The Irish standard., 1895-04-13
Be ERIN

IBEA ESI @ Rim
Contained from First Page.
lodorleaa Some 81 then, such q tho
woodbine. hawthorn, elder d meadow
sweet. NOT to speak of the exquisiteiy
delicate scent 81 the violet, primrose,
Icowslip and buttercup, make the whole
field il which they are, redolent with
their fragrance.
The equable temperature, needs no
special reference. Thanks to il, the beau
taful green of the fields never departs
from them, either il mid-summer Or
1.mid winter and the many shrubs and
plants, needing protection elsewhere,
flourish il luxuriance throughout the
whole year, such as the ivy, bay, laurel,
arbutus, yew, hox, juniper, holly, and
many more. But to claim PERFECTION for
the lrishclimate would not be in strict
accordance with the facts Of the case.
Suitable aa it may Be- for the shrubs
mentioned, its. extreme moisture and
chi]liness at the npeniDg season, prevent
Ireland from being conspicuous as 9
frult-growing country. This want Of
warmth towards the end Of, the summer
in particular, is the sole cause Of the
grapevine not thriving out I doors. At
no time in the year Is q fire inoonvenient,
and often times it will be as much g
necessity for defence againtt the damp
as against the cold; indeed through the
winter it could be dispensed with in bed
rooms but for this. !.
To many the greatest charm Of the
Irish landscape is the music abounding
in 1.-THE almost unceasing singing OF
it's many feathered songsters. Singularly
beautiful as is the plumage of it's birds,
notably the kingfsher, pheasant, gold.
finch, bulinoh and chafflnoh, it is the
least remarkable characteristic Of the
ornithology Of Ireland. The name OF it's
songsters is legion, and the sweetness OF
their song is unequalled. Loudest
amongst them is the glorious skylark,
who makes the whole welkin ring with
his hilarious warbling, as from his dewy
concealment, long before sunrise, he as
csnds heavenwards IN very entrance
ment of melody, until, when lost to the
sight, he can be located only by the
delicious sounds distilling from his aerial
throne, and who that has once heard can
ever forget his delightful cadences as he
deecends therefrom in graceful, spiral
wave-like movements. Nor will the
fatigue that has made him do go make
him cease his exquisite song. Long after
sunset he may be heard still singing in
the clover field, from which he had set
out before daybresk. What can equal
in rich fulness the wild whistle of the
blackbird? What can surpass in de-
licious softness the ever-varying cadences
Of the thrush? And who would care for
anything more tender than those 81. the
robin, wren and goldfinch? Difficult as
It is to ,enumerate all the songstsrs, It is
still more difficult to qualify their various
songs. A ramble through the country
for the sole sake Of hearing them would
be we'll repaid. - }.
From every town and village delight
full excursions are available, either to
lakes, caves, mountains or historic ruins.
These latter are to be found everywhere,
mutely but eloquently testifying to the
ruthless devastation of ireland g conquer
ors, as we'll as to the stubborn resistance
of it's sturdy defenders. The UNCOVERED
ruined churches, monasteries, and castles
are found not only on the mainland, but
also on the lake and river islands, look
ing as If mufaed up. in their verdant
covering. awaiting the return Of happier
times to become rehabilitated. Historic
"reminiscences and legions of exploits Of
chiefs and heroes in their defence still
fondly cling to them like the ivy arms,
that in many instances alone support
them. The fairy tales that no carin, or
Danish fort, or shady dell is without,
afford to the imagination as much pleas.
urable interest as the ruins themselves
afford plctureequeness to the landscape.
Many is the story Of touching pathos,
Of wild adventure, Of mysterious enchant-
ment, associated with them; and no even
ing is sufficiently long to exhaust the
peasants repertoire Of ghostly tales and
fairy frolies, with most precise statement
OF times and places, ell within easy reach
Of his own thatched cottage. The in
comparable melodramstic seriousness
with which they are told, adds special
charm to Che relation, which the merry
laughter of the listeners greatly enhances.
After the denouement he satisfies his
conscience for triAing with the Good
People" by many . declaration Of there's
not word Of a lie in it, " although he
considerably tells the company that rhe
need not believe it If he doesn't like
Any account Of Ireland Of today would
be incomplete without q reference to re-
cent more benign legislation. The good
effanfa az The Land Act. and tf,sGt nro, III