Morning journal and courier., 1889-05-11

Love and Content as Occasionally
 Found in the Abode of an Irish Fish-
 erman-Scarcity of the Irish Lasses-
 Surprising Extent Of the Coast Fish
 cries.
 VALENTIA l., Ireland, April 29. To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
 An Irish fsherman's home is hardly pal- ace; but occasionally one holds love and con- tent; and the one to which my new found, shaggy friend, with whom I had tramped from Killarney, led me with rapid strides of home nearing, was one of that sort. Most of the habitations of the fishing village were wretched novels indeed. This one was not only clean, but frem corrag thatch disclosed the touch of loving hands. As we neared it could see that white founced curtains showed behind the tiny panes of cabin and loft; solae pretty vines were trained about the windows themselves; and the little curl of smoke above the thatch which told of the humble hearth side within, escaped through sturdy chimney instead of the usual hole in the roof. As the big fellow bounded into enjoying the fine coast scenery; and this seemed wise, for the joyous riot within fairly signifed that for the time being there was littls room for a stranger. But this shortly subsided, as the giant reappeared at the door tossing his tiny, barefooted wife in the air as though she were & baby; while brood of little ones, the youngest as big as the little mother, danced wildly about them; and I was directly installed as 8 guest with great honor, greater garrulousness and ringing cead mille failte. And what merry hustle and hustle were there about that home well coming meall Blocks of the finest turf were put upon the en1bers; and the little ones took perspiring turns at the dingy, wheezy bellows. Ashes and flame roared up that great chimney as never before. Schowders (oaten- cakes) were set on edge for a fresh toasting. In jiffy the "white horses were gallopin'" above the "praties" in the pot; the "tay was wetted by the fre;' and every body was falling over everybody else in ex- cess of loving effort.
 twill it be three aigs the daya" the little wife blushingly asked her barly husband. "Three aigs, is iti" roared the giant fisher man, taking his wife's little head in his two huge hands, so big there was no place left on her glowing face to kiss. f'Three aigs?' | Phat's three aigs to empty craythurs like ourselves, suillish machreea Sure imp.y sacks can't stand. Its rubbing grase to a fat pig to say it, but yez might drink wid the I stranger in coal-hole wid ger eyes to the | slack. Make it sex-an'-an' a slewsther l (kiss of fordness) villish (my sweetD An @ two-eyed bsefsteak Ca herrine) for the sich av us; an a fine miscaun (cone of butter) from Misthress O'Neips by the crag: an 8 | gswlioge Large measure) O milk; an the | heartsomest fayst in Kerry entirely, wid banaght Dhea orrin, ershi misha! (with Gods blessing on us, say I'D
 l It was all that in the pleasant cabin; and | then came the problem of my own housing for the week I should remain among the fishermen of the region. The cabin, like all l it's class, had but one room below and a little loft above. There was no room for me in these. But in a little shed at the end, dry l and clean, where all the sea and fishing gear 1 was stored, we soon had 8 fine cot made on a ! well-folded seine; and though clearly de- fined aroma of fish, tar and oakum pervaded 1 the place, one little window showed some l sweet, fern-covered cliffs behind and anoth- CT gave a superb view of Valentia Island, the ! sublime promontorv of Bray Head and of the mighty sea beyond, only 8 churlish traveller could have found else than graduation in the sunny and winsome spot
 
 folk fully. There was not chair within the cabin. Two stone "straugers' seats," one at l either side of the chimney, and 8 few rude stools answered in good stead 4 bunk against the wall was the bed of the fisherman | and his wife. The bouchaleens and girshas slept upon the floor of the loft. Their only mirrors were each others eyes. One table of heavy deal stood beneath the window. One cupboard, made by little recess in the wall, and another of ancient Irish oak, easily held all the households scant though prized | belongings. One or two case knives, several fish knives used in cleaning fish and in all seafaring work. two or three earthen bowls, pewter mug for the rare treat of sugar, one modern tin pan, huge pewter basin and two or three saucers, comprised all the ware for the table the fisher family pos 1 sessed. Besides these there were 8 few of those rare old Irish methers, or square drink ing cups, carved out of solid wood. These are precisely the same as those used in Erin
 twenty centuries ago. strong bot or tub had its place beneath the table. A schrahag I or flat osier basket with narrow eides always held the boiled potatoes at the meal. And
 the cooking utensils were the same, and as few as were used by the peasantry since there were such in Ireland. There was the great iron pot for the stirabout. the potatoes
 and for boiling cabbage leaves and other del- icacies for the pig; the iron kettle, in which
 an egg might be boiled or the .'tay was wet
 
 dle in which black bread, the schowders and
 all extraordinary goodies were baked, either
 hanging from the crane above the fire or set
 at an angle against it and turned as necessity
 required. The schowder, being next to po-
 tatoes the great staff of life, deserves men,
 meal seasoned with salt, and on extraordina- ! ry occasions with drippings from fried pork.
 It is the equivalent of the 'sbannock" of
 Scotland and the north of Ireland, and is
 ever a splendidly healthful and toothsome article of food. Strictly speaking the schowder is only such when, as the oaten cake baked on the great hanging griddle, it is additionally toasted or roasted on the muddha arran before the greeshaugh or em
 bers. This muddha arran is the only other
 utensil of the fireplace of these fishermen o1 the peasantry at large. It is an iron forked sticked with three legs, on which the schow. der, all fish, and any bit of meat good luck I may send, are toasted or broiled; and it is one of the most ancient cooking utensils re-
 maining in Ireland.
 of the many fishing villages of the southwest Irish coast. Perhaps one, two or three
 homes in each will be found as tidy and
 comfortable as that of my fisher friend
 But all the rest are sad lot indeed. There
 is hardly we'll thatched house among them
 little pools, in which the ducks chatter theil
 bills for crumbs, and the pigs cool thei ) hams or deposit their shouts at will The , latter invariably have the best part of ths
 cabin; the chickens appropriate the loft; ant
 the cat, that prized protector against thei rocious rats, is undisturbed in it's possession , of the only warm corner at the hob; nett and general fishing equipments sway lik
 dirty pendulums from rafters and pegs; ant . the seines, oars and more important gear O l the boats are secured in the only dry spot which the habitations can furnish.
 If this be dreary picture of the interior of Irish fishing village huts the scenes with } out are drearier and more hopeless still , Half naked children sprawl and brawl in ths