The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-05-28
BACK TO THE OLD SOD
SCENES ON AN AMERICAN LINER RE.
TURNING TO IRELAND.

Waitins All Night on Deck to Get th. |
First Glimpse of Erin's Green Isle With
America"
1t docs not need an 1893 centenary to
develop a picture of Irish fealty to the
land where the tear and tho smile alter
nate like the shadows and sunbeams that
fit across the meadows
Such picture can be witnessed on ey
cry American liner eastward bound as
glimpse of "Ireland and the sky over it,
rewards the long vigil of returning rovcrs,
a group of whom can always be seen away
forward In the bow of the ship hours and
hours before there is a chance Of sighting
land Not word do they speak to each
other while the looked for shore is still un-
seen. Every heart Is brimful of memories.
Every eye Is afame with eager antlcipa.
ton. was one of such group within
month. writes Edward NJ. Lnhiff In the
Chicago Times. Herald. One had been
away 33 years. another 20 years, another
10 years and another barely years.
All were touched with the same wand Of
enohantment. There was something more
than the mere realization of returning
Every poetic feature that an exile dream
er's fancy revels In was a happy reality and
not fragment of dreamy vision Ire.
land was to rise out of the sea In the morn
ing to greet us, smiling in the rosy glow
of the dawn. He who catches the first
glimpse of Erin at any time other than at
dawn loses half tho charm of the sight.
We knew this, and we remained up all
night SO as to avoid the risk of losing a
ray of the glory. We talked of each others
struggles and hopes In the new land fol
awhile after we stationed ourselves for the
vigil, and then the spell of silence bound
us. The harvest moon was dying-fading
away In its mild, hollow beauty like the
passing of the soul of some Irish saint A
blush in the eastern sky like the crimson
glow on the cheek of bride, and four ex
lies of Erin with bounding hearts salute
the dawn on the hills of Ireland"
"There it isp' exclaimed a Christian
brother from Philadelphia, and he quoted
the opening lines of Locke's beautiful
poem:
"Thanaman Dhial But there 1t is
The dawn on the hills of Irelandl"
The spell of silence was broken. Ire
land was In view. Shouts rang out
Songs were sung and stories told linked
with the historic spots along the coast
Cork and Kerry. A few hours later ant
the big ship dropped anchor within mil
Of the 'next parish to America "A CHA
da, County Cork. From the geographical
point of view Aghada is not the mex
parish to America, 4" but the first man
board the incoming ocean steamer, tn
last man to leave the liner on her outw ar
trip, Is an Aghada man-the pilot who's
lookout station is Roche's point, part {
Achada and the most southerly point {
the harbor. The pastor of the next paris
TO America, - Very Rev. Canon Ryan, ha
given the last blessing to thousands
Irish exilos scattered all over the glob
and not a week passes that the foreig
mail does not bring him some story OF so
row or success. EIo is grand old mai
one Of the old school, of which the famo'
DIR. Croke archbishop of Cashel, is note
type, and the two, by the way, arc bosol
friends, DIR. Croke spending most OF b
vacations on the cliffs of Roche's poll
with thu yenera ble canon of Agbada.