The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-07-10
IN FOREIGN LANDS,
Correspondence ofMe Intelligence.

American side, is warm and moist and
very favorable to the growth of all kinds
of vegetation. The gulf stream, sweep.
ing across the Atlantic and striking on
the southern and western shores of the
island, makes snow and ice almost
unknown and frost in many localities a
rarity. The people are courteous and
obliging, at times almost to obsequious.
ness, but the lower classes are q race of
beggars. Many causes, such as absentee
landlordism ETC., have been assigned for
the present condition Of the Irish people
and doubtless all have had some bearing
upon it; but the fact remains that their
greatest enemy ut home rs we'll as else
where is strong drink. In towns, villa.
ges and cities, "Wine Stores" esprit
Stores," Grocery and Spirit Stores"
ETC., as we'll as the less prctentious
"Shebeen" houses are very numerous ;
but We were glad to learn that strong,
organized effort on the part Of the better
element of the people is doing much to
lessen this evil. Throughout all Ireland
America ID regarded land of promise,
if not the promised land; aud we were
repeatedly interviewed by parties who
contemplated trying their fortunes in the
western world. Tho inexorable law OF
supply and demand has reduced tho pric:
of labor here to such an extent that the
working classes very naturally look with
longing towards the high prices in the
States" The following, which we clip
from the Belfast Ne,rs Letter of May
18th, 1884, will give some idea concern
ing the prices of farm labor.
"AN1RIM HIRING FAIR.--The half.
yearly fair was held yesterday. Farm
servants wore scarce, not nearly equal to
the domand, resulting in advanced
wages. Ploughmen got from Ct to sIO
los for the ha]f-year men, from &C to
f9 boys, from f2 to E6; girls, from f1
los to f3; women, from f3 to Is lOs."
Centuries of oppression and unjust rule
have 80 fettered the growth at home of
this naturally intelligent and often bril-.
liant people that it is but natural that
they should look beyond their much
loved ERIN" for opportunities for deyel.
opment.
Queenstown, where we landed, is iugt
inside Cork harbor and aside from its use
Us an order station and the calling of
ocean steamers for mails and passengers,
is not of much importance and possesses
nothing of interest to the tourist. Cork,
abou: II miles up the harbor, is city of
100000 inhabitants, and the principal
business centre of southern ireland. IT
is very old city and many Of iis streets
and buildings are quaint aud antiquated
in their appearance. 1t is divided into
two parts by the river Lee, and on the
north side of the river ia located Shaudon
Church, with
''The bells of Shandon,
That sounded so grand, on
The pleasant waters of the river Lee."
Blarney Castle, seven miles northwest
of the city, is reached by jaunting car, an
Irish institution which must be seen to
be appreciated. It is q two. wheeled
vehicle, with high springs and the seats
just over the wheels, facing outward the
passengers sitting back to back with the
driver in front. With a glib.tongued
Jehu, on fine day, it forms certainly q
novel and not unpleasant means Of trav-
ell. The castle ia quite an interesting
one and dates back to the early history
of the island; but its chief attraction is
the far-famed Blarney Stone, said Ia
possess miraculous powers, giving to those
whose lips touch it that oily, persuasive
eloquence 80 hard to resist; it being an
old saying that whoever had kissed the
Blarney Stone "could coax q potato away
from pig" The stone itself is at the
bottom of the battlement, which rises
from butresses outside the main wall
about two feet below it's top and nearly
100 feet from the ground. 1t formed
originally the support between two oi
the buttresses; but it is now held in
place by two iron clamps which bind il
to the battlement above. An opening
between the battlement and the main
wall allows visitors to risk their necks ia
leaning down and out to reach this won.
drous stone. The drive to and from the
castle IS through 9 very picturesque
country, but the low, thatched stone
novels of the peasantry give evidence o
abject poverty which is not pleasant te
contemplate.
From Cork to Killarney Is ride o.
| about three hours by rail and the tourist
is at no loss for novelties to amuse him
self with. The cars are not like Ameri
can railway coaches, open from end tc
end with an aisle through the centre
but are divided into sections crosswise
with the seats facing each other ant
doors at each end of the sections OPENING
outward. They are divided into first
second and third classes, the principa
difference being in the upholstering a,
sections in all three classes are frequent
ly found in the same car. The train
take the left track in passing instead O
| Tho - e., ,,,I
rule holds good for all vehicles on tn,
highways.
The lakes of Killarney are surrounded
by some of the most delightful aceaer,
that can be imagined. The views ar,
not grand and majestic like our owl
Rocky Mountain region, but for quiet
| simple beauty they cannot he surpassed
The principal lakes are three in number
the Upper, the Middle or Muckross, an,
the Lower or Lough Leane. They ar
connected by water courses Of greater o
less width and the distance from one ex
tremity to the other is about Is miles
All are studded with islands and at eacl
turn q new view meets the enchaute,
beholder. A Gfort distance east of III
Lower Lake is situated the remains o
Muckross Abbey, very interesting oil
ruin whose history dates far back int
the past. There, on lovely Sabbath Il
May, we worshiped. Mature preache
the sermon, the windS played the organ
the birds sang the hymns and oursel
with the spirits Of those devout oil
monks who ages ago bowed hero, wa
the congregation. Who can cay It wa
not fitting service7 On the island @
lnnisfallen IN the Lower Lake, Is foun
the remains of the Abbey Of that name