Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-02-16
IRISH WAYS OF LIFE.
What the Stranger Sees on Erin'a
 Green Isle.
Pat Does Not Believe in Direct AnsweF. But Uses Many Words and Long Ones -Fondness for Naming
 the Deity.

the Deity.
 Writing of the characteristics of the Irish people the London correspondent of San Francisco paper says Pat is not guided in his dealings by the Scrip tural admonition to directness. His communication is never ''yea" nor may" He is fond of words, and long ones, and when these fail he has still the blackthorn as an aid to argument. From the beginning to the end of my l jaunt no one answered ives" or ''no' in reply to any question that required a simple affirmative or negative. There ' is a prodigious waste of words in this diverting country.
 'Did you take the letter to the post ofice9''
 ''I did, sor."
 "Have you been to the village this morning?" 'T have not, sor.''
 One longs for Q straight ''yes' ol mo-" and he becomes decidedly weary of hearing the name of the Deity dragged into every discussion from the prospects of home rule to the price of eggs. 't1t's the best you'll find in the ! country, please Godr' said an ancient Celt who was trying to sell COW at Dingle market. The beast was sorry looking, but ''please God, she'll give more milk than any other wan in Kerry"
 When Pat exclaims: "It's fine morn | ing, thank God" you are not to SUD- pose that his cry comes from devout and grateful spirit, nor need you be- lieve that the morning is necessarily fine. One day, at remote coast settle ment, I was awakened by the proprie- tor of the cabin where we lodged. "What is the weather?" said I. God be praised, it's fine day." said he, go- | ing to the window, throwing aside an old shawl that served for a blind, and revealing a landscape soaking under . steady rain.
 An Irish gentleman, whose guests VIC were for a few days, had been fort ! night trying to induce the local carpenter | to effect some simple repairs about the | place. A days work would have been sufficient, but Phil Film, who lived in | the village half a dozen miles away, could not be persuaded to put in an ap- ! pearance.
 ''I'll come Monday, please God" said Phil Finn. Monday came but no Phil. Tuesday a passing farmer left a mes- sage: "Phil Film says, please God, he'll | come tomorrow" Similar reports pre- ceded Philip for a week. Sunday morn- ing the worthy carpenter turned up in his best clothes. But you can't work to-day, Phil"
 "Sure, sor, an it's that I've come to tell yer. But it's tomorrow I'll be here; in Gods name, will"
 But another week went by before the work was begun.
 Pat is not thrifty in our Anglo-Saxon sense of the word. Yet he is rarely as l poor as he looks, and he is often q great deal richer than you will have any reason to suppose. His notion of prosperity is not comfort. but hoard ing. He has as keen an eye as any other man for 8 bargain when trading is to be done. l have known some old fellows whose appearance would excite the comm;seration of tourists and sen- timental folk to have been the owners of snug fortunes, which were slowed away under their garments or in holes in their cabin walls. Instances of this kind are not rare.
 A gentleman in Kerry told me good story about close-handed old tenant on his estate. Daniel Sheehan was not model tenant, but he was in many re- spects typical one. He owed several years rent, and always complained o1 the hard times when he was asked to pay trifle on the arrears. Excuses were not wanting-from bad season to a big family-he had them all al his tongues end. One day he fell ill, and when it become evident that he could not recover he sent for the land lord, who is good-natured man and well liked in the neighborhood. When his visitor arrived Daniel called him to the bedside and sent everyone else from the room.
 ''Now, MT. -" said he, tits q dyin' request have to make to ye, an knowin' it's good man ye are, I'm that sure yell not refuse me-"
 ''Well, Dan, what is it?"
 What is it?' ye ask. It's yerseli knows I'm owing yer a trife av rint An how much might ye put it at?"
 1.-Two hundred pounds"
 "Truer word ye never spoke But it's that same two hundred that's both erin me last thoughts. It's wishin' tC lave the family with roof over theil heads am. It's 8 trife av money have by me foreninst this day, an, fol the sake av the ould woman an the childer, I'd be askin' yer to take fifty pounds and give me a recate for the whole I'm owin' ye. It's good man yt are known to be in the country, anG you'll be doin' the same for the sake al the vans lave behind"
 The transaction was effected. Two days later Daniel died, and it was ther discovered that he had left his family seven hundred and fifty pounds in cash
 The decoction that passes for tea il
 Ireland is wonderful and fearful to be hold, to smell and to drink. Good tes is bought; in fact, the people usually pay extrayagant prices for it, but they ruin the stuff in preparing it for theil l ;z,a;sn,.; nti,,1. .,alntos ..-....