The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-10-04
Catholics and Protest
ants Agree in Main.
Queer SuperstitiOns of tire
People Of Glengariffc.
Especial correspondence of the PRESS. }


g.. London, Sept, q, 1884,
AS the traveller journeys through the
Emerald Isle .he realizes more and more
that the former popular idea of a starving
island is extinct. Although, to be sure,
at present there is no profuseness except
that winch nature lavishes in some parts,
there is little poverty and almost no
squalor or misery. Even around the lit
tie novels with their thatched or mud
roofs there is a well-trimmed garden and
81 the surroundings smile with enviable
contentrnent end joy.
Some American suggests that in Ireland
al! that is needed to obtain ruin lie to
buTu the roof; and this appears apparent
Wien we often suddenly come upon two
moss-covered walls which mark the
boundaries of a former Irish homo. This
roof comes down SO low that it is hard
to conjecture concern ing the domestic
life under its caves. But in some sections,
NO doubt. besides the family circle, con-
sisting of several generations, the pigs
and sheep and even COWS are partakers of
the general good cheer.
Although we cav only two or three
persons who represented our ideas of the
typical Irishman in America, one can
see that they pass the same happy GO
lucky existence as when in our country.
Hosts of children play around the door;
and in the city streets little urchins hard
ly more than two or three years OF age
tug and carry others of seemingly the
same tender years and really of the same
size. But rural life is very fascinating,
ana attractive in nearly every respect;
and you wonder how the sons and
daughters reared in such congenial,
though marrow, SURF findings and
Tartaking of this. perhaps, question
able prosperity can get accustomed TO
our broad American way of living; and
you cease TO be surprised at their con-
slant longings for the simplicity of their
early life in the Old Country, where the
people seem TO have found the "phiIoso-
piers stone," and II all they tnnoh does
not turn to gold, their cheerful disposition
enables them to get out OF their surround
ings more than its equivalent
The average Irishman receives the
American tourist into his country with
great effusion and much blarney; and in
his humble way he cannot do enough to
ohliEe the American and make his So
journ with them agreeable.
In all. we coached fifty or sixty miles
through Southern Ireland to the Lakes
OF Killarney, through a charming coun-
try diversified BY an ever changing noun
tain and lake scenery. On leaving Cork,
tanl IN 81,
hours by rail as far as Bantry (''the White
Strand") which Is situated on a magnifl-
cent inlet OF water called the bay of
Bantry. This ride in the cars was en-.
livened and made interesting by the en-
trance of Catholic priest who got of at
Bandon, place rendered conspicuous
from the fact of its early antagonism to
the Catholic faith; this ultra Protestant
proclivity continued up to the last half
OF this century and during the first part
of 1t no Catholic was allowed within the
Limits OF Bandon. From its inGolerant
attitude 1t was known as the Southern
Derry. When Dean Swift first entered
the town he is said to hayo written this
inscription on one CT the gates:
Turk. Jew or Atheist may enter here
but not Papist."
On the same wall in reply there was
added by some humorist this inscription:
Whoever wrote this wrote it well,
The same is written on the gates OF
He'll"
These priests whom one meets abroad
are alw avs very scholarly and entertain
ing men; and this one, besides interest
ing us with the above narration, proved
to be SO instructive In conversation on
general topics that some one remarked,
on his taking leave, that it was hard to
see how we were going TO get along with
out him. He told ug all about the early
history of the region and the present
state of society. One of the things he
pointed out was the ruins OF house
where the poet Spsnser had reslded, out
side the town, when he had written some
eulogistio stanZ9s in honor OF the city.
This priest seemed one of the fortunate
few in the world to whom the very fact
Of existence Is delight He lived evil
IDENTIFY at Eandon with his ilook, happy in
the idea that the former Gays of intoler-
ance were over: fer anything like perse-
eution to a Catholic, Tram earliest times,
depresses and casts him down in the
same proportion as the early Christians
were buoyed up into exalted heroism
under the same circumstances.
1t seems that almost all over the coun-
try at tie present time there is great re-
hgious freedom of thought and that Cath
Ollie ana Protestant for the most part
mingls together without any jarsing as
cord. Lut in tas northern part, near
Belfast. there ia gacd deal of feeling.
azd in Jsiy and August each party Gale
hrates respectively in honor of his belief.
1hen there are free fights and much ami