The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-10-06

The Recollections OF Aubrey de We're. printed in
The Century, are full of striking stories of life in
Ireland generation ago. In the October number
he tells of the great struggle in which the cry was
Repeal of the Union" Mr.. de We're writes:
An election took place in the County of Limerick.
and both sides prepared for the conflict Nearly all
the proprietors were banded together against Re-
peal, and oConnell. including the few who had adj
vocated Catholic Emancipation. The candidate on
the opposite side was man of ancient family, ex-
cellent character and not, think q Repeater, but
Il suited the Repeal game to support him, lin order
TO separate the tenants from their landlords. OF
these the most powerful by far was a certain noble
man, the Earl of K, whose territories, 10000
acres with a rental of $4,000 per annum. extended
through large part of three counties, and included
much of these Desmond lands. some 10000 acres of
which had been confiscated by Queen Elizabeth in
a single day. He was also, believe, descended in
the female line from the white Knight" to whom
that title had been given after battle fought many
centuries previously, by the white Knights"
father, the Earl of Desmond.
The despotic temper of the Earl of x was no
doubt increased by scenes which he had witnessed
as a boy. When he was but fourteen, during a
great social gathering at his fathers residence,
profiigate neighbor one of the county gentry.
LnOugn u ludITl6u Audli uhuBhtcA VI liic
house to elope with him. The moment the crime
was discovered the earl, accompanied by the boy,
went in pursuit of the criminal After several days
pursuit the outraged father arrived, late in the
night at an inn which the fugitives had reached q
few hours previously. He got out of his carriage,
accompanied by his young son, and with pistol in
each hand mounted the stairs. door was pointed
out to him. It was locked; but the earl kicked it
open. man rushed forward; the earl fired two
pistols and the betrayer fell dead at his feet The
earl was arraigned for this act before the Irish
House of Lords and made no defence. The peers
walked professionally in their robes and each, as
he passed the throne. laid his hand on his breast
aud pronounced the verdict, Not guilty, upon my
honor" A few years later the boy witnessed an
other important event He had become young Of
cer the Irish rebellion of 1898 burst out and with
several other persons ofimportance he was sudden
ly captured. and detained as a hostage. When for
tune turned against the insurgents in the first rage
of disappointment a massacre ensued, and be had
narrow escape from death.
When the family estates had become his own. the
earl is said to have ruled with sway almost as alb
solute as that of one of his forefathers who
reported transported several persons to America
his own sole authority. He had been for a long
time kept out of the family residence by the pro-
tracted life of his mother On her death he sent st
once for architect Build me-" he said, "a cas-
tie. am no judge of architecture, but 1t must be
Ia rger than any other house in Ireland, and 1t must
have an entrance tower named the White knights
Tower No delay! 1t is time for me to enjoy"
When the castle was half finished wealthy manu-
faeterer built huge chimney in the square of the
town which erouched beneath the hill on which
that castle stood The earl sent him orders to pull
it down or depart two invitations which the man OF
/ no RI roy iDt0 tn
town, and, as usual, crowd collected about his
carriage He said: 81 am come to wish You good
by, boys This place is but a small place, and
there room in ii fnr me ard s.e+ men SSri..
ing to the factory. He says the law is on his side
and dare say it is, Consequently go to England
tomorrow morning." During the night the lord OF
industry received visit from unlimited guests; the
next morning no smoke went over the towers and
the woods, and OH the third day he had taken his
departure.
On the day of the election the earl sat with his
candidate in the house ola friend at Limerick sur
rounded by gay company, while the k ten
antry marched past the window. Mr.. de We're thus
describes the scene that followed:
Afler an hour or two dulness began TO spread
over that gray apartment, and many talked in
whispers The earl soon perceived that all was not
right and its usual sernness returned to his strong
face. You are hiding something from me" he ex-
claimed; something has gone wrong; what has
happenedT After pause gentleman moved for
ward and replied, My lord, what has gone wrong
is this; the K-tenantry have voted" what OF
that" my lord they have voted with the enemy TO
man The other tenants are following their ex-
ample. The election is lost"
During the whole of the next day he sat alone in
his castle, speaking to none. and seen by none.
Late the second night the bell of his bedroom rang
without intermission, and short time afterward
mounted couriers were securing all parts of his es-
tales commanding the attendance at certain
specified hour of all the tenanry in occupation OF
its 10000 acres. When the appointed hour arrived,
he sat enthroDed the dais at one end of gallery
hundred feet long; his official persons were rang
ed near him in line at each side Of that gallery.
The tenants hronged in at the lower end of the gal
lery, advancing nearer each moment. as their num-
bers increased to where the earl sat. His eye was
fixed upon them with that look for which it was
famed, but he spoke no word. Suddenly its express
sion changed he leaped from his seat, raised his
arms on high, and exclaimed: They are come to
tear me in pieces they come TO tear in pieces
The next night but one he was in a mad-house.
There he continued to live for many years, faith
fully attended by devoted wi fe; but he is said
never to have had lucid interval.