Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-04-24
MMAHoN's SHAMROCK SOD.


capitol was emerging from its ashes.
The city was full of sightseers. They
were to be seen gathered about the
points of interest, the smouldering
Louvre, the Palais de Justice, the
Palais Royal, the Hotel de Vile, and
the Tuileries. They climbed tie sides
of lofty Mount Valerien, wandered
through Meudon, Bellegille, and
Moatmartre. The Vendome column
was being carried away in small
pieces by relic-hunters, detachments
of regular troops were stationed at
convenient distances frem each other
in all the great centers, and soldiers
and civilians glared at each ether
with suspicion and aistrust. The law
had triumphed, but France was hui
INFLATED, and her people in despair.
One day as l was returning from a
visit to my old comrades of the For
eign legion, who had followed the
remnant of the communists into Pere
la Chaise and fought them over its
tombstones, I met NJ Scanlon, of
| Havre, a Franco Irishman, who had
done good service to the empire and
the republic during their hours of
trial and distress. Ia his hand he
carried something that under its paper
cover looked like a jam-pot. He was
holding it before him as ne walked,
and the care with which he handled it
impressed me with the belief that the
contents of the vessel, whatever they
were, must have much value in his
eyes. / noticed him coming toward
me long before he ventured TO lift his
| ha fill
in his hand, and while he was engag-
ed in looking out for the debris on the
footpath, over which he was evident
ly careful not to fall. Where the
road was broken he put his disengas
ed hand around the envelope which
held his charge, and this behavior de.
noted that of man who was carry
ing something brittle or precious or
both When near crowd he hug ged
his parcel to his side, then, STOP 1ug,
looked around as if measuring his dis
lance, and in looking up he saw me-
His eyebrows lifted, his chin dropped,
and disengaging his right hand he
shook my arm with friendly vigor
As he did SO ne Rugged the parcel still
closer to his side. He fondled it Ike
something he wished TO guard from
being crashed, and l thought it might
be pot of flower for some wounded
soldier or sick friend. s word or two
of recognition was all that passed be-
tween us, when he suddenly held the
parcel in both his hands and said:
''Here, take it; be careful"
The care with which he handled the
paper covered object begot a similar
care IN myself, and extending my two
hands l said:
what is it,"
At that instant someone accidental>
~ ,jostled against US, and M. Scan>
Ions face expressed anxiety and care.
mind, mind, be very careful" he
said, as he still he'd his grip on the
parcel, which our four hands then en-
circled.
What is it?" | repeated.
He looked mo in the lace and smiled.
His hands, relieved from their strain,
fell to his side, and seeing that held
his charge with firm hold, he said ::
''It2 that2 why it's sod shamrock
from the tomb of O'Connell."
/ may have held the Emerald gem
a little tighter vixen | heard its birth
place and its home, and beneath that
envelope of paper, fancy pictured
"Glasneven, with its lofty round
tower, erected to the memory of the
emancipation, and the triple emblem
of my native land, love, yaIor, wit
forever" But NJ. Scanlon was in a
hurry. He hailed passing cab, and
pushing me inside, told the man to
drive to Saint Lazare. | asked what
| I lic icy ,,,f 4
told me:
You know" he said, that the
French government sent a deputation
TO Ireland to thank the Irish people
for the sympathy and support they
gave the French during the late war
"You," he said, looking at me, were
ordered to be one of that deputation,
but declined. Well, before we went
some of us called on Marshal MacMa-
hon and asked him if he could find it
consistent with hi duties to visit the
land from which his fathers came
The great old soldier was very civil,
but he regretted that he could not &C
cede to our request. Then we begged
that he might allow the marchioness,
his wife, or his son to come. To this,
too, there were some objections
However, he introduced us to the
, marchioness, and while she spoke OF
the pleasure such a visit would give
her, she too was obliged to decline.
But she added: AS [ can lot go to
Ireland | beg Of you to bring me a
souvenir of that dear old land, and
you can bring nothing that will please
: me more than a sod of shamrock from
the tomb of O'Conuell.' And there it
is in your hands," he added, ''and l
am just on my way to present it, aud
you must come along. / was looking
for you all day. You were the rep,
resentative Franco Irish soldier dur
ing the war and-uo excuse-yoa
must come along.
And SO we drove to Saint Lazare
and took the train to Versailles, and
were soon after walking through its
broad streets toward the enormous
palace in which Marshal MacMahon
resided. To our left there was a court
yard, the great gate of which stood
open. A sentry was pacing in front
of a door-it was the entrance to
Marshal MacMahon's office. M.
Scanlon rang a bell and the door was
opened by a soldier dressed in the uni
form of my old regiment. His empty
sleeve told its own story to the passer-
by; to me it recalled the fight before
Busy and the small-arm play in front
of the Red Farm" near Besonew,
but nearer the Swiss frontier. Our
cards were taken in by anotherveteran,
and in a few seconds an inner door
was opened and Se were told that the
marshal woald see us. NJ. Scanlou
had taken the pot full of shamrocks
in his hand and walked toward the
door. l followed. The soldier kept
the door opened and stood at attention.
We passed in.
Marshal MacMahen was standing
up when we entered. We had both
met him before, and he shook cur
hands and asked US 70 be seated. As
he stood UP he was as erect as an up
lifted lance He had recovered from
the wound he received at Sedan. His
face was fresh-looking and his com
plexion clear. He was in undress uni
form, and his breast was covered with
decorations and medals. The military
medal, decoration given to the sous
| officers and SolddtS of the army, was