The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1886-11-19
Written for the MONITOR.
A DAY IN IRELAND.
- - By ii. j. H. WILTON -

ieIJ 1IaSSoA. Inc laf-lanfeQ Dedutliui
Clyde looked anything but picturesque as
we gazed upon its muddy surface. In the
narrow stream, made wider by the perse-
y%erance, ingenuity and capital of man. the
river and ocean steamers were coming and
going. OF course this would account for
the muddy appearance OF the waters; this
also would account for the offensive odors
cxhaling along the banks. The country
we are leaving and the land at which, in a
few hours, we will stop, are very much at
present like the Clyde. The question of
"Home Rule for Ireland, agitating the
mind Of every thinking i~nhabitant OF these
islands, must necessarily stir up eloquent,
patriotic desires and also, on the other
hand, the worst element. The riots Of Bel
fast, although to be deplored, still do they
not show the discomfort which rests all
over Ireland? We might ask. can the Irish
people be trusted? We answer with
another question; Can we trust the negro
slave of the United States with liberty
and the franchise? Truly, since the Amer
ican Civil War, the negro III some quarters
has made an improper use of his privi-
leges, but when in the history of manhas
man used a new thing to the best advan-
tage? You give a child a knife, and what
is the result? Before he has learned to
handle the knife well he has many sears.
New tools often cause many mishaps. The
Irish, with liberty granted them, might
Use that liberty poorly at first, but in the
end they will learn not only to respect
themselves, but also to think of what
others are thinking Of them. ~ from any
~refornatory measure there will be much
that viii arise that, like the bubbles blown,
will go into the air, burst and disappear;
the mere offensive will appear, leaving
deep sears in soine families; the innocent
often suffer with the guilty, and finally the
true, noble men come forth. and out of
this mud and stencil the true and beanti-
fnl will be BON. This is only an
analogy, but perhaps there is truth in it.
We glided down the Clyde and gradual
ly the water became deeper, clearer and
rougher. For a few hours we anchored
opposite the beautiful city OF Greenock.
Right off our stern lay the Indiana" She
had left Glasgow two weeks ago for New
York city. She had travelled almost 400
miles and was almost,off the banks ofNew-
foundland when a serious accident hap
rened to her engine. Not being sufficient
~ acquainted with machinery it would not
he safe for me to give an account of the
disaster, still there the vessel lay with
saloon and Storage passengers, both dis
appointed after sailing two weeks and 0 II
PEELED to return 10 the port from whence
they started. Some fifty ofthe passengers
were transferred to the Georgia This
transfer somewhat crowded us, but W no will
not open his heart for a suffering brother?
We were only too glad To say welcome
fellow passengers Early in the evening,
just as the sun was setting. or rather hid
ing itself behind the hills around Lock
Lomond; the steamer began to move again
towards L.arne, ireland.
All around was confusion. The luggage
Of the passengers lay around upon the
deck. The few chairs Were arranged as
comfortably as possible, and some OF the
passengers as if anxious to ward of sea-
sickness, began the remedy Of marching
up and down the deck. This later was
difficult. 1t is hard to thread a
needle in the dark, and SO with this march
ing-promenading it You will-more like
threading your way among passengers and
passengers luggage. The sunsets on the
Clyde are perhaps as fine as any in Scot
land. AS we looked towards the west,
where the Clyde seemed to dig its way int
wide, the sun. from behind a group of
clouds, seemingly sent its rays ont back
wards upon the water. The surface water
catching the rays reflected them back To
us, making a silver lake. From the ships
rail we stood watching this charming pic
ture. Sometimes the clouds were painted
with 4 deep red, then the red would grad
ually soften towards a pink and then, as if
the sun was fighting unwillingly to sur
render the day to the fast approaching
darkness, it would burst forth in rich,
golden yellow, only to be subdued by a
cloud somewhat heavier than the former.
This continued until the sun had fully been
conquered. when the queen of night burst
upon us. Such a night is for pleasure. To
us there was a blessing in it. 1t looked as
if God, knowing that there was sadness in
our hearts on account of the partings We
had just made, began to throw upon us
some of those pictures which the most
gifted artist tries in vain to reproduce.
Here we sat and walked and talked and
thought. Sometimes " thought of loved
ones on both sides Of the ocean. Some
times, as the damp air of the water chilled
us, we walked until the blood once more
grew warm. Sometimes we talked OF God,
of his works, of his poor, weak. selfish
servant man. OF things seen, OF things
heard, of home, of attractions at home,
and sometimes our meditations were to
ourselves in the form Of plans to be re
vealed in the future. However beautiful
the night we could not remain on deck for
the full night. Going TO oar berths we
slept until the grating of the boat and the
commands OF the officers and tramp Of the
nea,la tala ms that we had aft least slammed