The Irish standard., 1898-01-29
THE GLlNIPsEs AT FAMOUS MEN BY
AUBREY DE WE'RE.
IRISH LIFE ANO ENGLISH LETTERS.
THE PENIrENT Roy WHO SHOT A
LANDLORDS AGENT.
A DESCRIPTION OF DANIEL o'CoANElL
OPINION OF THE TWO CARDINALS,
NEWMAN AND MANNING.

Aubrey de We're, who edifies and en-
tertains us with his sRecollections" of
a long life irradiated with fine scholar
ship, exalted ideals and the intimate in
tercourse OF famous men and women,
among them being Wordsworth, Hartley,
Coleridge, Newman, Manning and Carlyle,
derived from his distinguished father, Sir
Aubrey de We're, the qualities Of mind
and heart which we find SO admirable in
his "reminiscences, says the Literary Di-
gest. These begin in the Ireland of
George III, at Curragh Chase, the an
cestral seat Of the De Veres, the Norman
name go proudly borne by the earls CT
Oxford. With the ardor and bouyancy
OF fine poetic temperament surviving
In old age, he tells us charming stories
of his dear old home. beautified and hal
lowed by historic associations. He
fondly pictures that stately dame, his
grandmother, driving in the park with
her four grays and an out-rider, while
his father, with whom she lived, had his
four blacks and took the road like
prince Yet the poor adored them, and
the intercourse Of classes was familiar
and kindly. There was the gathering
OF the humber tenants on Sunday even
ings at the gates of the long ash avenue
~ boi
peasant girl, half coquettish, half BASH
full, dropped courtesy before one or
another of the gallant visitors at the
big house, challenging him to dance, with
her.
De Vere's recollections of the Ireland Of
his youth are rich in incidents of the ma
tional recklessness, generous impulsive-
ness and registering hospitality. 'In the
last century," he says, NEARLY every gen.
tleman was put to bed drunk; he had
either to drink or fight. The hall door
of country house was left open all
night; and he relates with disgust his
later experience at manor house near
Bath, where after strolling on the lawn
In the moonlight when all the inmates
were in bed, he tugged at the lock Of
the door and set a hundred bells clang-
ing, high and low. Ladies and servants
shouted Fire! and Robbers! and
there was much display of night apparel
and the views of remembered charms
1T was an awful sight"
Most delightful is Sir Edward OBrien,
friend Of the De Veres, who was regard cd
as an Irish chieftain by tho masses in
Old Thomond, for he was the direct
descendant of Brian the Great, King Of
all Ireland, who at the battle of Clontarf
put down forever the dominion of the
Danes In Erin.
Sir Edwards tenants adored him, and
no daughter of theirs was ever married
without Eks consent, which was always
bestowed, together with a pretty gown
for the bride. He was full of wifull-
ness and quaint oddities. "One day, as
we sat after dinner over the wine and
walnuts, he remarked, L have just been
thinking that this is the year l have to
die in My father replied; Nothing
of the kind, Sir Edward never saw yo
better. You will probably live another
dozen years Sir Edward was highly
provoked. DO not say that, Sir Au-
brey,' he rejoined; the head of our fam
lily always dies at the age 1 have now
reached. 1t is our way; and l don't
want to change it, Soon afterwards he
spoke with more interest on some trivial
topic Of the day. His death occurred
that year as he had predicted"
One of the most delightful of Mr.. De
Veres stories concerns an Irish priest
who cultivated peculiar notions of con-
science and duty. There was boy whom
the priest had taught to shoot, and rs
soon as he was big enough he betteral
his instruction by shooting an agent
Then came remorse: I'm tired out. |
can't bear the pain in my heart any
longer; so he came to give himself up.
"'Is it to be hanged you come herc::''
said the priest. 1T is, then, to be
! hanged, your reverence The priest re-
| plied My boy, it is a very serious
| thing to die and meet ones God. I'm
afraid it's a long time since you were
at mass and that you have forgotten
| your religion. Let me hear now ii you
| can say the Apostles Creed The youth
| strovc to recitc it, but failed This is
a strange thing the priest rejoined
| Here is man who does not know a n
| from a bulls foot, and yet he thinks he
is fit to be hanged! Where are you liv-
| ing, my boy?' I am living down there
your reverence, about mile to thc
west, The priest answered, i will &c
to you every night about 10 o'clock; I'd
be afraid of going before it is dark
for l might be hanged myself as an ac-
compice; and as it is, that's likely
enough if they come upon u.s. Every
night the priest visited the sclf-con-
| demned youth, and taught him the fun.
damental truths of the Christian faith
| adding this promise: AS soon as eve,