The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1889-12-28
BEAUTIFUL KILLARNEY,
The franciscan Cathedral One Of the
Finest Specimens Of Celestial
Architecture.

Architecture.
ECHOS FROM THE EAGLES NEST.
Miss Rosa Mulholland's Romantic and
Graphic Description Of the Grand
Old Town.
! The tourist season has brought the
usual number of visitors to Ireland and
when the train from Dublin carries the
traveller to the terminus among the
trees, right opposite one Of the best
hotels in Killarney, he finds the broad
steps covered with figures in travelling
coats and capes, ladies with curi'us
little cloth caDs, on their heads. men IN
deer-otalking Costume, few children
half dazed with fatigue and half excited
with their first experience Of travel. 1t
is evening, and cars and wagonettes
wheel into the gIaveled space in front
of the hotel aud its gardens laden with
hungry excursionists, who have spent
the day in gloom and shine between the
hill or ON the lakes, filling their minds
with pictures not easily effaced, and
their ears with never-to-be forgotten
echoes. Yonder lies the fairy land
from 'Dina's green isle to Hena's
wooded shore.' and from the Gap OF
Dunlo to lnnisfallen, which begulles
plodding feet out of the common road
of life aud holds them spell-bound Tor
q while by wcod-paths and water.way
full of an 1ndescribabIe and irresistible
enchantment. The clear chimes Of, the
Anselus drop lightly down from a
neighboring Delfry and presently a
ringing and martial bugle Call pierces
the upper air. All sights aha sounds,
even the luxurious arrangements OF the
crowded hotel, would persuade one of
foreign surroundings, and the mere
Irish person could scarcely believe him
self in Ireland only for the homely fra
GRANGE of the burning turf which hangs
in the moist atmosphere aud leads him
to peer among the trees for ruder roofs
and gable than meehthe eyes ID con-
tinental hill country.
The town is first at hand, and walk
through its streets soon convince us Of
the fact tba. we are nowhere but in the
very heart OF Erin's Isle. A young
woman comes smiling down the SIRE t
leading a donkey by the head. The
donkey draws small cart, and in the
cart are various stores and provisions
bound for the plenishlng Of some llttle
br0wn-thatched home in the stream
watered green country over Wonder
among the violets Of the hills. TIE
mists and shades Of evening gather
about the turf smoke, and light sprlngs
up in the Franciscan church, which is
but three minutes walk from the
hotel. Here are faith, and PRAYER and
peace; God at home in His own house,
with Ills children round His knees. As
one sees the broWn-rObed figure Of the
Franciscan, in cord and Sandals and
shaved crown, pass down the church to
minister to the wants of the poor, one
remembers gratetully the centuries-old
devotion Of this most blessed oruer to
the suffering Irish In their darkest and
dismalest need. As st. Francis
preached to the birds, so do these his
followers care for Uhe lowliest and
simplest and most helpless Of Gods
creatures who come across their path.
In the morning, early, YOU lind them at
work again, leading poor souls. and if
you are eager to be a poor soul Tor God 3
sake you will meet with no better sane
tuary on your way than this; a sanctu-
AIRY in which to cdlch little Of the light
and fire that descend on an Irish altar
with the morning sunshine IL your
heart should be carrying with it by mail
and rail care of sorrow heavier than
the baggage in the van of the train or
we'll of the car, you can unload and ease
it here as we'll as anywhere this side OF
heaven. Have you anxious prayers to
offer. or blessings to dispatch for the
death or the living, near or far, nowhere
will you feel more secure Of answering
mercy and awift and willing messengers,
If, however. YOU are only curious
traveller. from beyond seas in search of.
splendid old world churches, you will
not find much to stare at in the church
OF the FrancIscans at Killarney. The
Cathedral. at another end Of the town,
is u finer specimen Of the best celestial
architecture we possess. It is Gothic;
the interior, noble aud simple. though
cold and undec0rared. Some will think
the exterior massive and heavy, as the
unpierced rock Of natures providing,
the doors SO low and small as almost to a
Tepel one from entering, suggesting the
effort Of creeping into subterranean re-
gions, or Fithin the recesses OF q mau-
soleum. These are, perhaps, uncalled |
for criticisms; and certainly KiIlarneyl
b,s,u 2, ~ 80 10 Ne Is