at, and an
swers-
Well, you see, Mr.. Clancy, these
are very hard times entirely"
6" don't see that at all, John. Except
the loss on the potatoes, there is moth
ing to complain Of"
I" The Lord save us, sir! How can
you say that? Isn't the turf as wet as
dung on us? and don't you know well
that there is no return in the oats at all
And sure, there's no use talking of the
potatoes; we could not get as much
out of an acre as would feed the pigs.
"Go AID tell that to Mr.. Butler or to
Lord MIDDLETON, John He ffernan; ii
won't do for me. know exactly what
you have and what it is worth. Go cut
to the yard, and you will see my turf
that was cut alongside by yours. How
comes that it my turf. is dry if yours is
wet? Have you dug your potatoes yet p
"Troth, | have not. How could l
get time?'
Why, you have had fiae weather
for three months; but I suppose you
did not like to dig them until they got
frostbitten. You say they are worth
nothing?"
Redad, the acre that have is not
worth pound"
every we'll; I will give you four
pounds for the acre. So you can deduct
that from your rent, and the potatoes
are NINE"
There's no use talking about the
bush, Mr.. Clancy; we cannot pay our
rent unless we get the reduction"
A loud murmur of assent runs around
the room.
81 will give no reduction" Mr..
Clancy says determinedly. "You have
all taken your land and undertaken to
pay the rent, and I must have either
the rent or land"
"Well, now sir, the truth must be
spoken. Don't you know that the rent
is too high? Sure it's twice the valua-
ton, and no person could pay that rent
in times like these. Besides, you gave
us rise of rent in 1856 and again in ga
and again in 70, and we think now that
you ought to give the reduction as
we'll as every one else."
~ cannot listen to you. I must pay
my debts and you must pay yours
"Sure, l would pay if 1 could" ex-
claims the Widow Henshan; "but you
know you doubled the rent on me since
the first RISE"
"All right; you owe me a years rent.
and I will eject every one of you. l was
prepared for this" Mr.. Clancy says, as
his bailiff, who has been standing near
the door of the office, hands an eject
mant process to the first man who turns
to leave. This is fatal blow. Ready
as are the tenants to resist within GER
tain limits, and to trust to the chapter
of accidents during the months, posi-
bly,, before the process could be served,
they feel that here they are in a trap,
and know that Mr.. Clancy will carry
out his threat of having the land or the
rent.
Once get the better of an Irishman,
and for the time he is cowed utterly; 80
John Heffarnan turns sullenly and
without word produces the full
amount of his rent, for which he re-
ceives receipt duly. Oae after anoth-
er every one has paid; and while they
wend their way homeward, bitterly and
fiercely cursing the man whom they
acknowledge their master in cunning
as he is in determination, Mr.. CLANCY
sits writing letter to friend, in which
he says: "This agitation is certainly
most dangerous, and some people have
had great deal. of trouble; but must
say that ny Castle Clancy tenants came
in and paid up the full amount without
a murmur."- Nc Grath's "Pictures
from Ireland"