The Somerset reporter., 1885-11-25

\ correspondent of the Providence
J0HrHa, who has been visiting places of
interest in Ireland, writing about the fish
ing village of Claddash, in Galway, says
The women have apparently made little
or no change in their costume for ccntu.
rics: they still wear the crimson petticoat
of thick Claddagh frieze, Il tuckcd-up
gown with II red flannel vest. blue mantle
and red or white kcrchicf on the head and
carry. of course, the inYariabC tiSl-baskct
on week days. ON Sundays the whole at
tire has Il smarter look; Il hnc white cap
with perhaps handsome silk kcrchcf
adjoining the head, and neat shoes and
stockings complete Il very picturesque cos
tune.
The dress of the Young women differs
very little from that of the matrons, cI-
cept that they wear no cap or kcrchicf on
the head. The men Oh work days wear
the ordinary hshcrman'S blue suit. On
Sunday they sport two or three nannel
vests under Il fine one of white cotton :;
over these a fine blue friese suit, the jack
ct plentifully adorned with horn buttons !;
II round, hat-hrimmcd hat and fine silk
neckte. Formerly they wore in holiday
dress blue plush brooches, always open ut
They are remarkably respectable looking
men, and when they are in Sunday dress,
gathered in groups about the harbor, talk
ing over their fishing cruises in their ma
tive tonguc-which every inhabitant OF
the Claddagh speaks-they strike one rs a
superior race Of people
At the Claddagh, women's rights are all
powerful Before the men set out for 4
fishing cruise the women and children
crowd the stand, digging for bait; the
women help to mend the sails and nets
and prepare food for the men, who, as
they are often out at sea for days togcth-
cr, bring with them potatoes, bread, water
and fuel, bat no Spirituous liquor is ever
brought to sea, and from this practice
they are never known to deviate. 1t has
always been remarked that while at sea
the fishermen Of Galway bay seldom meet
with an accident or loss OF life. This Is
due to their great abstcminousness on
these occasions, to their skill and dextcri-
tv in tho management of their vessels, and
while they are brave and hardy sailors
to their avoidance of all unnecessary
dangers,
When the fishers return from cruise
they are met by the troops OF women and
children, who loudly and joyously wei
come them home The wives rcgalc the
men. whose cares OF life cease the mo-
ment they land. Ehcy have no further
property in either themselves OF the fish,
which becomes the property OF the WON
en-. whose rule on shore is supreme. 1t is
the wives who sell the fish and keep the
moncN-did not their husbands with all
their worldly goods endow them when
they marricd?-and the good women do
,ioo II! III Wv VI wv, ~ mos,
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Ni''' an" 49, 'f,'.,olua o1,thas uIcntv 81 to-
Soo''' VI az .,i'i,I',. no, ,o,-
oacco' "''u a. .n"'n - tho
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i't'''"S" nv ~, ,,..,,,,nd ,,,;t1, th,
anu nv. ""lp! ",,. ,,.id ~, hn for
'"'c VI VI, 'i ;,,t' .iii,r'.,,t ,hon tho hu.-
,'''''I an ,,l,,tnrIor rho
''.i''' Wv! nv, ''a, ,.o,,. gond char
c"''le 0""i'''u az nan,i,ir,n Father
'''ei' Ni' VI w H., s,,,t, in hi,,h
t,r,,,. ~ tl,,i,. bnnnstv sohrictv and NOR
tGi '''7 VI '''''
Az, ~, ,..,,,,io,;,,, j.. Ronon Cntho-
:, NJ .".tiN '"''', Iovntinn
nv H''t'i' P.' ''.rii.,,,,.l Wairo" 5Nor,,s
u, tileii '''''' Nv, haon ir thoir mist
"ui :" ~, ,''..,. .,iirving Dnrino
~! , 40 ,,..,co a., fortunate n.
"ui .etu"' t,,,,', ,t tho limo when thr
10 ~ ~ wy rorr,nnnv Of fine
~ifo t.l,cs nI,rr durinr the
pi.SS'''S " t ,''o fa,.I ~ adv, Dav In hor-
o''a'' -, ,.o,, or mo Galway nronle
VS.. his hoontiful ancient rms
"io Nv" Iii n'.oil. /, tbnir ycrv midst for
,',, NV. thot tho clodioob nrople
'''''' !, arnnr',It themselves in or
i i Wv ~" ~ ottra,.t copcoursc of military
'o' , ''t t,,, merely curons oilers TO n cerc-
" nnny Wv, which they carry ont with much