Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-05-25

LONDON, May 10.--It may well be
imagined that when from 100 to 200
souls leave Ireland for foreign shores
every working day in the year, there are
heart and hand wringings lnnumerable,
and dolorous mists from the region Of
tears. Few families arc fortunate
enough to get away all together. If
help has come from America or the
colonies; if the passage money has been
saved in secret through years of de-
privation by a single person; if an Irish
family has after every manner of sacrl-
flee provided for one who is to go TO
blessed foreign lands that the remainder
may, one by one, eventually follow;
however, the going of all these people
may have come about; in every instance
there is a struggle in tearing away from
the things to which the heart is rooted
which we Of better fortune and coEdi-
tons literally know nothing.
So many of these scenes have | wit.
messed that have perhaps some little
conception Of the real bravery of this
act of illiterate, unframed men and
women pushing boldly across oceans
into untried, unknown walks and ways,
with love, hope and determination for
ones own at the bottom of il all that
have more real heroism in them than
the average American is ever called
upon TO exercise throughout his entire
life.
However lowly, poor and desperately
good-for-naught the prospective emf
grant may have all his life been re-
garded among his fellows, the great and
generous heart in those around him
melts into surprising interes. and ten
derness when he comes to leave his
neighboThood, and those whom he has
been never so little part of through the
bitter days that have encompassed all
For every departure re.awakcns tine
heart-aching memories of other depar-
lures; and in every Irish home ever
shared there is an empty chair whose
former occupant is somewhere beyond
the sea,
If 1t be a family which is to 60. or
some elderly man or woman, for days
previous to the departure the whole
countryside swarms to the cabin; and
every man, woman or child of the town
land at some time or another has come
to mourn at the leaving and bid Cod
speed at the going. II it be youth or
lass, or young man or woman, as 1t
oftener is, for few but the very old and
very young are left, then, on the even.
ing previous to the departure every com
panion, friend or acquaintance is Ger
tain to appear; and the whole night is
passed in what is called "rising the
heart" of the departing one.
The custom springs from the same
kindly quality of extending cheer to
those who mourn that originally es-
tablished the custom of the Irish wake v
which many good people choose H. per.
sistently misunderstood and condemn
At this gathering for "rising the heart
of the emigrant the Irish peasants
character is in most tendGrly interest.
ing state for study, Every one arrive.
IN hushed, embarrassed mood, and
every one brings some little token Of
affection and regard. The poverty OIL
these folk alone prevents out!audist
generosity.
One stealthily appears with yards o
seed-cake; many with thimblesful OF ten
some with gew-gaws and triflcs OF lew
elry; the coat-tail pockets OF an6the
will bulge with heartsome potatoes
housewives arrive with great methcrs o
milk, others with schowders, OF oaten
cakes, crisp and toothsUme, still other
with schrahags of shilk, hearty mix
ture of potatoes, beans and butter, AM
some with apronsful Of peat, for til
slender resources Of the family mus
never under these trying circumstance
be drained. And the lads and lasscs VIII
come with pressed Irish flowers an,
ferns, and sprigs of hawthorn am
punches Of the dear shamrock: wit
gifts Of ribbons, and bits OF this or tina
priced possession are not to be counte
at all.
So, too, come those with looks of fri
umph and secreted bottles of potter
that never got q touch" that is, ar
guiltless of the CHEESEMAN'S desecratin
seal; for ''grief is ever droothy" surely
Then the night is passed in eating, feast
ing and drinking. Loads Of humble far
are there; oceans of tea; and tiLncI
drops of the "rale mountain dew.
Tales are told; songs are sung; SOM
times they dance TO the music Of an oil
tramp fiddler who has been impre3se
into service. But the chords of mirt
are minor enough the night long; an
smiles, laughter and brave propheclt
are all touched and chastened by hone
Irish tears.
When morning comes, and thos
whose imperative duties cali them
their homes have said good bye wit
almost the same dread, reverence al
pathetic forlornness as when lOwgril
the dead into the grave, the rustic cor
mony OF Conveying" Is begun. III
subject OF all this attention becomes fl
the once, II Tor only this once in a lif
time, the hero or heroine Of the hUu
The chests, or plethoric bags, or villa
ever constitutes the luggage OF tho cm
grant is sent on ahead III some upirl