Evening journal., 1888-09-26


America, succeeded in destroying the Irish
parliament the act from which Irish poll
tics took their color from 1900 to l84S.
Tho second Sir John Parnell was also q
patriot, and it was upon his motion in the
house Of commons that tho Pitt minis
try was thrown out on the accession of
William Nv. In 1871 he became q mem
Der Of the house Of lords as Baron
Conglcton, and soon after became vio-
lcntly insane and committed suicide His
unclo, an Episcopal minister, also died
insane. Tho brother of the second Sir
John Parneu was grandfather Of the
present noted leader, and was Of a melan-
choly temperament. In his son the same
peculiarity terminated in consumption.
His wife, mother of Charles Stewart Par-
noll, is an American woman, and seems to
have acquired the family tendency to
melancholy. On this, tho western con
tinent. consumption and gastric troubles
arc unhappily too common for any reader
to need an explanation Of thoir close con
nection with prolonged and hopeless mel
ancholy. -.
So much has Mr.. Parnell occupied pub
lie attention in the last dozen years that
1t is a surprise to learn that he is but 4S
years old, and that during the stirring
American era Of 1S60-65 he was winning
renown At Cambridge as pugilist rather
than as scholar. Probably because he
know his hereditary tendency he early be-
came q devotee OF active sports. and few
in the college cxcelled him. On one occa.
sion party Of students were out "on O
lark, and a buriy college beadleD at
tempted to capture them. Tho Others
fed. but Parneu put up his dukes, F" and
there WAS very pretty contest between
brute strength and boxing skill in which
tho "bcGdlo' was badly worsted Like a
truo Briton, he acquired high respect
Tor his young antagonist; the case was
not hardly pressed. and tho college au-
thorities imposed a heavy fine in place of
expulsion. s&n
Parnells ancestral home, Avondale, is
in tho lovelicst dale Of County Wicklow.
under the shadow of the far famed Wick
low mountains. All around are tho
heights whero the Irish insurgents of
IDS took their stand and for q time baf
ilod the British troops. There tho brave
Miles syrnc and his little band kent the
red coats at bay after all the rest Of Ire
land was crushed; and ia his youthful lie
among these scenes and study Of their
history Mr. Parncll absorbed his intense
enthusiasm for Irish liberty. Tho Par
nell mansion IS plain and modest, but sur
rounded by some of tho most romantic
sceaeg in ireland; and but few rods
from tho door flows the clear and ripping
Avon.
The main hall Of the mansion is a
museum Of Irish antiquities and memen-
toes, old flags, pixies. spears and other
curiosities. Among these and In many
other places In the house are some Of the
many illuminated addresses presented to
tho owner In Ireland and America. It is
a trile odd too, that he should be an
Irish landlord" but ho has a good es
tate, well stocked with blooded cattle.
and employs also about $50 men in his
quarries and other works. His personal
works are conducted with business enerev
and precision, and with his tenants he
puts in practice his most extreme land
reform doctrines. While at Avondale
and not engaged in experimenting his
works he lives IN almost complete retire
ment. For general society he has little
taste, but has few personal friends to
whom he is warmly attached and toward
whom he acts in the spirit Of the motto
inscribed ON the large flag in his hall. a
memento Of tho volunteer davs" of n
century ago; "Yelox ct accr et fidelis
Gmieis. meaning, Swift and sharp and
faithful to friends"