Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1899-06-17

organized for the benefit of the hospital
by its founder, DIR. Messe, was the lead
ing one, but there were others, notably
those at st. James Gate and at
Bachelors Walk on the quays, and later
on one in Stephens Green and another
at Portobello, Rathmines.
Stephens Green seemed to succeed the
Rotunda in popularity. Quaint old prints
show us the promenade in the former
place. 1t was round the square that Dolly
Monroe, the famous beauty, used to take
an airing at O'Clock in the morning,
choosing that early hour in order to es-
cape from the too persistent attentions of
her many admirers.
For nothing has Dublin been more
celebrated than for its beauties. OF its
bevy of fair women the Cunning sisters
are the acknowledged queens. Accord
ing to Horace Walpole, they were "the
most beautiful women i'll the world"
and they took both Dublin and London
by storm. In the latter city they had to
be provided with guard to protect them
from the intrusive admiration of the
crowds which surrounded them whenever
they appeared out of doors. Their whole
history reads like a fairy tale-from the
time when they emerged from their re-
mote home in the West of Ireland to the
days on which they married respectively
the Earl of Coventry and the Duke of
Hamilton.
The promenade was the chief rendez-
vous of the beaux and bellies during the
day time, but as we'll as the numerous
"routs" and parties held at night there
was another great meeting place, the
most brilliant of all the assemblies, viz
the Parliament House.
In the social life of the period the
Houses of Lords and Commons played
prominent part One of the delights of
the cultured and fashionable world in
Dublin was to go down to the House in
the evening when good debate was ex-
pected. The famous picture of Barrett
gives a good idea of the appearance
which the House presented on the occa-
sion of full dress debate. 1t is certain
ly more picturesque assembly than the
present British House of Parliament. Be
it noted that the ladies looking down
from the gallery in all the glory of their
evening toilets and sparkling jewels have
no grill interposed between them and the
view of the legislators below. Irishmen
did not see the force of the grill arrange
ment, and that their eyes sometimes
wandered for refreshment to the gallery
may be gathered from the statement of a
contemporary chronicler, who informs us
Lord Charlemont first saw and fell in
love with his wife, then the lovely Anne
Birmingham, in the gallery of the House
of Parliament"
Princess Dashkof, Catherine Of Rus
sia's maid of honor, speaks in her me-
moirs of her frequent visits to the House
during her stay in Dublin, which she
seems to have enjoyed nightly"
Days Club, adjoining the House, was
much frequented by the M. P's. 1t was
a fast enough resort, where gambling for
high stakes and other reckless amuse-
ments were carried on.
But of all the clubs, none have such a
reputation for reckless dissipation as had
the He'll Fire Club. 1t fully justified its
name, and the members We'd with each
other in desperate courses The club had
several meeting places in County Dublin,
| - Tod
OIL the slopes of Mont Pelier, one of the
Dublin mountains; another in the grounds
now inclosed by Rathfarnham Abbey
one in Dame street and another in Daw
son street. A portrait group of some Of
!. the leading spirits of the club is to b'
J seen in the national gallery.
The Dublin people we're always fond o.
} going to the play. The theaters open a
: that time were the Smock-alley Theater
in Aungier street; the Rainsford-street
) George 's-lane and Crowe-street Theaters
: Here many famous actors trod the boards
and in the Smock-alley Theater Sheri
dams plays were performed to enthusias
tic audiences.
"Fair Dublin City" was indeed an ami
= mated place in these days. The aristoc
, racy had so many amusements that on
S is not surprised to hear that they coca
sionally escaped to the country to res
awhile IRON the excitements of city life.
AS we'll as going to stay at their coun
try seats they sometimes went to healtl
e resorts in the metropolitan county. Blu
a the resorts to which they betook them
S selves were not those which are fashion
: able nowadays.
Thus one reads in the diaries of fash
ionable ladies of the period: "We ar
e thinking of going for sea bathing t
' Ringsend," and again, 81 am taking tn
3 girls for an agreeable change to Harold
: Cross"
4 How funny it soundsl
When long journeys were undertake