Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-09-13

of English Novels.
After Skbbereen and many Of the West
Cork towns it is delightful, indeed, to find
ones self In pleasant Limerick. To the lover
Of the ancient and the modern the city offers
equal attractions. In the English town,
which is the Oldest portion, the narrow
streets are as quaint as any one could meet
IN Normandy. At one time this was the
choicest residence quarter, and here, defend
ed by high walls, the freenen Of the city
lived, and did all its business in digniied Sc
clusion, apartfron the mora ''lrlshry, " their
neighbors, who, being neither Protestant nor
loyal" were relgiously kept from all
chances of money making IN the unprosper-
Gus Irish town. Here all the wholesome
bounds and restrictions which hedged in the
Celtic inhabitants were devised, and from
here at the outbreak of the American war
three volunteer corps started to aid King
Georges army.
Now both sections are alike decayed.
Fashion and business have forsaken them
for Newton-Pery, modern addition to the
city, built within the last ninety years. It
would be hard to find anywhere finer street
than its principal thoroughfare, Georges
street Fixed ont by Patrick street and the
Crescent it extends for about mile one long
line Of handsome buildings and well stocked,
attractive shops. The women of Limerick
are famous for their beauty. and in the
crowded street we saw many in the rustic
garb, as well as in fashionable attire, who
bore testimony TO the truth of that reputa-
ton.
TIE SWEET CHB1yG BELLS.
Wellesley bridge and ThomOnd bridge
.cross the Shannon are noble structures,
we'll worthyof the river they span, and be-
sides these four other bridges connect various
portions of the city divided by the Abbey
stream. King Johns castle, St Mary'S
church and the treaty stone are the princi-
pal historical lions of Limerick, and very in
terestiRg they all are.
OF ST. Mary's bells the lovely old legend is
told that their maker, an italian, because Of
the surprising sweetness Of their tone, had a
love approaching worship for them. Being
il need Of money lie was obliged to sell them
10 q convent, which in a troubled time was
sacked and its inmates and belongings scat
tered In LIS old age the maker of the bells,
broken in fortune and health, and only longing
once more to hear the beloved bells for which
lcEad long and fruiulessly sought, found him
self on the broad bosom Of the Shannon in
the vessel that had conveyed him from the
south. 1t was evening; Limerick's towers
rose before him in the sunset light, and the
evening peace was on ell things Suddenly
from St Mary's belfry the evening chimes
rang out, chimes that made his heart leap to
Eear-thcy were his long sought darling bells!
Up the broad stream went the boat, the
chimes still playing with tender music, the
old man lying back with folded hands and
look Of unutterable happiness on his face
dead!
At a little station outside Limerick young
lady got into our compartment An a1fec-
Tomato party Of friends were there TO see her
OF. and whila we remained beside the plat
form she and they were consumed with grief.
One old lady interrupted her sobs every once
IN a while to remind the Traveller Of various
articles il the shawl strap and lunch basket,
which would be essential 10 her comfort dur
ing her iourney-the shepherds plaid shawl,
the thick veil, the sandwiches and the sherry
1ask-hut the girl sob6ed on behind her
handkerchief as If meat and drink would
evermore be odious TO her. The young man
staring ruefully 1T her with his heart in his
ewes. as they say here, was, l think, com
forted by this last, and l was rather glad
when, all the good-bys being over and the
train well out Of the station, he was not
there to see how promptly she flung grief to
the winds and settled herself comfortably for
the Journey with a novel OF Ouida for be-
guilement up to Dublin.
HASTE TO TIE WEDDING.
The sun was shining ever n smiling country,
already well awakened out of its winter sleep.
On the wayside banks the glory Of the furze
bloom was ike another sunshine, the brown
O. the plOwed ialds was IN rich contrast with
the deep green headlands, and here and there
In the holloyys there was the delicious fairy
gold Of tender primroses and the glow Of dog
violetS. More than once We caught sight Of
q CAV procession Of iwe6dinCersn dashin1 in
the long procession OF the hauling home" up
to the village church, where a curious crowd
awaited them.
In the perfect spring day the sight of the
goyly dressed merry makers headed by q
tuneful piper, playing Haste to the We'd
ding in his liyeliest style, was charminCly
idylIic, and one willingly forgot for the time
that after the wedding bells and the music
IL would be the same old round of scraping
and delving and warning against overwhelnl-
ing odds for those for whom the piper played
50 cheeriiy.
il had not escaped me up ITO this that in the
book shops and at the railway stalls the fic-
fional literature offered is almost entirely
English. O,-ida, Wilkie Collins, George Mere
Cith. Miss Braddon, john Strange Winter,
Rh0da Brouzhton. within substantial Eng
lish dress. Tolstoi and Zola himself are the
guides, philosophers and friends Of the Irish
novel reading public Just now. Women
everywhere are the chief novel readers, and
rememberin--how much NJ the morality Of a
rsce depends on the mothers the array Of
names Just given cannot .al 70 strike al OBJ
server rather painfully.
But what are we % DOR queTied my COM
panion, 10 whom / said something like this:
There Is no Irish auJhCrs, male or female,
writing novels now. and the old writers,
Bsnim, Lever Carleton and Lover, besides
being vulgar, were not true"
But, Griffin, l said, hotIy. eager TO de-
fend him whose beautiful story AID songs are
OF the very essence CT the land that lost him
all too soon.
''Oh, Griifin,' she cried. ''but who wants
20 read q whole lot Of old fashioned brogue
and things when there are lovely modern
novels. perfect In English, 10 be had in
pleutyH
And 50 we left our young friend, with her
Folle Parine and her flask OF strong sherry
IS refreshments, fer her SIX hours journey
1dlerick Letter in Cbica-o Times.
or 80 CD
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