The Irish standard., 1889-10-26

leeturing them upon the fiscal dutie
they have to perform. The office i
never filled by one Of the mere people
none but the mobility" daring to as
pire to such high preferment. Youn;
Parnell at this time was not repabllcal
in his ideas, he was not even a home
ruler. He had previously served for
couple of years as an officer in He
| hiajesty's militia and he was, in fact
looked upon by the people as a typica
aristocrat. The first man who saw
what genius for leadership, and wha
an Inherent love Of liberty dwelt be
meath the smooth exterior OF the yount
aristocrat was an old silver haired prizes
who was the Catholic pastor Of Rath
drum many years ago. Father Calvin.
noble and venerable presence and many
good and charitable acts among the
tenantry Of the Avondale estate attract
ed yonng Parnell's attention and finally
! won his esteem aud admiration. Once
admitted to the confidence and respect
Of the yOnng man the rest was easy
The good old priest combined a greaI
and unaffected piety with a. strong and
tenacious love Of his native land. Sc
the priest talked Of his people and he
spoke Of their wrongs and their claims
for justice, and before long young Far
nell was as much OF an Irish National
ist as his prototype, Lord Edward Fitz-
gerald, was hundred years ago, The
good cid priest has long since gone to
rest beneath the shadow of the beauti-
full church that he himself had erected,
and outside OF those acquainted with
the fact from personal knowledge none
are aware Of what debt the Irish
people owe the old ''Soggarth Aroon. y
hut one of the dearest memories that
the Irish leader preserves to-day are
the hours he spent many years ago with
Father Calvin. In 1878 an election was
held in Wicklow, and Father Calvin
urged Mr.. Parnell to become a candi-
date. The latter at that time was "A
very modest young man and refused to
do so, and Father Calvin became the
politlcal sponsor Of John Parnelt, the
Irish leaders, brother, who is now pro-
proprietor of large orchards and fruit
gardens in a southern state. John Par
nell ran on the home rule ticket in con
junction with WIN. J.. O'Byrne. popu-
larry known as ''The O'Byrne y There
was but one Conservative in the field
and. unfortunately, third Home Ruler
became candidate atthe last moment.
a MI. Archer, of Newton, Mount Kan:
nedy.. But for this fact, perhaps. John,
instead of Charles Stewart Parnell
might have been the leader of the
people to-day. Archer's candidacy
brought about the defeat Of John Par
nell. and O'Byrne and Fltzwilliam
Hume Dick, the Conservative, was
elected. A couple Of years afterward
Father Calvin induced Mr.. Parnell to
make the race for Dublin county, but
he was again defeated, Dublin then
being hot-bed of Conservatives, but a
short time afterward young PArnell
was triumphantly returned for Meath
anu poor Father CALVIN died happy.
The spot where the old priest rests and
the spire that shadows it can be seen
grounds. The interior OF the Irish
leaders, residence is in keeping with
the exterior, and has gone sadly to
decay. A ring at the door bell brings
an answer from venerable lady who
has filled the responsible position Of
housekeeper since the DAYS when MI,
Parnell was in long clothes. The pic
ture contains many beautiful works Of
art, but the dining room, once triumph
of art in its way from ceiling to floor,
is given over to the spiders and dust.
The library is filled with framed and
embossed addresses and testimonials
from national league branches, corpo-
rate bodies, athletic clubs and a thon
sand and one organizations OF different
kinds, white volumes Of HansarO and
other parliamentary reports fill the
tables, chairs and lounges, and overflow
upon the floor. Such is the home Of
Parnell. A broad, gravel drive winds
among some grand old trees, and
emergeS upon the high road leading to
Arkl0w and ROthdrum. From the en-
trance a fine view is that of Aughavan-
ma and CarraWaystick Mountains, where
Parnell and several members Of their
party spend many weeks each fall
shooting grouse. This is the only sport
to which Mr.. Parnell still clings, except
it might be an occasional ride after fox
hounds or harrlers. EveryYear Parneli
invites Dayltt, r- 2. O'Connor, John