The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1889-11-16

i
hand ii ! anJ country ovslr Is civilized
people than is ~ 81 law practised IS
the governnIent Of Ireland Therefore
is il that Ireland is ii. g constant state
81 siege, as though war had been pro-
claimed and was il actual existence with
al its fears and horrors But people
will get accustomed to any thing. Habit
| and familiarity beget contempt. The
Irish people are 50 long accustomed to
misrnle and harsh treatment that they
can afford to laugh at their misfortune,
and make merry over grievances that
would in other countries cause . rebel
lion. Vel, il may be Just as well. they
are utterly powerless to vindicate their
liberties or redress their grievances by
physical force or an appeal to arms,
which would be madness. All they can
do is to bide their time, and wait IN
patience the opportunity that must
come some day, and soon. Meanwhile,
what they cannot reach by force Of arms
| they very often kill BY r1dicule. They
| make use OF wit instead of weapons, and
| raise laugh where it would be worse
than useless to cry. Among other hui
Mutations and annoyances the people in
Ireland just now must put up with con
slant surveillance. No man can pass
from one town to another without under
going exact scrutiny at the hands of the
police. A constable is seen night and
day pacing up and down at every rail
| way station. He sometimes enters marks
aud hieroglyphles in his memorandum
book, and at times walks up TO stran-
ger to enquire if he may have any fire.
arms on his person The people have
been poking fun at the stalwart con-
stable, but it is dangerous to laugh IN
his face or whistle Harvey Duff in his
hearing. We're small boy to put his
hand to his nose tandem fashion and
look at the peeler the chances are he
would get two mnnths on plank bed,
with every second day spent in the black
| hole. The sentiment evoked by this
feature Of Balfouris1n has found voice
in popular ballad lately composed by
Mr.. r. D. Sullivan. We subioin it as
it appeared few weeks ago in the Dub
lin Nation
A mystery to me
Is. why certain things should be
Such as tsres in the wheat, and weeds among
the flowers,
Such as warts upon the nose,
| Such as corns upon the toes.
And owls and bats IN ivy mantled towers.
But deeper problem still.
That denes my utmost skill.
| Is to find out why a peeler. black and greeny,
In sunshine, wind or rain,
At the coming of each train.
Perambulates the station at Raheny. @
No busy human throng
Comes rushing there along,
There is nothing new or strange to be expected
No property is there
To be stored or watched with care.
There's nought to be prevented or detected.
On this puzzle as go Il
Down to Sutton, to and fro.
Oft ponder till I'm out of sorts and spleeny:
YET never can make out
Why that peeler hangs about
The tranquil little station of Raheny.
On this subject now and then
| / have talked with many men
Reputed to be minds of informaHon;
But their usual reply
Is they know not more than /.
So / still have got to find an explanation.
5 With this view I've made a call,
On Tim Murray aud Jack Hall.
! have also asked Tnephilus McSweeny,
But none knows what the duce
Is the purpose, need or use,
o. the.peeler at the station at Raheny.