The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1899-12-16
Irish Repartee.
From the London Telegraph.

From the London Telegraph.
Repartee and sarcasm are most wisely
and skilfully used when they are employed
in ridiculing humbugs, exposing shams, re-
buking rudeness, furnishing bulhes and
pricking the wind bagssf self-conceit.
Chief Baron O. Grady, subsequently the
first Lord Guillamore, had dry humor
and biting wit The latter was so fine that
its sarcasm was often unperceived by the
object against whom it was directed. A
legal friend of his, who was extremely
studious, but in conversation exasperating-
" dull, showed the judge over his newly
built house The lawyer prided himself
especially on library, which he had con-
trived for his own use, so secluded from
the rest of the building that he could pore
over his books in private quite secure from
disturbance. This is capital, - exclaimed
o. Grady. MY dear fellow, you could
read and study here from morning till
night, and no human being would be one
bit the wiser
This recalls the capital story told of the
late Father Healy of Bray. A pompous
friend was showing Father Healy and other
guests through his new house, on which
he had spent good deal in furnishing and
decorating. In the library the host, waving
his hand toward the book shelves, exclaim-
ed Here, surrounded by these best
friends, feel most happy. "And no
tice, said Father Healy, examining some
of the volumes, THAT, like true friend,
YOU never cut them.
During the famine of lS47 the local re-
lief committee in Limerick had for one OF
its members country landlord who had the
reputation of being rather exacting to his
tenants. The people asked for bread,
sir. and you threw them a stone, said
priest at one of the meetings Of the COM
mittee. ''Not at all, sir, replied the
landlord; they asked for potatoes, and |
generally gave them half stone. Pota-
toes are sold in Ireland by the stone weight
At a meeting of another Of these local re
lief committees the question Of a substitute
for the potato was considered. Don
YOU think, sir. said a member Of the
committee. addressing the chairman. that
turuips would be wholesome and natri-
tious food for the people I? Certainly,
replied the chairman, very wholesome
and nutritious-with mutton, Of course.
Charles Lever, the novelist, was once the
guest of DIR. Whatley, the archbishop Of
Dublin, at his county seat Among the
other guests were some Of the expeetant
clergy, who paid submissive court to their
host While the archbishop and his guests
were walking through the grounds the pre-
late plucked from bush leaf which, he
declared, had most DauseOus favor,
Taste it, said he, handing the leaf to
one Of the clergy. The latter smilingly
obeyed, and then, with Il WY face, sub
scribed to the botanical orthodoxy Of the
archbishop Taste it, you, Lever, said
the gratifed prelate, handing the leaf TO
the novelist ''No, thank you, said
Lever, laughing, my brother is not in
your grace $ diocese.
Michael Joseph Barry, one Of the
Young Ireland poets, was appointed,
long after lS4S, a police magistrate IN
Dublin. During the Fenian troubles an
Irish American arrested in Dublin ON sus-
picion Of being in Ireland with seditious
designs was brought up before Barry. A
constable swore that the suspect, when ar
rested, was wearing Republican hat,
"a Republican hat said the counsel for
the prisoner; docs your worship know
what that means ? Il presume, said
Barry, that a Republican hat is bat
without crown.
A committee was formed 20 erect mon
ument over the grave Of popular Dublin
physician who died some years ago and
was buried at Mount jerome cemetery. 4
witty citizen who was asked to suggest an
inscription for the memorial recommended
the use Of the famous allusion 10 Sir CHRIS
TOPPER Wren, the architect, in 81. Paul 5
Cathedral, London. Isl mouumentum
requiris eircumspiee IF you seek his
monument look around; if you doubt his
merit. behold his works An eminent
Dublin doctor was member of house
party in the district in which he bad be-
gun his career One day he was observed
in a neighboring church yard. "What Is
he doing among the graves asked one
Of the party. Paying visit to some of
his old patients, replied another.
There Is one good old story Of Irish re-
partee which has done duty FOR many
years. II turns up again and again, but as
there is real humor in it those who have
often heard it must smile when it comes in
their way. An English tourist, under the
guidance Of a peasant, was admiring the
scenery of the Galtee Mountains. Point
ing to a gap in the hills, the guide said 1T
was known locally as 1.-THE Devils Bit,
and low bill hard by was called The
Devils Chair Indeed, remarked
the Englishman, ''the devil seems to have
a good deal Of property in these parts.
yes, sir, rejoined the Irishnan; but
he is an absentee landlord, and lives in
England. y
--suAsn