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

the same latitude as Labrador on the
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 race of
beggars. Many causes, such as absentee
landlofdism 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 at home as we'll as else
where is strong drink. In towns, villa
ges ard cities, "Wine Stores" Esprit
Stores" Grocery and Spirit Stores"
etc., as we'll as the less pretentious
"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 is regarded land of promise,
if not the promised land and we we're
repeatedly interviewed by parties who
contemplated trying their fortunes in the
western world. The inexorable law Of
supply and demand has reduced the price
of labor here to such an extent that the
working classes very naturally look with
longing towards the high prices in the
Estates" The following, which we clip
from the Belfast News Letter of May
18th, 1854, will give some idea concern.
ing the prices of farm labor.
"ANTR1M HIRING FAIR.-The half
yearly fair was held yesterday. Farm
servants were scarce, not nearly equal to
the demand, resulting in advanced
wages. Ploughmen got from s7 to 9lo
IS; boys, from s2 to 46; girls, from FL
los to e.; women, from IS to Is los"
Centuries of oppression and unjust rule
have so 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 just
inside Cork harbor and aside from its use
as 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,
about u miles up the harbor, is a city of
100000 inhabitants, and the principal
business centre Of southern Ireland. It
is very old city and many of it's streets
and buildings are quaint and antiquated
in their appearance. 1t is divided into
two parts by the river Lee, and on the
north side of the river is located Shandon
Church, with
sThe 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. 1t is 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
novel and not unpleasant means of trav-
ell. The castle is 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 to
possess miraculous powers, giving to those
whose lips touch it that oily, persuasive
eloquence so hard to resist; it being an
old saying that whoever had kissed the
Blarney Stone "could coax 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 its top and nearly
100 feet from the ground. 1t formed
originally the support between two of
the buttresses; but it is now held in
place by two iron clamps which bind it
to the battlement above. An opening
between the battlement and the main
wall allows visitors to risk their necks in
leaning down and out to reach this won
drous stone. The drive to and from the
castle is through a very picturesque
country, but the low, thatched stone
novels of the peasantry give evidence of
abject poverty which is not pleasant to
contemplate.
From Cork to Killarney is ride of
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 to
end with an aisle through the centre,
but are divided into sections crosswise,
with the seats facing each other and
doors at each end of the sections opening
outward. They are divided into first,
second and third classes, the principal
difference being in the upIolstering; as
sections in all three classes are frequent
ly found in the same car. The trains
take the left track in passing instead of
the right as in America, and the same
rule holds good for all vehicles on the
highways.
The lakes of Killarney are surrounded
by some of the most delightful scenery
that can be imagined. The views are
not grand and majestic like our own
Rocky Mountain region, but for quiet,
simple beauty they cannot be surpassed.
The principal lakes are three in number,
the Upper, the Middle or Muckross, and
the Lower or Lough Leane. They are
connected by water courses of greater or
less width and the distance from one ex.
tremity to the other is about IA miles.
All are studded with islands and at each
turn a new view meets the enchanted
behoIder. A !, tort distance east of the
Lower Lake is situated the remains of
Muckross Abbey, very interesting old
ruin whose history dates far back into
the past. There, on lovely Sabbath in
May, we worshiped. Nature preached
the sermon, the winds played the organ,
the birds sang the hymns and ourself
with the spirits of those devout old
monks who ages ago bowed here, was
the congregation. Who can say it was
not fitting service? On the island Of
Innisfallen in the Lower Lake, is found
the remains of the Abbey of that name,