The Irish standard., 1893-06-03
and fashion sc the old Irish kingdom; re-


and fashion of the old Irish kingdom; re-
move the desks, the money changers, the
IIedgers, and replaces them with rows upon
rows OF benches, rising amphitheater-
wise, and crowded with eager members
of the House, all in full tenue, with pow
dered heads. The Speaker sits in his
canopied chair with all the dignity Of
the first gentleman Of Ireland; in front
are the clerks at their tables within the
eilded rails, where lies the massive
gilded mace.
Now thrill runs through the assem-
b!age; all eyes are turned to the floor of
the House; the ladies lean eagerly for
ward, pervading the whole House with
the charm of their presence; the Speak
er's sonorous voice is heard, and in re-
| spouse there steps forward slight,
bowed figure with rather wizened face,
and dressed in the uniform of volun-
teer IF '62. It is Henry Grattan, and
the House rises at him and browns his
opening words in the enthusiasm of it's
greeting.
Such q moment was that of the famous
declaration by Henry Grattan of the in
| dependence Of the Irish Legislature in
1882, when the Parliament reached it's
eliminating point in power and influence.
| Among it's members, distinguished for
| wit and brilliancy in debate, was John
Philpot Curran, the delight Of the Irish
bar; yet singularly mean and sottish-
looking, and sloven among associates
distinguished by their elegant manners
and foppish ext r;ors. But when he
opened his lips all this was forgotten,
and few ventured to measure wits with
him in debate, so keen was his sarcasm,
and so ready the retort that covered his
adversary with confusion. Yet the great
wit, towering in his pride of place, was
once brought down by humble housing
hawk in the shape of Sir Boyle Roche.
"Sure, Mr.. Speaker" said Sir Boyle
on the occasion that made him famous,
show could man be in two places at
once-unless he were bird?"
Sir Boyle is no mere creation of legend.
He was real, living man, fine bluff,
soldier like old gentleman, holding some
post at the Viceregal Court, sitting for
government borough, and, always voting
faithfully for the "Castle." The debate
one night was on sinecures, which Cur
ran had Indignantly denounced, and,
twitted by one of the opposite side on
some personal inconsistency in the mat
ter, he replied holly:
'sSir, am the guardian of my own
honor"
To which Sir Boyle neatly replied:
''Then the gentleman has got very
pretty sinecure."
AS Catholics were excluded to the last,
the House could hardly claim a repre-
sentative character. Yet it did, to
greater degree than might have been ex-
pected, represent the country, its feel
lngs, it's emotions and aspirations, and it
represented still more strongly the char
acteristics Of the Irish gentleman of the
period Never was such time of feast
ing and jollifcation as in the palmy days
of the old Irish Parliament. The coun-
try elections we're continued scene of
fighting, fun and revelry. It is one con-
tinuous Donnybrook Fair, and the
county elector, with good coat on his
back and money clinking in his pocket,
Steps into tent just to spend half crown,
Steps out meets u FRIEND, and for joy knocks
him down.
With his sprig of shillalah and shamrock Sc
green.
With the same gayety Of heart the gen.
tlemen fought their battles with more
deadly weapons.
At that time due'ing was recognized
part of the social code. The "thirty-six
commandments arranged by the gen.
tlemen of Galway, formed a complete
set Of rules on all the punctilios of the
duello. According to the printed rules
of Galway, seconds, If DESTROYS, may ex-
change shots at right angles to their
principals.
But when the elections had been
fought out, and the consequent duels, it
was with joyous anticipations that the
newly slected member took his depar-
ture for the opening of Parliament in
Dublin, generally in a chariot drewn by
six horses.
But the last hours OF the old Irish
Parliament were approaching. The
House hardly numbered q majority
against the Union. The first day of the
session was at hand; the bill of union
would be brought in, and only feeble
voices would be brought against it.
Happily there was vacancy for Wex-
ford; and Grattan, elected by coup-de-
main, rose from sick bed, and, being
carried into the House by two friends,
his old spirit revived as he found him
CALF in tho soo,,o "a l:c ~