Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1899-02-18

Instantaneous to the grave of Wolfe
Tone proved so interesting last week that
it is decided to give two more chapters
as they were written by Mr.. Michael
Cavanagh:
A Peeler's power I'll let you know.
-Barney Ryan.
A half hours ride brought us to Sal
Inns, about twelve miles from Dublin. On
the platform, amongst the Heterogeneous
crowd of travellers, porters, car drivers
and oilers, the most conspicuous individ-
ual was the omnipresent "Peeler." There
lie stood posed for inspection, with all
his paraphernalia of Enfield rifle, saber
bayonet, black belts, brass buttons and
jaunty cap, its glazed strap supporting
his smoothly shaved chin. The three
VS." on his sleeve denoted his rank,
while his supercilious air of authority
evinced his determination of duly sup
porting his dignity as the embodied rep
resentation of British rule in Ireland.
Surveying the newly arrived passen-
gers with a quick but scrutinizing
glance, his natural instinct led him to
view our group with particular suspicion'
and we were deemed worthy of a more
elaborate inspection. His keen eye
marked all the peculiarities of our APP
pearance.
From the cut of our "meguls" to that
of our boots was noted in his mental
memorandum book as carefully as if he
fully expected to have us figuring in Her
Majesty's Hue and Cry" at no distant
day. His scrutiny ended he assumed a
self-satis6ed expression, and sauntered
carelessly to where we stood engaged in
hiring car to convey us to our destina.
ton, his object evidently being to add
the testimony of his ears to that of his
eyes. But here ne was destined to disap-
pointment. The quick eye of the ''garvey''
had noticed his furtive approach in our
rear, and without giving him time to adj
vance with ear-shot he directed our at
tention by familiar nod and signif-
cant Zine day, sargeant" Seeing his
little game was blocked. the baffled func-
tionary turned on his heel and and with
drew, to the evident satisfaction of the
grinning car driver.
This jolly fellow was good specimen
of his class as they are to be met in the
rural districts. Without the slangy glib
ness of his city confrere, he proved him.
self no ways deficient in native country
wit. Though not bashful when soliciting
our custom, he was not obtrusive. Nat
urally of a social and communicative
disposition, he wished to feel his way, as
it were, before venturing on what per-
haps might be considered too much
familiarity. If he could only ascertain
who we were he could shape his con-
duct accordingly. 1t did not take long
to satisfy his curiosity on that point.
Our looks of approval at the way in
which he thwarted the "sargeant" en-
couraged him, and we were no sooner
under weigh for Sallins village than he
made his first approaches with:
"Thim peelers, bad scran to 'em, dc
be pokin' their noses everywhere. No
stranger can come across one of ZEN
but his measure will be taken-all as war
as If he was deserter with thirty shil
Inns reward for capturin' him. 1t makes
me both mad an ashamed to see the i'm
pideHce o. the fellows"
"Well, my boy, so far as we are con
cerned, their attention doesn't matter &
traneen, for, if they don't like our looks
there's no love lost between u.s."
These remarks of Col. Smith satisfied
him, and he lost no further time in cir
cumlocution, but opened his mind al
once.
They're very suspicious of people OF
yere appearance of late, sir; for-if
might make so bould-I was thinkin' "
might be Gentlemen from America come
to visit the Ould Sod once more"
Eyes, some of us are from America
but we're all as Irish as yourself from the
shirt in and the heart OUT
"Mushal wasn't meself right Wislia
give me the hand. Ye're welcome home
an l wish there was fifty thousand o.
yere sort come with ye."
Being assured that his laudable wisl
was heartily reciprocated, he pushed hi
inquiries further, ergerly exclaiming:
"An' tell me now, are ye the men tha
came over with MacManus!'
"Some Of them"
"Wisha, glory be to the Lord but 'til
I'm proud to have We on me carl I'll BE-
bail now It's out to Wolfe Tones gray,
ye're goin'. ! seen Gentlemen from Dub
lin out there sometimes, an remimbe
whin the tombstone was first put owe
him. was only a little fellow thin, bu
i hear an ould man be the name o. Toal
who lived near us thin, tell the strange
gintlemen all about the family o. thu
Tones that had farm thereabouts whil
he was young man. He touId EN-
about "Ninety-eight," too. for he had