The Irish standard., 1886-11-27

under the busy fingers of the workers,
AS for the painting, must say that |
was never 80 much astonished in my
lite as to see the really exquisite way in
which a number of Young men and WO-
men were painting pictures on plates.
ornaments, etc, etc. The artistic ma
ture of the work, and its delicate exc
cution, are creditable il. the highest de-
gree. and l am quite certain that il
only requires to be wellknown to be
highly appreciated. There is no doubt
that Belleek is not sufficiently known.
and belieyeif the work there was sup
ported properly the name OF the Fer
managh town will yet become house
hold word far outside of Ireland. The
little factory is not by any means, be it
understood, doing badly, but | want to
see it grow so that it may increase till
it is able to supply its goods as cheaply
as they can be got from England. Bel
leek is principally known,s ,sss far as it is
known, for its fine work, but it also
turns out the roughest and strongest
wares for everyday use, and believe
it will yet do a large trade in these
things by-and-by. I do not know what
would become of it's neighborhood if
anything happened the works, on where
the people employed there would turn
for bread. 1T would be a great calam-
ity if this industry, struggling against
fierce English competition, were to go
down. 1t rests, after all, with tie pub
lie, and know we'll there is enough
patriotism about these matters; and (
say again I believe that Belleek only
wants to be known. A more thorou.- H.
ly Irish concern you could not have.
The clay is Irish, the hands that fash
ion it are Irish, and the capital of the
business is Irish. | venture to appeal
to the Irish merchants at home, aud
particularly in America and Australia,
to try, for the sake Of the credit OF Ire
land, to push this trade. Personally
do not know any OF the shareholders Of
the concern, though believe they are
nearly all local mcn, / draw attention
to the factory in the interest Of the
factory hands; and let my excuse for
trespassing SO long upon your space lie
in the fact that Belleek--I am very
proud of it's III my onstituency.
and am Intimately acquainted with
the real good and comfort which the
presence of the factory there diffuses
all around the district. 1t you could
see the hands at work, it you could
notice the interest they take in it, and
how proud they are Of it, am sure you
would f. ell as sorry as possible to think
that it should not prosper and flourish;
and, above all, if you could see how
hard and cheerfully they toil-men,
women and children--for the pay
(small enough), how glad they are to
get it, no ore knows who has not expe-
rience of how hard the people find it,
in many parts, to get the chance even
of earning one shilling. They are jeai-
Gus of Belleek in England, and have
heard of an intention on the part of
certain Englishmen to try and buy it,
and to let 1t drop aud die. This, sure
ly, of itself should be enough 20 arouse
the support and sympathy of the coun-
try in the little factory. would like
to see the words, "Belleek" written up
everywhere. My only excuse for this
Il am afraid too long) letter is that it is
admitted everywhere that questions
concerning Irish manufacture are of
the greatest Importance.