Connecticut western news., 1882-03-01
FOUR WEEKS IN IRELAND.
\ QUAKER LADY BOARDING WITH TENANTS
 AND LANDLORDS.
From the New York Sum-


 was to ascertain the condition of the farmer who follows the plow. It is about fifty years sinco Griffith, an agent of the English Government, made a valuation of Irish lands. Since that time rents have risen in some cases over 100 per cent. The Land League is try ing to reduce them to what they were under the Griffith valuation. When tenants are evicted, others take the lands at their peril, and the evicted are supported by contributions to the Land League. call it an agricultural strike.
 Through the courtesy of Catholic priest secured board with farmer in County Cork. MT. and Mrs. Collins met me at the station and took me to their house in their cart. Collins was not very poor for an Irish cultivator. He was doubtless considered quite for tunate in owning horse and cart, even if the cart had no box and no seats, but was simply bed or frame. Upon it lay great bag of corn meal, on which sat Mrs. Collins and myself. I steadied myself down hill with one arm at her waist, and with my right hand grasped a projection of the cart. I expressed surprise at the number of ruined and abandoned dwellings, for we were witbin ten miles of one of the largest towns in ! Ireland. Collins said that farms once separate have been thrown together When the population of country falls thirty-seven per cent. in about thirty four years, or from eight millions to about five, it is not strange that ahan- Goned houses are found when built like these, of stone. Dwellings of mud and straw are more readily demolished. Oollins's house was on rather sterile hill. To reach it we rose above the lower and more fertile ground. On our arrival chair was brought out to ena. ble us to alight from the cart. On entering the house we were followed by a young man, who staggered under the weight of the great five-bushel sacl taken from the wagon.
 There were twelve in the family-si, l'boys, one girl at home and one away the old aunt, and the domestics. Tn, living room had an uneven floor O earth. Within the front door stood th slop barrel. A dresser of dishes stoo, on the left. and beyond it there was red-painted, two-storied hen coop. hen and chickens occupied the lowe story, and setting hen the upper one A second door faced the front door. ] generally stood open, discovering littl muddy yard. A great settle or couc of wood stood on the same side of tn room. Beyond it, on low seat, sat = little fair, wesk-eyed woman, the aun n She sat beside small fire on the heartl holding the baby. With her left han she turned crank and wheel, which l. i, some invisible agency created an unde D ground draught to kindle the fire. TT g fire was generally of coals. It bore r !, proportion to the fireplace, which o a cupied large part of the third side v the room. saw the girl hang over u n fire large Dutch oven, called here - bastible. It was round iron vess y with lid. On its top she kindled !. fire of furze, and hung the bastible l bake the large cake within, made !, flour not fully screened, sour milk a, @ soda.
 Nightfall approached. The bar footed little ones gathered to the blaz although it was in the month of Jun The babe in arms was Tim, the 3-yes old, Norah, and the 5-year- r-old in trou oo o CTS, surmounted by red woollen fro s and blue apron, was Dennis. At O
 end of the long fireplace stood t
 heavy cradle. A steep staircase, almo d like ladder with railing, led to t l. rooms above, for this house, roof Il with slate instead of thatch, had It
 with board floor. Wet weather mak F, the uneven earthen floors inconvenie1 $. The door to my room was at the fo D, of the staircase. There were only t, at apartments on the ground floor. sl The fourth side of the apartment W
 lighted by small window and the dot
 way through which we entered t = house. There were only two windo "a down stairs. one in this room and O 'c in mine. They were little iron.barr tt windows. I thought that they mig
 be taxed, but was mistaken. Colli