Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-09-08


main, overwhelming and predominant subject OF
all thought and comment Is political After being
A"eek IN tue town, one does not readily under
stahd that there can be any greater subject on
eath taan home rule, and IL becomes as natural
10 iah INTO quiettaik about as IL does about the
weather. That Is why was not surprised to have
the waiter at the Hotel Imperial-where I was
stopping-iean over In a confidential way, one
hlght AZ dinner, and asked me / was engaged
mat evening. because, II you're not" he said,
with great air OF innocence a. he pretended to
arrange the glasses % the table, IT can guide y'u
=. place wnere y'u can see sm OF tn Dublin lads
=. wOrIuck- he was a handsome, ffesh-faced
ard suave young hishman and had found MIN
eAceptionally attentive and capable. He had
seemed 70 know what he was talking about during
MS many short conversations with me. Endowed
WIN al the ioquaeity OF the conventional IRISH
man. who converses with ease with anybody who
intrusive or familiar The poorer irish people are
REMARKABLY amiable and jolly In this respect.
MOONLIGHT DRILLING.
looked up at the man for a moment and smiled
at his air Of tremendous Importance and mystery.
That's all right" he SAID softly; "there's spies
here, as elsewhere, an TN not gettin' meself in
trouble, but heard y'u telling Mr.. Davitt tn other
night how anxious y'u were see moonlight
n n,evin, an thought II would pa In me way 70
It"
had made every possible effort TO get accurate
Information as TO the moonlight drilling Of the
Irish peasantry. out had failed Even the big po-
icsl leaders were unable 20 assist me In the mat,
Ter, 50 tnoroughIy shy are the downtrodden AM, and
and place OF their meetings. The police who are
scattered about the country and the vast army OF
In the act OF drilling. Their skill and clever
ness defies the utmost Efforts OF the con-
ssss Meetings occur at Irregular
dense woods, or deserted valley In the wilder por-
tons OF ireland. The members are men OF sturdy
physique and stout hearts. Month after month,
and With the utmost patience, they collect arms,
until they have enough 10 form small company
OF military, and then they meet az their lonely
Rendezvous, andOrsanlZe and drill by the light OF
the moon. whispered addresses are made, plans
OF action agreed TO- and IN the early hours of the
morning, the men steal on 70 their homes Occa-
uaily men are caught and tried for the heinous
crfne OF 'Inoon-nghung." and sentenced with the
oruth severity which distinguishes the British
r - VI Ireland, To long terms or Imprisonment.
PowERLEss POLICE.
Although all Ireland is a network OF police sta
lions and detective patrols the officers Of her
Diajesty'S government are powerless TO prevent
the regular performance OF the duties OF Irelands
moonlghters. had heard a great deal ABOUT the
the ronlanIicism and couras Q or the whole move
menL Though detection means brisk and heavy
punishment IL Is an unque5tionable fact that the
number or mOOnlighters increases constantly.
The Irish leaders have confessed that even they
are unable to break into the lce-bound oaths OF
the members OF the different drills, and that no
outsider could ever get lOOk at the secret prac-
tice Of the men within whose breasts patriotism
ana revenge DufQ WIN SuCn superb FORCE.
Irish waiter in the Imperial Hotel had evidently
learned OF my anxiety concerning these moon
light operations. hence his reference To the sub
1ect. He Won j asked him what was going on
that night, and he said:
well, it may strike y'u as nothin', and IL may
strike y'u as good deal don't propose 70 make
are TO meet tonight and one IS 10 distribute 70 tn
other two certain papers that would make tn
p ssoPs in Dublin Castle open their eye" like a
"An right, said, stake me along"
We'll, can't take you, SIR, |" he said. STILL
glancing about excitedly-"1n have you taken to
"a place and you can see how easy it is TO befool
the police Of Dublin I'll send for you" Pc added
al what timer"
AT exactly 1890. If your be stand,n' on the
corner o: 81 stevens Green and Sackville street,
somebody'n come up and deliver this piece Of pa
per To you. II II rts you go with the person that
gives it 10 you II It doesn't pay no attention to 1t
he leaned over, seized the menu card and
tore IL in jagged way into two pieces. One
OF these pieces he gave TO me, while he thrust the
other into his pocket. / finished my dinner went
over TO the Dublin club, where 1 became interested
there In the talk OF lot Of genial Irish gentlemen
they are, by the way, the most polished, BRILL
liant ard amusing men In the whole world-so that
fOfSot al about the rendezvous at st stevens
Green until half-past ten Then 1t was recalled TO
me by finding the broken menu in my pocket and
mounted a jaunting car and was Dowled over TO
the corner at the breakneck pace at which cabmen
always drive In Dublin
THE GUIDE.
Twas ten minutes behind time and came to the
conclusion that had lost a chance when a wo-
man Of about twenty-five years staggered up to
me and looked me over carefully. She was one OF
the numerous women OF the town who are seen
abroad In the streets OF the Irish capital after
dark, and she evidently came from the most ADAM
doned class II was In winter, and her face looked
thicxly. A black satin, fur-llned coat, which
showed portions OF what had once been an attrac-
tive Inquire hung on her shoulders She still had
the bg grey eyes that are the glorious heritage OF
many or the daughters OF Ireland, and her talk
fndi cafed that she came from one OF the Southern
counties though she had been In Dublin long
enough 10 attain more or less OF city accent She
had been imoibing heavily, and without putting
TOO me point on II, she was drunk
Are you the Americana" the asked, after half
drew back for moment, but she stumbled to-
ward me again, and, clutching my coat with one
"Try this!'
She held a piece OF cardboard in her hand I
saw, at glance that IL was the second half OF the
menu which the waiter had torn in two. took it.
showed IL INTO my pocket and asked her which
way we should go She said it was a long dis
lance. and asked me TO buy her a drink first. /
dumped some coin into her hand, and she went
through the swinging doors OF one OF the numerous
Irish city, while climbed up on one side of the
Jaunting car again. The driver talked 70 me after
the quiet ana CONFIDENTIAL manner SO prevalent in
woman ON the same car with me.
shes mystery" ne said shortly. an mystic
THROUGH THE sLUMa
She reeled out OF the swinging doors a few
moments later. and climbing up the other side OF
the cart with remarkable dexterisy, Topped over
on the driver and grasped his coat FIRMLY behind
Then she pulled over his head toward her and
whispered long series Of directions In mis- ear
-Are y'u goin' Z take this gintlemun there?D he
ASKED turning around, and giving me the benent
OF the question
certainly amr said the woman.
he looked at me inquiringy, and told him to
70 ahead For the next haIf hour we drove rap
Idly through the most degraded and outcast Dor.
toln OF the town The slums grew more and more
revolving as We proceeded until we tourneyed
through a long and crooked alley down oy the
shore Of the channel which eventually leads TO 4
blind alley enveloped In total darknesa III
smelling tenements surrounded us. Al the en-
trance of this alley the man stopped
GO on, Jaryey, there's q good soul
said the girl coaxingly. "Im too tired 10 take q
step The driver shook his head and afteI
some argument, the girl and / Jumped TO The
ground and started up the alley. The driver tin
toed alter ME short distance with final protest
and then washed his hands OF the whole affair and
drove away. The woman held me nrInly Dy the
arm as we made our way slowly through the slusb
and mud 10 the end OF the alley. Here, there was
small house, the door OF which was heavily
barred Ny guide did not knock but putting he,
lace 10 the corner OF the door, she cried, win 3
accent:
Julia! phat's up wild yer Open tn durevr
There vas creakiDg OF locks, and, a moment
later. was pushed through the door Dy my guide
and usnered into a small room In the rear OF the
house. The apartment was lighted by a Kerosene
lamp WHICH nlckered and famed dlsnally There
were Few broken chairs and table In the room
fntar corr xxa