Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-04

10 earth. still stands and grows taller and wider
Of girth from year to year-wherein il differs
from man. who simply gets wider Of girth-
person who dotes on ruins, old castles and
ecclesiastical wrecks may fairly wallow in them
in Ireland. They are to be found almost any
where. in various stages Of decay, the castle
generally, OF course. having appropriate le-
gends and the monasteries and abbeys long ac-
counts Of saints and bishops who had some
thing or other to do with the founding. Prom
inent among the ecclesiastical ruins are
seventy-four round towers. some of which,
however, have been more OF less restored"
that Is to say, repaired, patched up. These
towers. some of which are as high as 125 feet
and go feet in circumference at the base, are
usually TO be found in conjunction with church
ruins. and evidently served the double pur-
pose of belfries and watch or beacon towers.
The peat boys. the most extensive Of which
we saw just east east Of Killarney, are the coal
fields OF Ireland. The peat or turf, as the
Irish call it. Is a mass of matted partially de-
composed vegetation OF a rich dark-brown
color Dug out TO a depth Of three or four feet
below the surface of the bog. in chunks OF
about the size Of brick. convenient size for
throwing at the pig or a neighbor when hot
words pass, IL IL fTst piled up to dry in the
sun and wind before carting to market What
the peasantry will do for fuel when the peat
supply is exhausted we will leave to solution by
greater minds than ours.
DESERTED COTTAGES.
Deserted. roofess cottages grew common as
We advanced eastward toward Dublin, telling
of the eviction and the establishment Of the
dwellings to prevent the return Of the evicted.
The Irish question may well occupy the promi-
hence that ii does in British politics. and it be-
hooves the British government to act we'll and
radically to render Ireland what it is naturally
fitted to be-a happy home of happy, pros
porous people. On every hand one meets peo-
pie with sons. daughters, brothers or sisters in
"Ameriky." the land of milk and honey to the
In place called Brooklyn, near New York"
All. there. Brooklyn Each one who returns
for visit to the old sod generally takes back
with him TO his new home some other men,
bers Of the family. or q friend. perhaps his
best girl, who changes her good Irish name for
another equally ~ good. From o single county
some three hundred persons recently. within q
period Of a week, set out for the land Of the
star -pangled banner. We may look for some
new faces on the police force soon.
THE DECREASE IN POPULATION.
Since 1s45, at which time the population was
over 5000. 0O0 there has been steady decrease,
until it is now about 5000. 900. decrease Of
3714 per cent in population In forty-six years :
An average decrease of over CO. 600 per
year Tipperary county, for instance, re-
garded as one Of the best agricultural coun-
ties. from population of 435.553 in
ls4l. has decreased IS per cent. What hope
can there be for prosperity when. as is fire.
quently the case. the obtaining of land by lease
costs nearly rs much as the property is fairly
worth at a sale. and when rents eat up profits;
manufactures, notably the wooden Industry
virtually driven out Of existence, to the ad-
vantage of England and chronic stagnation of
trade and business in general.