The Irish standard., 1891-04-18
G0LDSMITH'S BIRTHPLACE,
"A Visit to the Little Town Where
Oliver Goldsmith First Saw
The Light of Day.
OLD MANOR HOUSE OF ARDAGH.
An 0ld-fashioned Country House, Built
In the Days When Hospitality
Meant Hospitality.

meant HOSPITALITY,
Pallas. where Goldsmith was born,
about three English miles east of Bal
lymahOn, but there is now little o
nothing of interest there; 1t is mucl
more delightful ramble to take th'
country road that, deviating from th'
highway little. will LEAD to the mode
ha;nlets Of the country, rnd then on tt
A1dagh. where we Will take partint
glimpse at Goldsmith in his simpl.
boyhood's life in ireland, writes Mar,
Banim.
On ahead a tall clock tower looks i'm
posing among the luxurious trees, anC
this tower indicates that we are close
to Ardagh. of great and holy fame
Before the village IS reached. the en-
trance gates of demesne attract at
tention, and for this demesne and it,
old manor house we are bound, for it is
no other than the scene Of Goldsmith's
comedy, The Mistakes of a Night, !
or ''She Stoops to Conquer" VERY
handsome wide entrance gates lead
Into the grounds of Ardagh Manor, an
old-fashioned country mansion OF the
substantial, roomy build that was in
vogue in the days when hospitality
meant hospitality; a handsome home
like and well appointed house, whose
spacious rooms bespoke comfort rather
than the glitter OF show off; where the
welcome was courtlY at the same time
that it was cordial, and where good
cheer and good company were to be
had all the year round. In the midst
of magnificent trees stands the Cid
house, very little altered since the night
when tbe jovial squire, t'eatherst<Mls,
scenting and enjoying joke, received
young Oliver Goldsmith On the wide
steps outside the spacious hall. 1t is
scarcely necessary to tell a Wis tor that
the onlr alteration in the house since
that time-about 175l-2-was and addi-
tiOn to one wing; everything shows that
the MANSION, within and without has
simply been kept up in its good old
style. not changed to suit any modern
fashions. 1t still belongs to the same
family the late owner, Sir George
F'eatherstone having been succeeded by
his heir, Rev. Mr. Featherstona, who
occupies a rectorship in England, and
only comes with his family occasionlY
to Ardagh Manor.
The story told OF Goldsmith's adYen-
ture here, Is, that at one time he set out
upon some Of his abortive travels, a few
guineas and horse for his fortune.
Taking wrong turn on his road he
found himself by n1ghtfall at Ardagh,
where meeting someone from the vii
-lage. he asked the way TO 1.-The best
house of entertainment in the place.
Now, there was no doubt but the ''best
house OF entertainment was the
:squlre's mansion. so the person ques.
toned, being wag, directed the sim
pie looking youth to the manor house.
GoIdsmlth rang, gave his mount to the
groom, and, with the air of one having
every right to command, called for the
host. The manner Of the visitor and
some chance word gave clue 70 the
mistake. and the squire, with the love
of joke strong in his heart. humored
the notion on the instant. assumed the
role of host of an Inn and-the story
goes--caused his daughter to dress as
an after dane and act her part also OF
course, Goldsmith, in his comedy.
changes and adds and invents Incl
dents to suit stage effects and the tastes
of a not over refined public, but that
the occurrence actually took place here
at Ardagh Manor there seems to be no
doubt, for even in the household the
story is related and believed in. There
IS yet another and not improbable read
ing of the cumical adventure. Ardagh
lis but eight miles from Ballymahon, q
few more from Llssoy: Goldsmith's
father and mother were most probably
known. at least..by name and reputa
tion, to Squire Featherstone, and he
very likely knew who the boyish Young
fellow was. and enjoyed playing a
practical joke upon him; while Gold
smith, On his side, was more than like
ly to know where he was, who his en-
tertainers were, and to pretend ignor
ance, once the notion Of carrying out
such freak was suggested to his light
hearted fancy by the chance jest Of the
village Wag.
In telling of this adventure Mr.. For
ster says that in those days there was
little difference between an Irish coln-
try house and waYside inn. Things
were, on the whole, better with Irish
country gentleman in the last century