New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-09-03
A POOR GENTLEMAN IN IRELAND.
From The London GL0Ie.


Mr. Henry O'Hara, j: F., of Clonnagaskir
House is neither influential nor wealthy. but he !.
dwell round him. Matthew Cronin. the strong
farmer whose land bounds with Mr.. . HaTa's. has
twice as many acres and on these the hominGmqW
bOunqHe iaJOreS are far more extensive Dir. Darcy,
the shOpkeeper meal merchant and usurer, could
buy up the worldly possessions Of half dozen SUCH
as OHara. But the magic title OF gentleman is
the latter'- and between him and Mr. Darcy and
Mr.. Cronin great gulf Is liked. peasant farmer
would be rich indeed if, like Mr.. o Hara, he paid
no rent. for the land which MI y llara tls rent
free, being portion of the family estate; But in
Ireland III spite of Nh. Bence Jones, 10 is believed,
money ' BY farming and I'd? fG6ehta aha" g6ods
natured proprietor of Clonnaglaskin House is very
unlikely 10 prove an exception to the rule.
Night falls as reach the hall door," which
is knockeress. We look in vain for the belt
handle; there is none. Knuckles and finally the
handle of our umbrella being applied produce
only hollow echoes from within while not light
betokens the presence OF inhabitants. Having
been however, certainly informed that his
round the house through multltarious mud and
dirt, and are rewarded by seeing an abundance OF
light in the back windows, anu hearing much con-
versatIon and laughter. One gentle tap at the
back door produces a lull, followed by some OBJ
servatlOns In a very different key from that We
first heard. is Mr.. OHara at home n "Yls sir"
this with an Understandable suspicion IL the tone
and general air OF the handmaiuen. "Can | $50
him 4" iis, sir; walk in, sir" In the kitchen
about niue or ten men and sey eral women. some
on tables, some on chars some leaning against the
wall or sitting on three-legged stools. AT glance
the magistrate is readily distinguished. Though
as slOyenly as can well De conceived, though us
clothes are old and worn, there Is no mistake pos
sible here. The young man sitting close 10 the
ere, and turning hall round, with clay pipe III
his mouth, is Mr.. Oliara, and scion OF the doml.
nant caste HIS kitchen Is the cub-room Of the
locality and is every evening supplied with such
group we see now before US unnoticed at hrst.
a be- gar sits the fire. He has had his suDper.
will sleep by the fire tonight and IN the morning,
after breakfast, will again Ia he the road. In th;
simple locality be is not beggar, but poor
frax al limo lam UllSkl IL he
march of civilization.
AS Mr.. Ollara advances 10 meet us We state the
cause of orr coming, apologize for the Iateness Of
the visit. and produce our letter OF introduction,
which he thrusts INTO his pocket. and we really be-
lieye never. looked at 1t during our stay Come
this way Mr. Mundus. Biddy" Sir ~ Make
down a fire in the parlor-bcawood and he quick,
girl" | remarked afterward that Mr. O'haro.
whenever he speak. 70 Que OF his mefrseryants
generally finishes mp with the word boy" like
it it sounds gentle and patraEchal Through
creaking. Ticketty sorI OF passage we reach the
paror Mr.. OHara leading the way with paraiiin
lamp, smelling badly, adorned with "A very Ions
chimney, but minu. the globe. Blddy quickly fol
lows with three red peat Goals shovel succeeded
By one OF the boys bearing bogw God IN a basket
In two or three minutes a cheerful blaze re ars IN
the chimney. The ROOM remark. Is low, aud the
Wallpaper anything but aesthetic. The floor Is
broken n parts, aud more than once had ID shift
my chair feeling one or the legs gradually going
down through the rough carpet over the
chimney-plece Is suspended towing piece,
anked by brace OF pistols. Hardly was the IRE
well lighted when like q ghost a long white gray.
hound stalked silently into the room and took 10
his quarters before the fire. followed soon by cat,
both quadrupeds appearing 10 be on the best of
terms | make the obsery alton at my leisure. for
sir. O'IIara had departed the moment the lire
showed signs of progress Presently he reoined
me- but would leave again from time 10 time
suspected the preparation OF food, and being very
hungry, began TO run over IN my mind what in this
remote region my gentle host might be able 10
supply TO the angel that had taken HIM SO suddenly
unawares. Finally. Mr.. OIIara invited me up
stairs: The paraifin lamp was again removed.
and | followed my host along dllapdated stair
case. Very melancholy lookng was the large bed
room in which | now found myself with the bare
rafters above my head. For layatory purposes,
remarked that the towel depended gracefully from
a nail driven into one OF the shutters OF the WIN
dow. However. though my names are feigned.
hesitate 10 describe very INFINITELY the leahless OF
this land where the spirit. though not the material
of hospitality is so great Descending we found
not only tue cloth laid but Just placed on tho
table a dish of eggs and rusty bacon. To these
followed the broiled limbs of "a goose with more
rusty bacon. | was hungry, the fare, such as It
was was excellently cooked. and made a very
hearty meal. Finally kettle made Its Appearance
and was placed tue hob glasses. decanter,
aud bowl OF brown sugar no lemon, but every
other indication OF punch. Very well pleased with
my host and my dinner, and with the rude, strange
life round me. | drew nv chair TO ia. tire, and
began to converse. for now as in Homeiic times,
real conversation must follow meals.
NV host Tine looking young man of about
thirty. Ii savage, then decidedly one of tho
gentle sort. Ii was impossible TO doubt that thus
man. who spent bis evenings with the peasantry.
and whose household Arrangements were OF the sort
have described, was perfect gentleman in feel
ing a. well as manner. 70 his servants remarked
that he spoke with brogue which, without thu
least atfectaIion. was absent when he adire ssei
me. lie smoked Limerick twist, for | saw IL on
the chimney piece, though on invitation he filled
MS pipe from NV pouch have since discovered
that gentlemen Of this type are by no means rare
in Ireland, whose patent OF gentility. no matter
whence derived, Is universally admitted and GER
family does not arise from worldly Possessions or
from the presence In their establishments Of
domestic luxuries and re6nemepts.