The Columbus journal., 1889-08-21

ant churchss thscs vas dlov, bat every
year showed some progress, mostly
among Presbyteeians and NsEhodists.
Thst The Oatholics wsee exclusive, but
that thsre was NO oonflist, and that in
such matters - Temperance and b.
nsvolsnce, thsy oltsn worried together.
An instance oe this I had found in the
morning. Ras.ing along oae Of tho main
streets, I ssw sign, Total Abstinance
Soc" Strangers Welcome" I found
my way through dark hall, up nar1row
winding stains, into . largo room with
plain benches, two or three tables with
. few games, iilss q papers. and small
library Of well-woEn booka Half doz-
en- men and boys were reading. I was
exceedingly interested in the account OF
the Temperance work BY plainly dress
ed intelligent man who seemed to have
charge Of tho room. Said it was strictly
nonsectarian, while ono Of the priests ut
the large cathedral, was the leading
spirit; other priests and both tho Meth
odist and Presbyterian ministers, took
regular and sctive part in the work. 80
You see those out in the world como in
same as any," he said. I was surprised
at the Protestant element in south and
central Ireland. This Methodist man
had seven charges in and about Killar-
ney, with Sunday schools connected
With each. I believe, instead OF the
Protestant interests being endangered
when homo rule comes, that they will be
improved by it. From Killarney went
through this central portion Of tho island
to Dublin. Much Of the way the coun-
try is richer than any I had seen. The
most striking feature was the grass
lands. I began to understand Why
Ireland 10 called the =" Emerald Isle."
The rich green Of it's pastures and mead
ows is magnificent. We have nothing,
even in our rich grass lands, to compare
with it. The luxuriance and beauty are
due especially to the very moist climate.
The grain was being harvested as I
have described. There are no barns
scarcely in Ireland. Both hay and grain
are stacked, usually in large riclzs which
are always carefully thatched with
straw. The holdings, or farms. was
told, average from forty to eighty acres.
The fields are larger than in the south.
Oats is prominent crop. When I was
there tho price was from I'd to Sd per
stone, (about thirty-two cents bushell
For potatoes they were getting 3s for
ten stone, notwithstanding high rents,
small fields and laborious way Of work
ing, prices are about the same, (about
thirty-two cents q bushell
There are occasionally a few of the
little black Kerry cattle, but most are
well-bred Shorthorns, and uniformly
good and in fine condition. On getting
into Limerick and Kings counties I be-
gan to see good farm horses.
The hay and grain are all moved on
heavy two wheeled carts, often heavy
loads with two, three and sometimes
four big horses in single line. The
largest horses I ever saw, without ex-
ception, were some Of the dray horses in
Dublin.
found the farm houses in this por-
ton OF Ireland more comfortable, but
most of the farm laborers live in little
villages of stone and mud houses, which
looked bare and dreary.
Leaving Killarney I CHANGED to be
seated by an intelligent business man
who gave me valuable information. He
said most Of the country people lived
very poorly. Had to, on potatoes mostly.
Some fish, occasionally bacon. II pota-
toes failed, ON maize. Said the rental of
Earl Kenmar's estate formerly amount
ed to over $4,000 ($450OOOl much less
now. A little incident impressed me
With the extent Of those Irish landlords'
estates, more than any figures had done.
After riding about an hour, stopping at
several towns and villages, the gentle
man called my attention to q straight
line Of stone fence running back as far
as We could see. That, said he, is the
northern boundary Of Sir Hereford's
land. On looking at my map I found
We had come twenty miles since We
entered upon the Hereford estate. The
idea Of one man having the absolute con-
troll Of all. the thickly- settled country
including towns and villages through
which We had been passing all the morn
ing, came home to me with tremendous
force.
I can but touch upon my journey on
to the north OF Ireland. Dublin, the
former capital and now the chief city,
has 100000 population, is very old. Dub
lin castle, the residence OF the Lord
Lieutenant, dates back to the twelfth
century. The noted Phoenix Park, in
ancient times belonged to the Knights
Templar. It il very large and fine.
The city is we'll built. Business exceed
ingly dull. The political troubles SEEM
ed to occupy the minds of all classes.
I shall never forget the scenes about
the bulletin boards, where the morning
papers were posted in such q manner
that all the news could be read by those
standing around, too poor to buy copy.
I often stopped to watch them a. they
read Of Irish evictions, imprisonments,
ETC., some with tears in their eyes, some
anger and vengeance spealinp from their