Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-04-16
Mptes Of Trareliu GMrope.
OBSERVATIONS ON IRELAND.
BY REV. r. LATHAM.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.l

BY REV. r. LATHAM.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
The last sketch was confined to the old
virons. I beg the readers permission to
spend one more week in the neighborhood.
1t is classic ground. Here legendary lore
might be collected in quantities sufficient to
fill large volume, and fairy tales learned
which would send thrill through all but
the dead.
At White Head, between four and five
miles distant from Carrickfergus, the coast
of Antrim county, Ireland, changes direc-
tion at nearly right angles. The Lough of
Belfast bears striking Resemblance in shape
to the ploW that is known in our southern
country as a twisted shovel. 1t is slipped in
between Antrim and Down counties. The
point reaches Belfast and the top rests
on the North Channel. The curved side of
the Lough hooks under part of county Down.
At or near White Head, on the western
coast, and Bangor, on the eastern, the Lough
of Belfast spreads out into the North Chan
mel. The general direction of the western
coast of Belfast Lough is northeast At
White Head the coast of Ireland is north
west, or nearly so. About nine miles from
White Head, and ten or twelve from Car
rickfergus, is Larne, at the mouth OF Larne
Lough.
Between Carrickfergus and Larne there
are number of places and several things
of interest. The soil in general is poor, and
the face of the country rough. About lour
miles north of Carrickfergus is Lough
Mourne. 1t is two miles long and one mile
wide, and in the language of one born on
it's bank, "nine fathoms deep" [ was told
that the water gradually increases in depth
at every step. Like the waters of Ireland
generally it is full of ''great fishes" The
legendary origin of Lough Mourne is about
as follows: Originally it was the site of a
large town. The inhabitants were rich, but
proud and inhospitable. At one time an
old man came to the town late in the night.
He was careWorn and stopping beneath the
burden of years. Cold and hungry he appli-
ed to the citizens Of the town for lodging.
These were denied him. Weary and faint,
the aged stranger began to depart from the
place. AS he passed slowly along the street
he shook the dust from his feet, at the same
time announcing, what appeared to the in
habitants silly prediction, that at the
dawn of day their town would be submerg-
ed. The old man, having escaped beyond
the limits of the town climbed up to the top
of crag which overlooked the doomed
place and sat down like Jonah, that he
might see his dire prophecy fulfilled. The
people of the heaven forsaken town slept all
Unconscious of the danger. Just as the first
rays of the sun fell upon the houses, the
foundation of the whole town gave, way
and the entire population was drowned.
A short distance from Carrickfergus is Kill
root. Here the celebrated Jonathan Swift,
usually called Dean Swift, lived and preach
ed for short time. Swift was man OF
strange eccentricities, but of wonderful pow
ers of intellect. For a period he controlled
the laboring classes of Ireland: He was
born in Dublin, in 1867. His father died
before he was born, leaving his mother mis-
erably poor. An uncle took charge OF his
education. He was first sent to school in
Kilkenny and afterward to Trinity College.
At college he neglected everything but his.
tory and poetry. The result was he failed
to take the degree of bachelor of arts. Some
friends interfered in his behalf and as a
special favor young Swift was granted hon
ors which his scholarship did not merit.
Through the influence of his uncle and some
other friends, Swift became known to Sir
William Temple, by whom he was intro
duced to William the Third. Swift was
made him his confidential secretary. Lord
Capel appointed him rector Of the parish of
Kilroot in Ireland. The ruins Of the old
church in which he once preached are still
to be seen.
1t is perhaps best always to be careful
in judging of the piety of others. Some
mems faults are glaring. They protrude at
all times and all occasions, while other men
have become skilled in concealing their
sins and have learned how to practice a
kind of religious slight of hand piety by
which they are enabled to appear to be
what they are not and to appear to do what
and more if it is demanded, must be per-
mitted to say that l never yet have been
able to discover that piety was prominent
feature in Dean Swift's life or labors. l
make the frank confession that l am not
any mans Judge. This is depression.
In the parish of which Swift was rector,
there were at the time, either few Protes-
tants or few Protestants of Swift's persua-
sion. The latter, think is correct, for rea-
sons which will be afterward stated. Rec
tor Swift gave notice that he would read
prayers in the church on Wednesdays and
Fridays during the Lental season. On the
first service at which the new rector Off
ciated no one except the parish clerk, Rodg-
er Cox, attended. 1t is said that the old
Scotch Irish Presbyterian preachers felt
that they were not called upon to preach
when the congregation numbered less than
twelve. With these theoretical notions of
duty they generally, it is said, went home
without preaching when the number as
sembed at the church to have preaching
did not equal or exceed that of the apostles.
No such an idea had taken hold of Rector
Swift. At the usual hour he assembled the
desk and gravely began the services thus:
"Dearly beloved Rodger Cox, the Scriptures
moveth you and me in sundry places to
confess our manifold SINS" and so on to
the end of the service.
In this there was certainly nothing wrong
and but for the fact that it was uncommon
and Rector Swift was the reader, it might
have been very appropriate. In fact, it was
one of SWift's characteristics to do nothing
and say nothing like any one else. This
oddity in his nature would jut out in the
| church.
Swift remained rector of the parish of
Kilroot, or, as think it is sometimes called,
of Laracor, for only short time, until he
became dissatisfied and returned to England.
On the eve of his departure his eccentric
nature Showed itself again. While he was
hesitating in his mind whether or not to
give up his rectorship and return to Sir
William Temple, at Moor-park, he casually
met one day poor curate, who had large
family, which he was unable tosupport COM
! fOrtably. Swift at once determined to give
up the parish and also to secure the position
for the poor curate. This he did. On max
ing the presentation he watched closely the
countenance of tine poverty-ridden clergy
man that he might be able to discover the
effect which the unexpected good fortune
would have upon it. The curate was great
ly moved-so greatly that Swift himself be-
came deeply affected. The curate had moth
ing with which to requite his benefact0r
and thereby give substantial evidence Ofhis
heartfelt gratitude, but a black mare on