Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-04-18
ON THE RIVER SHANNON.
AN OLD IRISH TOWN WHERE THE
WOMEN ARE BEAUTIFUL.

The Legend of st. Mary's BELLS, Whose
Little Scene at the Station Popularity
of English Novels.
After Silbbereen and many of tho West
Cork towns it is delightful, indeed, to find
ones self in pleasant Limerick To the lover
or the anc ent 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 freemen of the city
lived, and lid all its business in dignified Sc
clusion, apart from the more ''Irishry," their
neighbors, who, being neither Protestant nor
loyal" we're religiously kept from all
chances of money making in the unprosper-
GUS Irish town. Here all the wholesome
bounds ano 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 boJh sections are alike decayed
Fashion and business have forsaken them
for Newtor-Pery, modern addition to the
city, built within the last ninety years 1t
would be hard to find anywhere finer street
than its principal thoroughfare, Georges
street. Elk ed out by Patrick street and the
Crescent, il 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-
tion.
THE SWEET GINNING BELLS
Wellesley bridge and Thomond bridge
across the Shannon are noble structures
well worthy of 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
teresting 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 Sleir tone, had
love approa ching worship for them. Being
in need of money he was obliged to sell them
| TO convent, which in troubled time was
| sacked and It's inmates and belongings scat
| tered. In his old age the maker of the BELLS
| broken III fortune and health, and only longing
| once more to hear the beloved bells for which
he had long and fruitlessly sought, found him
! self on the broad bosom of the Shannon in
the vessel that had conveyed him from the
| south. 1t evening; Limerick's towers
rose before him in the sunset light, and the
| evening peace was on all things Suddenly
| from St Mary's belfry the evening chimes
| rang out, chimes that made his heart leap to
hear-they we're 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 a
| look of unutterable happiness on his face
| deadl
| At little station outside Limerick young
| lady got into our compartment. An affec-
| tionate party of friends were there to see her
| off. and while we remained beside the plat
| form she and they were consumed with grief.
| One old lady interrupted her sobs every once
in while to remind the traveller of various
articles in the shawl strap and lunch basket,
| which would be essential to her comfort dur
ing her journey-the shepherds plaid shawl,
the thick veil, the sandwiches and the sherry
fask-but the girl sobbed on behind her
handkerchief as if meat and drink would
evermore bo odious to her. The young man
| staring ruefIIlly at her with his heart in his
| eyes, as they say here, was, | think, COM
forted by this last, and l was rather glad
when, ali the good-bys being over and the
| train well cut 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 w to Dublin.
| HASTE TO THE WEDDING