New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-14
IRISH LIFE.
MP LIE Janus "REMINISCENCES.

MP LIE Janus "REMINISCENCES.
sEvENTy YEARS OF IRISH LIFE. Being An
ecdotes and "reminiscences. BY W. H. lie ranu.
Macmillan Co
Mr. lie Fanu, who Is nearly eighty, IS the
most genial and kindly of Irishmen His book Is
not only sparkling with amusing anecdotes and
characteristic jokes-t shines with the radiance OF
a gentle and lovable spirit. Perhaps not many OF
these Irish stories are altogether new. but rea-
sonable number of them appear in print for the
first time.
The author was born and brought up in Ireland.
his father being for long time clergyman in the
County of Limerick His acquaintance has been as
extensive and as cordial among Catholics as among
Protestants. and he repeats many entertaining
stories told him by the priests of the Roman Church.
One of these concerns the original Father Prout the
parish priest OF Ardnagehy from whom rather
Frank Mahoney borrowed his writingname Father
Prout went to Rome to buy new altar-pece, for
which the parish had subscribed, and in company
with another priest Father Rufus, visited many
artists and dealers in vain; nothing suited him. One
day. however, he appeared at his friends door to
saw that he had found exactly what he wanted; but
before buying it he would like Father Rufus to see
II and give his opinion When he saw 1t he eX-
claimed, "Why. man, that's a Diana. Il don't
care what it is" said Prout cts lovely. and I
shall have IL: these chaps of mine at Arlnagehy
will never know the difference" One Of Father
Rufuss stories illustrated the liking of the irish
peasantry TO give the answer which they think will
be most agreeable to the questoner. "A poor
Italian crgan-grinder. weary after the long walk,
! asked peasant whom he met near Carricktuohil
| how far he was from Cork Just four short miles
was the answer. What do you mean said Father
| Rufus. who happened to pass at the time, by de-
celving the poor fellow? You know well enough
it's eight long miles Sure. Your Reverence. said
the other. seen the poor boy was tired and
wanted to keep his courage up If he heard Your
Raverence-but I'm PLACED to think he didn't-he'd
be downhearted entirely" The same amiabe trait
is Illustrated by personal variation of the famous
thermometer story.
said to the bare-egged boy who was running
What is the name Of the little river near us?'
Boy-,Tis the Fin ain T. Y9"r Honor
B By ar, Is; G SsSg,. Honor
Boy"There do be throuts and cells. Your Honor.
BoyzThere do be an odd one.
ANY white trout
Boy-There do be a good lot Of them.
Boy-Them does be there too Your Honor; but
they comes up ather in the season than the White
throuts.
Among the tales in which whskey figures Is that
Of the priest who having given glass Of the de-
sired fluid TO a carman who complained OF not fee-
ing WELL said TO him: "How do you feel now
Didn't that make another man OF YOU? Bedad'
Il did, Your Reverence" said the grateful driver,
land the other would like a glass too An
Irishman Of higher position, Mr.. A. of Dublin.
who was famous for his cook and his wines. gave
a dinner at which few Of the most agreeable men
of the city met and spent delightful evening. Not
long after of these guests Chief Justice Doher-
~. met the host and said to him: What pleas
ant party we had with you last Tuesday" DO you
call that a pleasant party?" said A. Il don't"
"Wby not?' said the Chief Justice. TOO much
talk too much talk; you couldn't enjoy your wine.
you drank little more than bottle each On
Wednesday l had nine men to dinner and they
drank three bottles man: and you'd have heard
a pin drop the whole time. That's what call a
pleasant party"
One of Mr. lie Fanu's early friends was Sheridan
Knowles. the dramatist and most absent-minded
of men. one night when Knowles was acting in his
own plays at Dublin, lie Fanu went into his dress
ing room and found him in state of great agita-
ton.
Look at me-. wlllam-look at me" said he
stretching his right leg. on which was red
stockng-the other leg was bare.
Is hs mqt ea4u y The oher sae
Is lost. The overture has begun ! must put on
TO- disgrace myself The part was never acted in
black stockings Oh! like dear fellow. pull off this
This did. and under it was the lost one. He had
put the two one leg,
walked up Whitehall with Sir Matthew Barring
ton and Mr. Jeers Fonbiamgue passed BY ana ana
Sir Matthew TO letters. NO" said letters. who
was hc?' "a remarkable man." said Sir Matths thew
no adj I~"Fonbianquc." oh OF course! salo
Sir NJ but / never can remember names"
- lie Fanu's mother was. as a girl more or less
a renes at heart and enthusiastic admirer Of the
unfortunate and high-minded Lord Edward Fitz-
gerald Not long after his tragic death she visited
n relative the wife of the Major Swan who had az
rested Lord Edward and had received severe
dagger wound in the struggle. Major Swan had
wrested the dagger from his prisoner. had kept
# as a trophy and was fond Of exhibiting and
talking about II to his guests The ardent young
Irish girl resented this habit Of her host and when
she saw the dagger in the hands with which Lord
Edward had striven in the last fatal struggle for
life or death, she felt that II was not rightfuy his
who held IT, Finding herself alone day in the
room where II was. she seized and concealed
IT, LAS soon az We left the house" she wrote. II
told my sister, who was beside me. what had
done"
AS soon as we got home rushed up to the room
which my sister and occupied and. having secured
the door | opened Of the seams In the feather
feathers. For upward OF twelve years lay every
night upon the Led which contained my treasure.
When left home took 1t with me- ana II has
been my companion In all the vcssltudes Of life.
When he missed II Major swan greatly in
censed and not without approximations that II had
been taken 10 iniict deadly revenge upon him.
Had ne taken harsh measures against the servants.
whom he might have suspected i had resolved to
confess that had taken H. but after time his
anger and uneasiness subsidized; ! have often seen
and heard this dagger described as most
traord!nary weapon. and have been ready TO laugh
when heard IL so described. Moore mentions IL In
his life OF Lord Edward Fitzgerald as being In the
taken. This is the very dagger which had not
been many months In Major Swans hands when II
became mine In the manner above described.
Mr.. lie Fanu. In the course OF long and useful