San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-10-16


seen traveller throw handful OF
small coin among q crowd of children
and in the fight that ensued many
were badly scratched and bruised.
We stopped at q potheen house by
the way. The driver also stopped. I
took a cigar, Briggs and the driver
took train for Cork where we stopped
for lunch and also took observations
from a jaunting-car. We then left
for Killarney via Limerick Junction.
We unfortunately went so miles out
OF our way, but finally got TO Depot
hotel, Killarney, at 10 p. m. We were
out early following morning and en-
gagged q car for the lakes. We were
again assailed by innumersble beg
gars and finally arrived at the Gap of
Dunloe. DoDkeys were on hand, but
Briggs insisted on walking five miles
over the mountains. The first part
of the walk was very pleasant, but
my friend remarked as we reached
the top that he regretted having so
much flesh. After mis- wind had re-
turned to him, we started to
descend, which was very steep. Sud-
denly from behind q huge boulder
jumped three bright Irish maidens,
each armed with bottle Of potheen
and another of goats milk. They as
sailed US with broadside of induce
ments to purchase. L was not in
humor for potheen and there was
something uncongenial about goats
milk, so | told them L belonged to the
temperance society, and the doctor
told me on leaving America whatever
/ did I must not drink the milk of
goats. Ipointed at my friend who
was few steps in advance and as
sured them by mods and smiles that
he was fond of potheen. They seemed
to gather in the hint and tine leader
started in by remarking: "Ah, but
there's foine fat gintleman that'll
niver get down tina soide of tina noun
tain wldout a drap Of tina crayter and
q sup o. tina goats milk, shure an he'd
De foolish altogether wild such soize
av him to attimpt It," Briggs laughed
aud finally compromised on the pure
potheen, we learned later, the cheap
est of potato spirits, and 1 real
ly thought he would never
reach the bottom. When We
did he was q sight and
completely exhausted, as when
seated in the boats we went the en-
tire length of these magnificent
lakes, enjoying their unparalleled
romantic charms, poor Briggs re-
manned fast asleep. We had great
difficulty in arousing him at the end
of the journey and he slept all the
way to the hotel in the stage. l over
heard him the TO lowing morning
giving his impressions OF the lakes to
an admitting audience in tho smoking
room, he seemed thoroughly en-
Unused.
We of course visited and kissed the
Blarney stone and Briggs said his
neck was worth considerable and he
would not risk 1t that way again. On
our way to the carriages we visited
Roco Castle and were beset on emerg-
ing by new lot of barefooted girls
with the potheen and goats milk, as I
emerged first / told them that my
father would be down directly and
that he was liberal gentleman.
Briggs soon showed up and smiled,
they took this as a favorable indica-
ton and held up the potheen bottles,
a knowing look came into Briggs eye,
he fatty refused. they lavished
blarne y by the yard, but Briggs
was firm on the question, but
not quite steady from the last invest
ment. AT last he broke and ran and
expressed himself as relieved that he
had escaped. We arrived in Dublin
July II, and after toilet and refresh
ment started to see Dublin theatre.
This was q strange experience. A fat
man came out and commenced to sing
an Irish ballad. Finally the crowd
began to hum with him and ended by
joining heartily in the chorus, 1 after
wards understood that his salary de-
pended on his ability to enthuse his
audience sufficiently to induce them
to join in with his songs, and
1 was informed that where a
singer cannot arouse sufficient en-
thusiasm, for at least some help in
the chorus, the management look
sharply for ancient hen fruit. The
performance was fair but would
hardly have passed for an American
theatre. 1t seems an Irish character
istic that where they like you they
cannot do enough for you, and where
they don't they don't do even little.
We arrived in Belfast July goth
and one could see, and feel a differ
ence at once, the whole place seemed
astir with activity and business SEEM
ed the bent of the people. 1 should
say Belfast Is the most active and
progressive city In ireland by all
odds. But you never saw such
place for pipe smokers, the air is full
OF 1t and Judging from the aroma 1
should say the tobacco WAS not the
best. L WAS nearly smothered in q
crowd Of men and cloud of tobacco on
the steamship landing while wait
ing for the boat. think 1 never