The Irish standard., 1898-12-31
INTERESTING.
RSlctts "Reminiscences of Charles
Stewart Parnell.

| kHlctts "Reminiscences of Charles
! Stewart Parnell.
! Apropos of Mr.. Barry O'Brien's new
Life of Parnell' the Rev. Horace Ry-
lett, now Of London, gives the following
interesting "reminiscences of his own
close association with the great leader:
| There is one good story in the book
purporting to be the life" of Mr.. Par
nell, by Mr.. Barry O'Brien, and just pub
| lished. 1t is to the effect that certain
highly intelligent Wicklow farmer,
known as Nicky Codd, made an offer to
his landlord in respect of rent due, and
| being asked if there We're any alter
| native, supposing the landlord declined,
| the other replied, eyes, he can go to
| h-ll." Mr.. O'Brien tells us that this
! story so immensely "tickled' Mr.. Par
nell that "the chief got into the habit
of telling people that if they did not like
| his proposals they might adopt Nicky
Codds alternative. 1 hope Mr.. Barry
O'Brien will not take it unkindly if say
that can well imagine Mr.. Parnell
wishing that his bographer had adopted
Nicky Codd's alternative rather than
have written this book
Mr. Parnell would not have thanked
Mr.. Barry O'Brien for his ridiculous ex-
altation of himself at the expense of his
colleagues. Mr.. Parnell was no lover
of fatterers. But if there was one man
more than another whom it would have
annoyed him to have seen insulted that
man was Joseph ellis Bigger. Mr.. Par
nell greatly esteemed Mr.. Bigger, and
as the years roll on one of the men
whose memory I cherish with increasing
tenderness is that of the late member for
Cavan. Parnell regarded Biggar as an
ideal Irish member. We know that Par
nell sat at Biggar's feet and learned of
him the elementary principles of parlia-
mentarianism. We know more than
that, viz, that between the two there
was very warm affection. Quite a
small band of us were gathered one even
ing in an upper room at the Imperial
hotel, Dublin. Parnell was there. We
had been hard at work for hours across
the road, and now we were spending an
was as cheerful as anyone present; and
| one story followed another, and one wit
ticism elected another. until the clock
struck -. Biggar jumped up. thine to
tn Nod 70 TO Nod 1,o o,.io nj
Come along, Parnell; it's time to go to
bed" Parnell turned and smiled, but
retained his seat, and Biggar departed.
In a few minutes he returned with his
overcoat still on his arm, and, going
close up to the chief, said very firmly,
"Now, Parnell, come to bed" And Par
nell rose and did as he was bid. A ST.
lence fell upon the company; but T. P.
O'Connor expressed the thought of all.
"What an affectionate fellow Biggar is -
he said How he watches over Par
nell"
I think there is no doubt that Par
nell was if not a revolutionst at heart,
yet profound believer in the necessity
for exciting a revolutionary spirit in tie
country. / remember on one occasion
we had been to meeting somewhere in
the vicinity of Newry, and banquet
was given in, the Imperial hotel of that
town, and Parnell made speech which
was highly gratifying to the very ardent
Nationalist who were present. Amongst
other things he said that the people that
were respected were those that could
shoot straight, and the suggestion was
that the young men present should make
themselves crack shots. never could
understand how it was that the enemy
did not make use of that speech, for
was told it appeared in local paper.
The editor of a Belfast newspaper sup
pressed it because he could not believe
that Parnel made it. But he did. In
this speech at the Imperial hotel, Newry,
speaking about the policy he had recon-
mended to the country before the release
of Mr.. Davitt from prison, Mr. Parnell
said: eve had not then the immense
energy and practical skill of Mr.. Dayitt,
the founder of the Land League move
ment. And it was not very long after
his release from prison that he took me
into his confidence, and suggested the
origination of the movement which has
since spread through all Ireland.
confess l did not at first like to fee u"
prospect, because l knew the movement
which has since spread through Ireland
l confess did not at first like to face the
prospect, because knew the movement
which he sketched out would be very
real and live movement. However,
took a month to consider the matter.
At the end of the month told him
would go along with him. 1t has been a
great trouble to me at this time that
have not the advantage of the counsel
which Mr.. Davitt could have given me-
During the Tyrone contest we were
driving in brake from meeting, and
there were number of young men with
lis. Their hearts were full. They would
have laid down their lives, l verify be-
lieve, at that very moment at Parnells
bidding. They implored him to tell them
what to do-to give them some advice.
And Do 1oonipo eli foruord