Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-10-10

and loyalty to the crown and constitution
are thoroughly assured
Young Parnell at this time was not re-
publican in his ideas. he was not even a
home-ruler. He had previously served for
couple of years as an officer in Her
Majesty's militia, and he was. in fact.
looked upon by the people as typical
aristocrat. The first man who saw what
genius for leadership, and what an in
herent love of liberty dwelt beneath the
smooth exterior of the young aristocrat was
an old silver-haired priest who was the
Catholic pastor of Rathdrum many years
ago.
Father Galvin's noble and venerable
presence and many good and charitable
acts among the tenantry of the Ayondale
estate attracted young Parnell's attention
and finally won his esteem and admiration.
Once admitted to the confidence and re-
spect of the young man the rest was easy.
The good old priest combined a great and
unaffected piety with strong and tena-
cious
LOVE OF HIS NATIVE LAND.
So the priest talked of his people and
he spoke of their wrongs and their claims
for justice, and before long young Par1 ell
was as much of an Irish Nationalist as his
prototype, Lord Edward Fitzgerald was
hundred years ago. The good old priest
has long since gone to rest beneath the
shadow of the beautiful church that he
himself had erected, and outside of
those acquainted with the fact from per-
sonaI knowledge none are aware of what
debt the Irish people owe the old ''Sog-
garth Arvan.n But one of the dearest
memories that the Irish leader preserves
to-day are the hours he spent many years
ago now with Father Calvin. In 1873 an
election was held in Wicklow, and Father
Calvin urged Mr. Parnell to become a can
didate. The latter at that time was
very modest young man and refused to do
so, and Father Calvin became the political
sponsor of John Parnell the Irish leader
brother, who Is now proprietor of large
orchards and fruit gardens in a southern
state. John Parnell ran on the home rule
ticket In conjunction with VIM. J. 0 Byrne,
popularity known as 1.-The OByrne.
There was but one Conservative In the
field, and, unfortunately, a third Home
Ruler became a candidate at the last mo-
ment, a Mr.. Archer, of Newtown, Mount
Kennedy. But for this fact, perhaps,
John, instead of Charles Stewart Parnell
might have been the
LEADER OF THE PEOPLE
to-day. Archer's candidacy brought
O'Byrne and Fitzwilliam Hume Dick. the
conservative was elected.
A couple of years afterward Father Gal
vim induced Mr.. Parnell to make the race
for Dublin county, but he was again de-
feated, Dublin then being hot-bed of
Conservatives, but a short time afterward
young Parnell was triumphantly returned
for Meath and poor Father Calvin died
happy.
The spot where the old priest rests and
the spire that shadows it can be seen
almost from the entrance to the Parnell
grounds.
The interior of the Irish leaders resi-
dence is in keeping with the exterior, and
has gone sadly to decay. A ring at the
door-bell brings an answer from a veneer
able lady who has filed the responsible
position of housekeeper since the days
when Mr.. Parnell was In long clothes.
Mrs Gaffney, who, by the way, is the
mother of the famous cricketer, is very
proud of Master Charley" as she still
calls him, but she doubtless often won
ders to herself what in the world has come
over him to make him neglect the old place
so. The glOries Of the house, however, are
still but slightly diminished by the rest of
the dust and decay of a decade. The dust
and cobwebs do not yet completely hide the
beauties of the hall decorations or take
away from the grandeur of the proportions
of the apartment itself An ancient bill
lard table occupies the center of the hall.
while snow-shoes, Indian spears and toma-
hawks. bear-sl1ins and other trophies of the
power In the field and chase of Parnell' S
maternal ancestors grace the walls The
picture gallery contains many beautiful
works of art but the dining-room, once a
triumph of art in its way from ceiling to
floor, is given over to the spiders and dust.
In the drawing-room there is mantel-
piece which is considered a unique speci-
men of art, the secret of which has
DIED WITH THE MAKER.
The library is filled with framed and
embossed addresses and testimonials from
national league branches, corporate bod
les, athletic clubs and thousand and one
organizations of diferant kinds, while
volumes of Hansaro and other parliament
airy reports fill the tables, chairs and loung-
es, and overflow upon the floor Such is
the home of Parnell A broad, graveIed
drive winds among some grand old trees,
and energies upon the high road leading
tie Orklow and Rothdrum From the en-
trance fine view is that of Aughavanna
and CaITawaystick Mountains, where Par
nell and several members of their party
spend many weeks each fall shooting
grouse. This is the only sport to which
Mr.. Parnell still clings, except it might be
an occasional ride after fox hounds or
barriers. Every year ParnelI invites
Davitt, T. P. O'Connor, John Dillon and
one or two others of the most trusted of
his ieutenants t. Avondale House, and at
these times within these white and time
honored walls the schemes that have won
the support and admiration of the world
and baffied all the malice and ingenuity of
Tory and landlord are devised and per-
fected. &C.