Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1886-11-26

| to "blle that thing In the tin bucket covered
over wild ice, that the men brought in from
the cake shop Having nothing to do
Diht, how can they learn TO do anything? The
feminine instinct for dress, however, shows
itself even here, and our eyes were dazzled
by the bright purple and blue dresses, ruffied
and banded with q strip of black velvet, and
IL this could be surmounted by q red shawl,
with green ribbon round the neck, 1t mat
tered not though the feet were bare and the
really pretty locks unkempt. Some Of the
children were quite pretty, and they always
keep family OF orphans on hand TO come
out at the proper point on the road and ap.
peal TO the charity Of the tourist.
Having now reached the cottage of Lord
Brandon, we paid our guides, dismounted
and entered the little row boats from which
we were to behold the beautiful Killarney
Lakes, three In number, Upper Lake or Tore,
Middle and Lower Lake. The scenery on
the Upper Lake pleased us most, being mar
velousiy picturesque in tights and shadows
Saw the Eagle Mountains, so called, as far
we could learn, because there are no eagles
there; the footprints of the "Glant," which
our oarsmen assured us were left by him
when he stepped across the stream. about
two and a.half miles; the hollow In the
mountain top where he brewed his punch,
and the peak which, In one night, he di-
vided into three. IL we did not believe it,
We could look for ourselves and see the
three separate points. One of the little
islands Is covered with Arbutus, a sort of
bush, not the trailing vine which we know
by that name. Next, we passed under the
Old Weir Bridge, and through the "Meet-
ing of the Waters" This is the oldest bridge
in Ireland, built by the Danes. AT another
point we dropped suddenly from depth of
fatn ..,t.s al
immense boulder separating the lakes. A
little farther on and we shot through an-
other arch which forever brings no immu-
nifty from toothache, and so down by
Muoross Abbey, grand old ruin, Installer
Island, and back TO our hotel on the bank
of the largest OF the three lakes, il being
nine miles long and about half as wide.
There are wonderful echoes all through
these mountains, and our guides carried on
witty conversations with certain "Capt
Blake" who always managed to have the
"last word" We found these oarsmen,
guides and drivers strong advocates of Home
Rule and very bitter against some Of the adj
jacent land owners who, through their mid
die men," were expressing their tenants
So far in Ireland we have seen neither
fruit trees nor flies; as for the trees, very
few Of any kind.
larney, our next move was 10 Dublin the
Capital city Of Ireland, which we reached
about O o'clock, having left Killarney at 10
in the morning Here there were evident
signs of improvement as we approached the
city, houses slated instead of matched, fields
beautifully cultivated, and better kept look
about everything Dublin, or Dooblin, "a
they call II, Is fine city, built of brick,
which seems everywhere 10 need paint
Like London, 1t has dingy, greyish look,
due to the dampness of the climate. There
are fine wide streets, Sackvile street being
lined with handsome shops Of all descrip.
tons, the linen goods particularly attract.
i've, though no cheaper than at home. There
are also fine hotels, the Shelburne, opposite
ST. Stephens Park, being full Of Americans.
And here commenced those wretched, in.
terminable table d'hote dinners, where YOU
waste two good hours tasting twenty-five
different dishes, and get uphungry. Then,
too, the French names given 10 these dishes
are so entirely undescriptiye that there is Il
painful doubt as TO what you may be eat
ing. We found no variety Of vegetables
anywhere, even on the continent, potatoes,
snap.beans, French peas and caulifiower
being about ALL Once we had onions, once
bects, and occasionally raw tomatoes, in
0eyy small dishes. The worst potatoes we
ever saw were in Ireland little waxy balls
like our unripe neso potatoes, and only half
cooked. II VIC asked for them mashed
they kept us waiting twenty minutes and
charged extra They are grown in rows,
banked up like celery, VIC thought TO allow
the water ~ drain off, the soil being 50
moist Having 30 few vegetables, of course
they depend on meat for all their courses,
and this they prepare in endless variety and
very prcttily served. But we cared more
for those lovely driving hours, from Z 10 o,
than for the dinners, and one day agreed 70
"pass" several courses, Alas one hungry
man chose TO stake il up and go ID alone"
and there we had 10 sit in solemn silence till
he was through Another unusual thing
they do. When about half through meal
there comes behind you man with pencil
and book, who blandy asks, Number Of
your room, sir, pleaseY" "Ah yes" "Nine-
ty-iyc." "iour In party" which means four
dinners charged 10 ninety-fvc. This gives
a metallic, dollar. and.cent flavor to the din
ner, not appetizing-it Is like telling your
guest how much tho wine cost. II is anus
Ing 10 sec the stately manner Of the English
at these dinners. AZ home the rule is gloves
at dinner, so gloves must be worn, though
they be grey thread, with travelling costume!
We left ours up stairs, we liked 10 be Ameri.
can, and AZ we were constantly meeting and
travelling with people we knew, we made u
party large enough 10 be independent with
out being conspicuous There Is an i'm
mcnso amount of wine used at these dinners.
One Irish lady opposite us drank large de.
canter full every day, then glass OF bran
dy, and finished off with thimble-full Of
gin After that her personal criticisms were
giyen--gratis. Thore are usually no bar.
rooms to any Of tho foreign hotels, but gen
tlemcn retire 10 the coffee.room, where
seated a. little tables they are served with
liquors, beginning with coffee into which
they put brandy. For this reason no coffee
follows the dinner unless especially ordered
as an extra"
After leaving Ireland we took our meals
q Ia carte, wherever II was possible, most
hotels carrying on both systems, as with US.
The first place OF interest which we visited
was the Castle, or residence Of the Court
during its season" January and February,
after that the Lord Lieutenant lives in Pho.
nix Park, in his summer home. II was here
that Lord Cayendish, his predecessor, was
assassnated four years ago, in sight Of his
home. A cross made Of cobble stones marks
the spot where he fell, and the superstitions
of the Irish are such that not even mis-.
cheyous boy would dare remove one of
these loose stones.
But this letter Is long enough. will leave
the rest of Dublin till next time, only tell
ing you now that IL is divided into "two
equal halves by the river Liffey, which cuts
IL directly through the middle"
.---->s~
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