Martinsburg gazette. (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1886-1887, 1886-12-11
AN IRISH FAIR.
Characteristic and Curious
Scenes at Tuana.
Vendors Of Cheap Clothes and People
Engaged in Selling Pigs.

IN It's palmy Gays, says correspondent
Of the New York Times, but for an
American who wishes to pursue ono
great branch Of westward emigration to
its sourcesit is curious enough. Around
the ancient cross Of Tuam, with its weird
figures in high relief Of Christ and GER
tain Apostles and its Celtic decoration
inflow relief on the shaft, composed of
interlacing ribbons, around this ancient
cross are the vendors Of cheap clothing
and beyond them the country people
who have pigs for sale. The clothes
peddlers are at the hardest sort Of work
making an auction Of their stock, if auc-
ton it can be called. For instead Of
beginning at . moderate price and aug
mcnting they begin at q high price and
come down. The descent from los. to
ne. is rapid, but when they get to Os.
and s.. their agony IS touching. The
most dismal women, facing each other,
wall q ballad with much quavcrin and
drawl, while knots of fresh faced elderly
DANES. in brilliant pettico ats, caps, and
big cloaks or shawls Of plaid stuff stand
by their wares, generally from two to
five well washed, combed, and clipped
grunters. Big pigs and little hogs, pink
''cracklings' and tawny shoots, 7 sleepy
monsters whose owners have slnirk Of
:sclf-satisfaction and hold themselves
proudly aloof, and scraWny porkers of
whom the master is wistful and ready to
bargain with the most unpromising
these are scattered about the square and
three streets debouching on it. Since
o'clock the animal which in its American
variety Bismarck abhors has lifted up
clarion voice in expostulation with fate.
The country people are generally clad IN
the costume which has pas ed away in
most parts of Ireland, for here is the
heart Of Connaught, terminus Of a branch
railway, and Irish is spoken on all Sides
Lean and wrinkled men wear the caubeen
on their heads, but do not stick their
pipes in the hat band as Of yore, proba-
bly, because the caubeen is an old ssstove
pipen hat, the band Of which is too tight.
Their swallow-tail coats are made Of ma
tive frieze, pronounced here fryzc,) their
breeches Of corduroy, stockings Of heavy
knit stuff, and shoes of unblackcd leath-
er. Some wear boots, other leggins.
Such an old man is sight to behold
when trying to humor d flock Of sheep
through the crowd. His lean arms flap,
his knees bend, his face works in the
most persuasive sgrimmaces, and from
his lips come floods Of imprecatious and
caioleries.
The cattle are sold in big field on the
outskirts of the town. The great space
is brown, fiecked with black, as one.
looks across the cows and steers minded
BY men, boys, and women There is no
lettering and no placing inside rails.
The district is too primitive for that.
The steers jam together in close herds
with their heads inward, greatly defect
ed, and here and there q COW must be
rounded in by many thwacks Of cudgel.
The fame Of the Irish forearm when
welding shillalah must have arisen
from constant practice on the backs Of
cattle in nearly pure agricultural land.
Now and then whole herd is bought,
and the purchasers and their friends ex-
tricate it and get iton the road. Then