Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-12

goes on, too, from character to physique.
however humble and poverty-cursed men and
women may be, they stand straight and tall
both In their own individuality and upon their
strong, long legs. Indeed this often reaches
grotesqueness in both respects. While the
Irish peasantry, particularly of the South are
frequently diminutive in form and sometimes
ferrety in character, these folk seem to possess
an inner consciousness Of self-importance cut
IN glorious patterns and large lines; while in
no few instances they are straight that fine
Hogarthian arcs sweep from their heels to the
backs of their necks, often giving them the
appearance of carrying and with some disdain,
invisible but mighty commissions on the tops
of their heads. They have also an equally
charming frankness. They would all make
| good lawyers at cross-questioning. In week 8
tramping over these mighty mountain roads of
Donegal, some of which would put your famed
old Roman ways to shame, L have had odd ex-
periences in the witness-box. When pausing
at some grand curved esplanade to contemplate
| shadowy glen, roaring cataract, gloomy tarn,
or ledge of lofty mountain, a Donegal high
lander. overtaking me, or approaching from the
| opposite direction, would halt instantly open
court. and begin the blandest of interrogations
Pacing the ringing road with exultant stride,
would notice, away beyond some bellying bog
against the edge of an overhanging rocky wall,
the entire occupants of some little cabin issu-
ing from the doorway like a swarm of bees.
Wildly DOMINIC his picturesque clothing. the
head OF the house would start off around the
circling bog on mad gallop, like dread
courier of alarm, to suddenly confront me. in
dignifed surprise, miles ahead upon the wind
ing road Again, from where white hut
cleaned like the wing of bird upon lofty
crag. a half-dozen huge lads, headed by a
huger father, would descend with a rush, as il
! to repel invasion, and arrest my way, sagely
questioning my mission. Old women with
parcels of yarn from the Glenties; young
women coming from or going out to service in
their bare feet, their huge shoes slung over
their round shoulders for the saving; carmen
loaded with poteen and passengers, empty;
and all manner of Highlanders in their inter
minable goings to Somewhere for nothing, and
comings from Nowhere with imaginary some
whats; each with their freshly cut, willowy
sycamore withe, or more suggestive black
thorn stick would, with a sort of sidewise,
enfilade, -right-there-me-boyr' move
ment, bring me to a halt, when the severe,
smlleless, oratoric and
EvER-DIGNIFIED PROCEEDINGS WOULD BEGIN:
Fine day!'' And it is always Fine day." if
the leaden mists are tapping and slapping the
earth like a ships unstayed sails pounding the
decks in a storm.
Fine day." would reply assuringly.
"Hm-and phare air ye goin'!'
ON, up the road a bit"
aha, but that's dozen the road?" They had
me there.
Air We goin' far?''
May be. I'll see how like it,
America"
'.well-now-railly? wor ye long out?'
"a couple of months"
AN does We be long stayin'?''
six months, or so"
''Well, rally, now; ye'r'e tellin' me. H'm.-
for bye, yer cars handv?"
Il have no car Cjaunting carr; walk
Path, now, raitLyi Arrah, but yer not
OrnHOln' . ha 60
oh. no, my friend; but prefer walking"
Faith, the roads as hard as the OWLS
fore'ud?'
That's why like it,
-, Its rubbin erase to a fat pig to say it; but
It's as strong legs as sorrow. We haver
All this IN large, judicial, air; but with a
hnal CHEEKY, Grab duck, good WILL go wild
We! To which would send back, The same to
You, seven times Over!'-my mountain barris-
tiers. II there was party of them, whispering
he'll do? Sure he's born, not buriedr' or.
Faith, there's a thatch off his roof poor Great
ur went on their wondering way
And whenever these little incidents of the
road occur, and they happen scores of times
each day as / go forward at a auickened pace TO
make up what has not been altogether lost time,
can see with half an eye these commiserating
doubling, sympathetic, incredulous but for
ever patiently kind hearted men of the Donegal
mountains, hating in little groups; watching
me as tramp along; while their rare and wise
Leaders with brains like rock-water," rehearse
the interview to fix the importance and the
manner of it all in their minds; implant a les
son IN roadside good manners; and impress,
with much perstiage and many qualifications
all the possibilities of the momentous occasion.
Bless them for the arrant natures preachers
and poets that they are! know every word
that the glib tongues are saying, and shall here
set it down:
There's a thatch off his root. the poor creatur',
But twas not in me breedin' natur'
10 pass without top o. the morn
BY me sowl he might be a bould major:
Or. far worse, the divis own 9auger+
But TO pass him in silence, I'd scorn
There's a thatch off his roof the poor creatur,I
Likes he was early mis-rated by natur'-
Mind him slatheriD' down the boreenst
But, whist! ye can't tell what his state is
For sometimes the heartsOmest pra les
Get mixed wild the dirty poreens.'t
EDGAR l.. WAKEMAN
rGauRer: an excise officer
Bo Gems; mountain paths, roads.
+fOreens; unmarketable potatoes.