The Irish standard., 1893-12-23

ID kno "A and admired wherever the Eng.
Iish tongue is spoken.
Another honored son Of ,this place, the
Rev. Theobald Mathew, Of the Order Of
1 Capuchlns, is commemorated by very
Ane bronze STATUE that stands in the cen
tire Of the spacious st. Patrick street and
facing Patrick's Bridge. This statue Of
the famous Apostle OF Temperance,
whose work brought such benefit to Ire
land, was modelled by the celebrated
irish sculptor, J. a Foley, and was
t!t'erected in loving rsmem branee Of his
life and labors by the citizens of Cork, in
1854" A fountain, from which clear cold
water flows, is.f fixed in the granite pedes-
tai Of this statue, and is fitting symbol
Of the purport Of his teaching. On Oo-
tober 10. 1870, the centenary OF Father
Mathew was celebrated here with much
ceremony and rejoicing, and with many
demonstrations Of religious and patriotic
fervor. The celebration continued for q
whole week, and. all classes and creeds,
Wed with each other in doing honor to
his memory. The we'll known represen-
tative Of Cork in the British parliament,
the late John Francis Mcguire to whom
y owed my first introduction to ths
Strangers Gallery Of that institution in
1l872--has written an excellent biography
|;of Father Mathew, which has largely
contributed to keep his name before the
memory Of 9 new generation.
Cork of course has it's legends, as have
many other cities Of Ireland. One re-.
Hated by Crofton Croker in his fairy
Elegends has special interest as being
associated with spot southwest OF the
|city known as Cork Lough. According
to the tale, in the bed Of this Tough there
was once fairy we'll, and fair and pop
lulous city. Ths prediction concerning
Ethe place ran to this effect: that if this
well was left uncovered even for very
short time,4 the waters would burst forth
and overwhelm the city and all its in
habitants. Fionuisge, continues the
story, the fair end comely daughter OF
the king OF this district, one day visited
the charmed and dangerous we'll, and
thoughtlessly leaving it uncovered, the
prediction was fulfilled, the waters
poured forth with irresistible force, and
the city and it's inhabitants were de-
stroyed. Naturally we should expect to
see here in tho South ct ireland the same
phenomena observed in the North, as Je-
lated by the national poet, Thomas
Moore. He tells us that
On Lough Neaghs bank as the fisherman strays
In the cold clear eve declining,
He sees the round towers of other d,ys ~
In the waves beneath him shining. ., #
Probably a future poet, with that mar
yellous insight into all things character
istic Of the POLITICALLY inspired, may yet
behold beneath the waters Of Cork Lough
.'the round towers OF other days. or
some other remnant of the city concealed
beneath it's waves in penalty of wo-
mans thoughtlessness.
It is long cry from here to the Midway
Plaisance at Chicago, whore last beheld
the Castle Of Blarney in imitation it not
fac-simile. What is particularly notice
able about the ruins Of this celebrated
castle is the sturdy appearance Of
strength, The enduring fame of Blarney
Castle is secured by the famous stone
affixed to the machicolations on the top
OF it's square squat tower. The man who
kisses this stone. il we may believe the
poet, 'never misses to grow eloquent"
and becomes alarmingly fit to WOO lady
or become member of parliament.
This impudence comforting stone, says
one writer, that imparts such eloquence
to mortals, 'sthat creates liar Of the first
magnitude, but smooth and graceful
one, with sweet and persuasive tongue
to win woman, full Of guile and blandish-
ment and potential hattery,' is fixed by
iron rods to the lower part Of the BATTLE
ments on the western side Of the tower.
H we may accept Father Prout's account
az the stone, as he told it to Sir Walter
Scott, it is the most valuable. remnant
OF 1relRnd's ancient glory, the most
precious lot Of her PhHnician inherit
ancei Possessed Of this treasure" he
continues, stshe may we'll be designated
'First flower Of the earth, first gem of the sea-;
for neither the musical stone OF Memnon,
nor the oracular stone of Delphia, nor
the lapidary talisman Of the Lydian
Gyges, nor the colossal granite shaped
into sphinx il Upper Egypt, nor Stone
henge, nor the Pelasgic walls Of Pales-
trina, offer 90 many attractions. The
long sought lapis philosoph phorum, or phil
osopher's stone, compared with this jewel,
|dwindles into insigni6cance; the
tresty stone OF Limerick, with all its his
toric endsarments; the zodiacal mona
nent Of fDenderah, with al its astronomic
Importance; the Elgin marbles, with all
their sculp lpture cannot for 8 momenE
stand IN composition with the Blarney
block. What stone IN the world, save
this alone, can communicate to the tongue
that suaVity Of speech, and that splendid
efpntery, 20 necessary to get through
lite e2n Ihere is no doubt that The reyela-
tion Of such qualities arising from the
kissing of this stone will induce men q
lock from III paris Of of the world u