Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1899-11-25

y
of some doughty rebel who had there de-
fed the pursuit of the redcoats. Maud
Come loved them all
At the age of ten she was sent to Eng
land for her education. -Four years later,
when she was home for vacation, &C.
CURED the episode that converted her
from a thoughtless schoolgirl into wo-
man with a purpose.
She was driving home one cold and wet
October evening through the region of
Glengariff, close to the shore of Bantray
bay. In the midst Of the desolation she |
heard the sounds of women wailing and !
saw a pickering light.
Hard by the ruin of what had once
been a peasants cabin she found fish
ing boat turned bottom up and propped
few feet above the sod by stones. Around
it for shelter against the weather were
curtained the boats sails
From here the light came, and the
wailing, The fishing boat was house
and house of mourning.
Col. Comes daughter pulled aside a
corner of the sail and entered. She was
made welcome with the gentle hospitality
that distinguishes the poorest of her race.
In the midst of the circle that crouched
on the sodden turf lay Michael McGrath,
with candles at his head and at his feet.
The sails were inadequate protection
against the storm, aud drops of rain fell
upon the wasted face of the dead.
In the cries of the women and children
swaying in the candlelight, in the dark
faces of the men who bowed their heads
in silence, Maud Come with ready intui-
ton OWNED that she was face to face with
no common tragedy.
And these were the facts she learned
Michael McGrath had built his own
cabin, and he titled his little farm with
industry. Lord Bantry, his landlord,
wishing to turn the land into pasture,
raised his rent from ( AS to Sl05. Unable
to pay the advance, an eviction was
ordered.
Attached to the soil, and remembering
Parnel's watchword, keep a firm grip
on your homestead" McGrath barricaded
the place, and with his wife, sister and
four children, withstood fve-days' siege
by using boiling water as a weapon OF de-
Tense. Then the little family was starved
out
But this was not final.
When the coast was clear McGrath
moved back to his little homestead. That
was breach of the law, and he was sent
4 to Jail. --'-''-- r E
His wife went back to the farm. She
was sent to Jail.
!. His sister and eldest daughter went
back. They were sent to Jail.
This troublesome family kept the au
thoities busy long time, for no soonei
would one of them be released than he o.
she would go back home.
All were arrested and imprisoned il
this way three times. Then, as a last re
T: sort, Lord Bantry destroyed the hous'
} McGrath had built.
E The undaunted McGrath turned to hi
fishing boat. Neighbors helped him t.
4 move it over to the farm, alongside tn
ruins OF the homestead.
S His case was celebrated one by tina
y time. The Land League helped him witt
. funds. But Imprisonment and exposur
|, had done their work. He caught typhu
r fever, and the canvas walls Of his hous
helped Lord Bantry to get rid of an IN
e welcome tenant.
e Such was the story Maud Come hear
that chill October evening. What sh
Il had seen shocked her so profoundly the
It for weeks afterward she was i'll in bed.
e Father" she said, when she was re
covering, "I'll do something for Irelan
It yetp'
It Col. Come died six years later. HI
# wife had long been dead. At twent
It Maud Come was an orphan, with
e handsome fortune in her own right.
Ireland's prospects were much brighte
d then, for Gladstone was in power an
IF working hand in hand with Parnel
n Then came the Salisbury Government
n Coercion.
$. When Ireland's cry went up once NOR
% Maud Come remembered her vow.
ir She turned away from the splendor
n Dublin Castle, where her wit and beaui
Ie made her an honored guest at every VIZ
regal entertainment, and hurried to Don
N gal to use her fortune to relieve distres
at and her eloquence to assail what 81
u deemed tyranny.
d. She quickly won the confidence OF ia
ID nell and the other leaders of the natio
i'd and by the peasants was hailed as d
liverer.
Of Later she went to France to emil
lis French sympathy for her countryme
of Her public addresses became a vogu
mt In Paris she established pape
lis IL Irlande Libre." which is still issue
n Two years ago she visited this countr
We and received magnificent welcome fro
DIS the Irish of America.
And now. Will Maud Comes reve
ence for the Maid of Orleans lead her
in ride into battle in the vanguard OF Il
es Boersl
70 FORTY HOURS DEVOTION.
Rev. Father Murphy will Inaugural
Qr a-...-f I~...->tt.,s. a. Tho Chnr