Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1891-11-11
Troubles of an Impartial Man.

two and learn for myself whether the
specter of famine was oyer the land or
not, to write series of articles that
would be absolutely impartial. The
chances are that / have not succeeded
in completely obliterating my own
views ON the Irish question. Every
man has an opinion one way or the
other. 1t is difficult to write much
on such a contentious subject as the
Irish question and not in some line OF
sentence give an indication of the
writer's own feelings on the matter.
The first time l went to Ireland j
took with me one set of opinions and
brought back an entirely different set
This time the same set of opinions
came away with me that brought
over.
In America a man may be either a
Democrat or Republican and yet be
a reasonably respectable member Of
society. In England man may be
Liberal or a Conservative and still not
be outside the pale of civilization, but
in Ireland such a state of things is not
recognized. "He that is not with us
is against as" is the motto over there,
and the man who goes over to the
island hoping to be friendly with both
sides entirely misunderstands the in
tensity of feeling that exists there
politically. There are always two
sides to story everywhere else but
in Ireland. 1t is war there-war to
the knife and the knife to the hilt.
The first notion got of this state Of
things was in Falcarrah. l had a
great deal of trouble to get room in
which to sleep. One of my friends
causually asked me that evening where
| was staying and I told him. A look
of horror overspread his face.
"Good gracious !" he cried, "you
can't stay there!"
"Why not?" asked, "it seems very
comfortable under the circumstances"
"Bless me-" he cried, "that's a hot
bed Of. You are camping with the
enemy. That will never do"
"Well," l said, "there doesn't seem
to be room in the place, except this. "
"Oh, yes, there is" he answered.
II will fix that all right )" and say.
ing this he wrote short note on q
slip of paper. "There," he said, "take
that to Mrs. X. at the other end OF
the street and get out of that other
place as quick as you can"
Knowing the difficulty there was
in securing room at all, l thought
/ would make sure of Mrs KS rooms
before l told Mrs. Y. I was going t.
leave. / accordingly went to the resi-
dence of Mrs. X.
81 am told you have room," l sale
to the woman. She looked at m,
suspiciously.
81 don't know that we have any
rooms, sir" she answered, mot to let.
"Well," l said, "that is what
would like to know, because l have
rooms already and I don't want t.
give them up until ! am sure tha
you have rooms"
"Where are you stayingp she ask
ed.
"At Mrs. Y's." The moment sal,
this her lips frightened and she shook
her head.
"No," she answered, eve have M
rooms"
"Here is a note," continued, "fron
Mr.. Blank. He was certain you ha'
a room to let" The lady read tn
note.
"Why are you staying at Mrs. Y.'s
she asked.
"Oh, that was mistake" / said
"and Mr.. Blank had to put me righ
So he gave me this note to you."
"Very WE'LL" replied the lady, "w
have room. Would you like to Sc
Iitw
l was taken up to the room an
found it very nice and comfortable
Then l went back TO Mrs. Y.'s to ge
my baggage. ! had had tea there
and l was at loss to know how t.
explain my moving. Finally I STAN
mered out: "a friend of mine, whom
l did not expect to meet here, has
room near his own, and so am goinI
there. How much do owe you ?"
The woman eyed me with blanl
look of suspicion in her face.
| Now, it was none of her particula
business where was going. So
told mild fib and answered that
didn't exactly know where his room
we're, but l was going with him. Sh
nodded her head as much as to sa.
she understood quite well what tn
trouble was, and then she charged m
price for that simple tea that woul
have made Delmonico's hair stand Of
end. There was nothing for it, so
paid without a murmur ana took m
} things to the other place. Mrs. Y
looked upon it as chance of spoilin