The evening times., 1898-11-23

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putting things-for his declaration induc-
| ed the girl to yield to his wishes. A BASH
full youth "a rather rare person in Ire
| land, be 1t said) who was In love with
girl intrusted his proposal for her hand
to his sister. One day the maid visited
| his fathers cabin, while he, with anxious
| heart, hid behind the door, awaiting the
| result. The girl who did not care to be
| wooed at second hand, replied with
| saucy toss of her head, Indeed now, If
| I'm good enough to be married, I'm good
| enough to be axed." The boy then STUCK
| his head into the room and exclaimed.
| with sob in his voice, MARY, allanah.
! will yez do what Maggie axsu JeE
| When the day has been named, whether
| By arrangement between the boy ana
| girl themselves, or through the intermedi-
| AIRY OF their parents, preparations are
| made on the most extensive scale for
grand wedding. 1t is considered essen
| tiai in the humblest circles that, for the
| honor of the family, the guests at the
| wedding which include sometimes the
| whole of the countryside, should nave
| lots of eating and drinking-"lashin's and
LAWNS of iverything.' Closeness on such
| an occasion is the unforgivable social sin.
"Arrah if L wor gettin' married. l have
| heard woman eXclaim, when she saw
a poor display at wedding, I'D sell
every stitch on my back, and go naked,
| in order to get married dacintly."
pretty Irish servant maid who had
| got married. called to see her mistress.
| II hear you are going to Australia with
your husband. Kitty" said the lady;
ARE you not afraid of such long voy-
! age?" well, ma am, that's his look
| out" said Kitty. Il belong TO him now,
an If anything happens to me, shure,
| 1t II be his loss, not mine. But there is
not always that complete loss of the
wife's identity in the husband, which the
above anecdote suggests. 1t is the wife
that rules the household in rural Ireland
| The husband surrenders 10 her all his
earnings, to the uttermost farthing: an
excellent arrangement for Pat who, feel
ing the money burning in his pocket, as
he says himself is disposed 10 get rid of
it rapidly; and a still more excellent ar
rangement for the sake Of the children.
Bridget is, indeed, Pats guardian angel
On many Saturday, when boy in Lin
erick. l have seen the long line of coun-
try cars returning homeward from mar
ket in the dusk of the summers evenings
the wives driving, and the husbands with
a drop taken" perhaps, quietly in the
straw behind.
There is a story told of young lady
from Cork, who was presented at the
Viceregal Court, Dublin, shortly after her
marriage. The Viceroy has the pleasant
duty of kissing on the cheek the ladies
presented him at q drawing groom; but
when his excellency was about to give
this young lady the regulation salute she
cried: 'Oh, no; that privilege is exclusive
ly reserved for Mr.. o Mahony."
OF course, there are exceptions TO the
general serenity of the domestic hearth,
and the fond attachment between hus-
band and wife. l knew at least of one
TTiS In Erbn
made miserable by a drunken wife. She
had sold everything in the home for drink,
and as a last resource she threatened TO
commit suicide if money to procure liquor
were not forthcoming. Next morning, be-
fore proceeding to work, the husband,
driven TO desperation by his wife's con-
duet left his two new razors lying on
the table. telling her to select the best
one ov Thin" AT night when Pat came
home trembling with apprehension, ne
found his wife huddled up in a corner
not dead, but dead drunk BY her side
was pawn ticket, and on il was written,
Two razors, Is Cd
There is another story of the exception
which proves the rule. Some years ago,
as the mailboat from Ireland was enter
ing Holyhead Harbor lady fell into the
water One of the sailors an Irishman,
jumped overheard and rescued her from
on deck again the husband, who was a
calm spectator of the incident. handed
the brave sailor shilling. The specta-
tors did not hesitate 10 express their in
dignation at the mans meanness, when
the sailor, with native shrewdness threw
a new light on the matter by saving:
"Arrah, don't blame the gintleman: he
knows best; maybe if l hadn't saved her
he'd have given me half a crown l am
iiSnDSed tn har Nd IN, III.
case was not an irshman. History, GER
tainly, does not Indicate his nationality
Marital relations In ireland are as a
rule of the most harmonious character,
and If husband and wife do fall out
occasionally and even resort to blows,
they think nothing the worse of each
other in the end. Pill Lane is a classic
locality in Dublin, which might with
some truth be described as the Billings
gate of the Irish metropolis. That's a
fine black eye you've got, missis," said
man TO a woman sitting over her bas-
ket of FISH in Pill Lane. "Fightin' l SUM-
pose. agin NO L wasn't fightin'," re-
piled the woman. Himself [her hus-
band1 IL was that gave me that and
facing fercely round on her questioner.
she added, and I'd like TO know who
had a better right"
A laborer out of employment applied
for outdoor relief for himself and his
wife at the North Dublin Union We'll.
my good fellow. we must have evidence
that you are legally married. said the
chairman of the relief committee Be
gor. sir, I've the best proof in the wur-
uld," said the applicant, and bending
his head, he displayed n scar on his skull.
Does yer honor think he added I'D
be after takin' that abuse from any wan
but a wife,
Having such happy homes and faithful
wives, is ii any wonder that Irishmen
are loath TO leave them behind? An Irish
car driver was wrapping himself up care
fully before starting on journey on a
cold winters day. You seem to be TAX
ing very good care of yourself said the
impatient fare. ITO be shure | am, sur
replied the driver. What's all the yur-
uld II a man when his wife's widow ~
MICHAEL McDONAt;H.