Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1884-12-16
MIsCELLAMEous.
Sketches of Foreign Travel.
Br Cor. JSo. T. GlBsoS.
lc0nttaued.
lConttnued.l

Il
land seaport town near the mouth of
the river Boyne, containing a popula-
tion of some Is, 900 souls, and 6ppo-
site Liverpool, which is distant 1873
miles. The Irish sea here is upwards
Of 100 miles wide. At Dublin across
to Holyhead il is about 20 miles. 1
did not go about much in the city, but
saw enough of it to know that it is a
place of much industry and trade
The day | arrived there was market
day, which afforded me good oppor-
tunity to see the country people and
their stock. The exhibition consist
ing of horses, cattle. poultry and hogs,
(Which were white, and hairless as a
Mexican terrier,) though not exten-
sive was quite creditable. The cattle
were of the short-horn breed, with
few exceptions of Jerseys, all in fine
condition. The horses were well knit
and active looking. The hogs, all
white, had the shape of the Berkshire
pig, and free from excessive and dis
gusting grossness. The people were
well clad, earnest and grave looking,
and of a quick, bustling manner
One COW sold for S1IO. Cromwell,
in 1919. with a force of 12 900 men,
captured this town against defense
of about two thousand brave Irish
men, and had the cruelty to put to
death every man, woman and child
within its walls, save thirty, whom he
transported and had sold into slavery.
AS soon as possible I engaged hack
and driver to visit the places of in
terest in the country-as the battle
field of the Boyne, New Grange, the
ecclesiastical ruins of Monasterboice,
Melifont Abbey and Castle Slane. /
enjoyed the day immensely, for it was
bright and warm, the roads good, the
country rich, picturesque and beau
tiful, the birds busy and happy and
the objects visited interesting. first
visited Monasterboice, consisting of
two we'll preserved chapels, two per-
feet high stone Iona crosses, with
figures of scriptural characters sculp-
tured upon them, and very high,
round tower, so common to Ireland,
all enclosed with stone wall and sit
uated short distance from the road
in low, level and very rich piece of
ground, with no house near, There,
were several men working with spade
in small field adjoining, one of whom
came to me and told me this, that snt
the other Sd llf tllf, IS. p.fi6
was not a. ch, and afte RECEIVING
small compensation, Tor which Iic
seemed thanRf6l,1 he-returned to Ia
work. These crosses are 27afeet liig
and thousand or so years old. =
There are inscriptions on them ii
lTish, and one refers to AIuredacl
who was a king of Ireland, and di9I7
in 534. The round tower is 110 feet
high, so feet in circumference at the
ground, gradually diminishing to the
top, with walls three feet six inches
thick, and a diameter inside of nine
feet. You ascend the tower by a
winding stairway inside. The ma
terial of which the chapels and crosses
are built is frecstone. These ruins
are the remains of an. old Abbey, and
are in the midst of a great number of
old graves, with slabs engraved with
names and Inscriptions in Irish. The
tower, I infer from its association,
must have been used as campanile,
or bell tower. There are many such
standing on high points on the coasts
of Ireland, whose date and purpose
are only conjectured. They are sup
posed to have been built for beacon
lights in cases of Scotch or Scandi-
navian invasions, and are known to be
of great antiquity. l next went to
Melifont Abbey, where 1 saw bap-
tistry in good preservation, and like
wise chapel. Near by stands an old
mill, and up the race hundred yards
or so, spanning it, is high stone
arch-for what purpose I could form
no idea, unless it is the only part re-
mainingcf destroyed building which
was used by the inmates of the mon
astery. The situation of these two
places, in my opinion, could have been
greatly improved. for the country is
not lacking in beautiful and com
manding sites. These two monastic
institutions. Iimagine, were destroyed
by Cromwell, and the lands and rev.
cnues given to some of his followers.
Between 1885 and 30, Henry VIII.
suppressed and demolished G45 mon
asteries, 80 colleges, 1874 chantries
and free chapcls and 10 hospitals,
the lands and chattels, goods and
plate of which, he confiscated for the
use of the crown, giving to the i'm
poverished monks small pension in
return. How the people in their might
sweep out of existence institutions,
corporations, monopolies and powers
which they deem dangerous and
threatening to the well being of So
ciety! At that time the beautiful and
richly decorated Abbey at MiIrose.
Scotland, made famous throughout
the world by Sir Walter Scott, was
demolished by English troops, but
which was afterwards fitted up, in
certain of its parts. for the use of the
Presbyterian worship and so con-
tinued for generations. Had not JAY
Gould ct i'd onane jenus, better beware
and note history! For history is but
phenomenon or manifestation of
human nature, which changes not,
however all other things may be sub
ject to destruction and reconstruc-
ton. Human nature is constant midst
all change.
New Grange is said to be one Of the
oldest cnItio TnonT1roay7+, l., +J,e rzr,,IEJ