Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-09
PARNELl'S TRAITS.
His Mysterious Methods and Regal Manner
Toward Everybody.

a. W.
Mr.. Parnell has always been the mys-
terv man OF politics, and people now
think the mystery is cleared up. The
mystery was Mrs. O'Shea. When Mr..
Parneli was not in the House of Com
mons he was at Ethan in her society. or
at some one Of the many other places in
which this long intrigue was at different
times carried on. His absences were
often commented on never publicly
EXPLAINED. The discretion OF the Eng
lish press in such matters, even in these
DAYS of the new journalism, is often adj
rnirable. There have been many people
who knew what was going on. There
has been plenty of surmise and, as Mr..
Parnell's friends believe, scandal. Once
or twice, as we saw at the trial, some hint
or yelled statement has found its way
into print, generally into rather obscure
print. But of that publicity which in
America would have thrown an electric
light on the doings at Wonerish Lodge
there has been none.
Never, l suppose, did any man carry
secrecy and mystery so far. 1t was sup
posed at one time that Mr.. Parnell
cloaked his movements because he
dreaded assassination. That was more
particularly after the Ph9nix-Park muir
ders, when the relations between the Irish
leader and the Invincibles, as with the dy-
Mantle and other rather extreme wings
of the party, were strained. 1t Is difficult
to say whether danger really existed or
whether Mr.. Parnell believed it to exist.
What is certain is that long after it was
over tho mystery was still kept up. His
own party, his own followers-comrades
he had none-never knew where to find
him or how to reach him. During the
session he gave no address but the
House OF Commons, and often he was
not at the House for days, sometimes
not for weeks. A great pile OF unopen-
ed letters and kilograms would be wait
ing for him when he came. They were
never forwarded, because nobody knew
where to forward them. When he ar
rived he opened the kilograms and
sometimes the letters. Sometimes-not
always. He has been seen to put a
great packet of sealed letters into the
fire without looking at them.
He cared nothing for society, but OF
late years some of his new Liberal allies
or their wives have sought him, and
asked him to dine. II they knew his
ways, they sent their invitations by tele-
graph nor were they even then always
received. There was one case which will
serve as well rs many. A telegram was
sent inviting Mr.. Parnell to dine
mt a well-known house on a specified
day. A large party was to be given (;
perhaps Mr.. Gladstone was to have
been present. No answer came from
Mr.. Parnell. The day arrived and the
dinner took place without him. 1t was
on Wednesday. On the "Wednesday
following about noon his hostess re-
ceived telegram in which he excused
himself on the ground of absence for not
having answered earlier, adding that ne
would dine with her and her husband
that evening with pleasure. her bus-
band mean time had gone abroad ;she her
self was engaged to dine elsewhere. But
she was a woman OF resources and OF
flexible mind saw at once that he had
mistaken the date-an easy thing to do
with q telegram-threw over her engage
ment. sent off half dozen dispatches to
intimate friends who could be asked
without ceremony for the same evening,
and when Mr.. Parnell arrived he found
company assembled, though not a
large one, and went into dinner without
dreaming that he was a week late.
The difficulty for those who had bust
ness relations with him was not less.
His party never knew whether they
might count on him or not. What they
did know was that messages and entreat-
ties were thrown away on him. Ii g
great Irish debate were on Mr., Parnell
might or might not be present None
but himself was in his confidence. Num-
berless instances might DO cited, but
this is not a biography nor an obituary
notice or not yet. L will but remind
you of the conference he summoned re-
Gently at Dublin, summoned and then
did not give himself the trouble to at
tend. He thought it sufficient to send
his orders by telegraph and so it was.
They were followed to the letter. He
has never taken much pains to conceal
his contempt for his associates.
But the odd thing is that he had the
same regal manners towards others OF
far higher position. He was not careful
to keep On appointment, even though
the appointment was with Mr. Glad
stone and the subject Of conference one
vital to the policy no had at heart. Nay,
even his confidential advisers in the two
most important matters of business
be has ever had to transact were not
trusted with his address, or not for
long time. With them, as with his
political puppets, the same mystery pre-
vailed there WAS the same suggestion Of
some occult influence that was all-con-
trolling and all-powerful with MIR. Par
nell. TO hear that this influence was
Mrs. O'Sheas is shock to the whole
country even TO those, or to many Of
those, who were not bis friends.