New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-08-10
TIE HOME OF PARNELL.
A VISIT TO AvoNDALE-WsroRiCA AsS0
CITATIONS MISS ANNA PARNELL.

CITATIONS ANNA PARNELL.
TO enc razor 81 fhs fribane
SIR On slight elevation above this pretty little
railway station lthe town itself Of about 300 m
habtants IL just little further onl towers a small
hotel where in great letters travellers are informed
that this il the original and only Royal FitZwill
lam HOTEL where, like most hotels and public
houses here, accommodations may be had for both
man and beast A drive of about two miles from
this hotel carried swiftly along Jauntlng car,
over a delightfully."- smooth road, shaded by an IN
Unite variety of trees brought rs all too swiftly to
the gateway of Avondale, the home Of Mr. c. s.
Parnell the Irish leader.
Sweeping up a wide carriage-drive Of something
like quarter of a mile more through an avenue Of
thickly studded magnificent old forest trees over
tapping each other above like the vaulted dome of
some grand cathedral, we arrived ar the old home
stead itself an unpretentlOus looking. rOomy stone
house of two and half stories situated on gentle
slope Of the river Avonmorc, made famous by the
immortal pen of Irelands poet The pOrtcO Is sup
ported on both sides by granite columns and the
oddly carved doors bear the date 1879 engraved or
imprinted on the inner side. The first room EN-
tered the large hail. unlike that of the tine old
English gentleman, all of the olden time, is hung
around not with pixies and guns aud bows, but
with odds and ends of all kinds, immense antlers
elk along with a couple of smaller ones.
An ancient spear, shield and amor with
q pair of Canadian snow shoes are also
hung about III different places and addresses
innumerable from every city town and county IN
Ireland and elsewhere find space here also. A mas
sive old billiard table, on which are thrown in a
careless heap several skins of different animals, one
of n Polar bear brought from America some years
ago stands in the middle. Antique old chairs, with
backs shaped like shields, great, open, old-tlme
fireplace beside which huge pile of logs is placed
for winter USE complete the chief articles Of furn
ture in this old room. Opening from this hall are
other apartments of similarly interesting chaIac-
ter. The library is particularly with its rare
and eoody collection Of Old books some of them,
used i'm the old Irish House of Commons. have a
value of their own. On the desk ,mantel and tables
are found some choice articles of rertu and bits of
bric-a-brac sight of which would gladden. the
hearts Of lovers of antiquity. Here too, may
be seen very handsome chest Of pol
ishcd oak containing complete set of
carpenters tools, presented TO the master
Of Avondale by the ladies of Rathdrum,
carpentry being one of his fayorite amuscmeuts in
his eisure hours and at which, ! am told, he IL
unite an expert Thrown on the writing desk il
prettilv embroidered smoking cap presented to him
by some ladies while he was incarcerated IN Xii
mailman Jail
The next room il tho quietly furnished, wide,
old-fashloncd draw ing room. where abundant owl
deuces are found Of the gratitude and affection of
the Irish at home and abroad. In one corner of
the room is beautiful crimson plush arm chair
readily adjusted into couchl gift of the ladies
of Cork pretty rosewood music box. tho present
of some Dublin ladies'. an exquisitey wrought
caskct of silver. gold lined and eggshapcd, which
WA cent M au Eas egg, contain nv 100 guincas.
by some Of the people Of Liverpool an elder down,
Nile gtron satin quilt with monogram on its
centre. (anothcr gift whilo impri'ohedl
f,om the genefouahoaried Liverpool lldics
.net mud MI theae Tho outcome of tho feeling aud
enthtlnaam ffom time to tiur, ~ the Irish pcuple
nh the rooms every side, hlent tokouA 0l the re-
gard and esteem ia which MI. Fntnell n held, !
should occupy too much space by cnnmefatlng the
yurlOuA other pretty things presented Ia llu, but
ono nhould not fan 10 speak of, and that N solid
casket of ouk mounted In silver OF peculiar design
which was given by the people OF l.lmorick with
the freedom of that city, and laHtly three great
ostrich eggs sent from Australia by an Irish Amell-
can one each to Miss Anna, Mrs. Parnol aud Mr. ,
PoInell in recognition of their services aud deyO-
ton To the cause of Irish Nationality These eggs
are set on pedestals of silver richly carved with
raised figures of the wolf dog round towers and
other emblems of National sign fcance, and were
brought over In the of the Messrs. Redmond on
their return to Ireland few months ago.
The dining-room large, wide and square, IL
auaintly designed. Here and there are oval mir
r0rs embedded in the walls; the mantel of the old
STYLE beng 10 lnucn cOplru, ~ silu 10 De u
masterpiece Of fine mosaic, the original design
having been destroyed by the maker after the
second of a like pattern had been wrought The
rest Of the house Is devoted to domestic purposes,
the upper door being used for sleeping apartments.
from the windows everywhere may be had q
glorious view Of hill and dale mountain aud val
ley unsurpassed in grandeur or beauty Iradltlon
has IL that this of the Parnels Is built on,
or in close proximity TO, the ruins OF the old castle
or fortress of of the original owners or kings
the clans or septs of ireland, the OByrnes and
their descendants, "a the County wicklow is said
10 have belonged almost exclusively Ia tins par
tIcular elan. One old lady, who claimed 10
be a direct descendant OF this ancient family.
assured me that | should tread lightly
and revercntly on the soil hereabOuts. which had
been watered no doubt with the blood OF my an
cestors-the OByrnes Of Wicklow. beautiful
on this estate of Mr. Parnel and at onc extremity
where the rivers AvOninore and Ayonb'g meet,
leaping, bubbling aud rushing IN thcH onward
course to the sea, ls the grand OLD tree uhder
whose shelterng boughs Tom moore wrote MS
neyer-to- DC forgotten exquisite poem, nc Meet
ing of the WaIersp An architect is engaged here
at The present time drawing up plans for NUMBER
OF working cottages 70 be built shortly, up
ward OF 100 being now employed on the place
A pleasaut chat with Miss Anna Parnsn reveals
the act that although not very str0ug or robust,
sho il quite a. radical and enthusiastic as IN the
DAYS whom she quietly stopped the carriage
of the Lord Lleutenant 10 INQUIRE IL IL Was
of the Land League houses to be discontinued hay,
ing given his the day that he had
not done IL IL certainly matter Tor wonder that
this sm-built quiet hammered little woman, reared
in the lap of luxury and ease should have been
possessed of such fortitude. Even enemies of the
Parnells cannot but recognize the many noble quail
ties and aspirations Of this gifted family. The only
fault found apparently amongst the people in tins
neighborhood is that Master Charlie does not
marry and settle down on the place, instead OF NY
ing about the country II he had no intention Oh
p'' ''' JENNIE BYRNE.
RstAdrus. County WicklOr, ireland, July III, 1854.