Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-03-01
eversreen., and contains q Druidical

affairs are called Cromiechs, and were the
places of worship of the pagans. There
are stones here also inscribed with the
sncient Oshsm characters. The Druids
were the ancient priests OF the heather
Irish who flourished before the time OF
st. Patrick, who came to the island Ia
the year 49, and began the work Of civil
izstion and education. Adjoining the
large altar Is q smaller one, used for
purposes Of sacrifice. Near by are some
steps Of stone, called the Witches Stairs.
For tradition says the witches OF old
mounted these stairs to disappear into
the clouds, or to jump from there to the
slower regions"
Before reaching the famous castle we
pass through the little village OF Blsrney,
Nh unpretentious plsce with one hots'.
Its chief support Il Martha Mshoney's
wooden mill, established In 1894, which
gives employment to several hundred
hands, and the killarney Tweed" manu-
factured here Is esteemed all over the
world. The name Bidrney siguiaes urn
OF Flow II Is An ancient place, ss
the history OF Ireland for the year of the
world 35Ol mentions the Cdrrdc Blarnd
or "rock Of Barney" The neighbor-
hood is also rich in Druidical remsins,
stones inscribed with Osham characters,
etc.
Many curious stories hsve gained
credence regarding the history OF the
Barney Stone--one being OF n beautiful
young girl who stood with her hand on
this stone aud kept some soldiers enter
tained by her persuasive bidrney long
enough to enable the ones they were In
pursuit OF TO escape. But any one who
has seen II will know how impossible
such an act vould be unless her arm was
more than 100 feet long. for the stone is
built into the outsiie bsttl ,ment ITO
feet from the ground, consequently the
feat OF kissing the BlArney Stone is n
most dangerous one, for you must be
suspended by the heels over the battle
ment. II wss successfully accomplished,
houeyer, by your correspondent.
The real story Ia much more romin-
tic one and Ia vouched for By Father
Prout, the authority on all mstters Of
history regarding ireland. He ssys
thai "1n this block you behold the most
valuable remnant OF Ireland's ancient
glory, the most precious OF our Pho NJ
elan inheritance. Possessed OF this
treasure, she may we'll b. design'ted
First flower OF the esrth and hr't gem
OF the sea-" Ia his estimation neither
the musical stone Of Memnon, the
orscular stone OF Delphi, the lspid,ry
t,lisman OF the Lydlsn Gyges, nor the
colossal granite Sphynx nor Stonehrnge,
nor the Pelasgic walls of Ps''strlns,
possess 40 much importance. The long
sought for idpis phiiosophcrum, compared
with this jewel, dwiudles Into insignia.
canoe. The Luxor Obeiisk with its
hieroglyphics, the treaty stone OF 1im-
erick with Its historic endesrments, the
zodiscal monument OF Dendersch with
all It's astronomical import, the Elgin
Marbles with all their sculpture, the
Arundellan with all their lettered riches.
cannot for moment stand In competi-
ton with the Blarney Stone.
In 3 conversation with Sir Walter
Scott he says: .1Sir, We built the pyr-
smids before We left Egypt, and all
these obelisks, sphinxes and mennonite
stones are but emblem' OF this great
relic. can convince the most obstinste
skeptic Of the intimate connection that
subsisted between US and those islsnds
which the Romans called insuig Bdledres.
They were called so from the Blsrney
Stone, as the following scale will show
st once to any one accustomed 10 trace
Celtic derivatioDs:
BA LIE A RESI- NsULE- BLARNE."
According TO the history II WAS
brought here by the Pf9nician COLONY
who arrived Ia ireland In the yesr ss3
B. c. The inhabitants Of Tyre and Car
thage for many years hsd II 10 their
possession, hence the origin OF this won
derful tslismsn IL of the remotest an
tiQuity. A chosen body OF Carthsginisn
adventures stole Il away as . safeguard
on their expedition. After encounterinR
q desperate storm they landed 10 the
Cove OF Cork. They had sufficient tact
tn give out that Il had been thrown over
board to relieve the ship, 10 latitude SO
degrees Ia minutes, and longitude ~ de-
grees. A search was ordered by the
Senate Of Carthage, and the Mediterra-
mean Was dragged but without effect.
IL WAS worshipped for many centuries,
and st last built into the wall Of Blsrney
Castle. The castle was built by Connar
Mccarthy 500 years ago, and originally
comprised four large towers joined into
one, but the onlv remaining portion Ia
the massive Donjon tower, with walls Is
feet thick and 80 feet high. IL Is the
most picturesque ruin in all Britain, aside
from Its romantic interest. The melan-
choly ruins bear the aspect OF strength
40 utterly subdued ss TO remind one
forcibly that the glory OF Ireland be-
longs to the past.
Some Irish poet laments the fall OF
Blsrney In this wise:
q Blarney Castle me dariint
Shure you're nothing at all but stone,
And small little twist OF auld Ivy,
Och, wisha. ullaloo uliagone'
And Thomas Moore also commentaries
In his poetic lines, "'Tis Gone and For
ever" ss we'll as 10 many other patriotic
poems, the fall of hspless Erin.
IT'S gone and forever. the light We saw breaking.
Like Heavens nrst dawn DER the sleep OF the
dead,
When man, from the slumber Of ages awaking.
Looked upward and bless'd the pure ray ere il
fed,
'Ts gone, and the CLEANS Il has left OF its burning
But deepen the long night Of bondage and mourn
Ing.
That dark DER the kingdom Of earth Is returning.
And darkest OF all. hapless Erini Ger thee.
MARTHA MAXIM.