The Irish standard., 1900-09-01

Mail publishes an interesting account
of a disagreement" which occurred
recently at Ballymacnois.
When the disagreement" so-called,
had reached its most interesting phase
two members of the Royal Irish con-
'stabulary showed themselves from be
hind the turf stack, at the opposite
side of the street, and with them the
parish priest.
"What's this at all at all?" his rev.
erence cried, looking around with wide
eyes and pursed-out lips, as'if he had
never seen fight in all his life. 'Is
it you, Tim Finnigan, that has been
liftin' your hand against a fellow
craythure? Oh, Timothy, it's ashamed
Of you, am; and the gentleman Il
stranger, too." Maybe it was myself
that was bit hasty your reverence" !"
interposed Timmy's late opponent, per-
ceiving that more serious issue than
he had looked for was imminent May
be Mister Finnigan isn't so much to
blame"
"Sir," said the priest, "you're a-a-
magnanimous opponent, whatever your
name may be-"
"NIy names O'Dwyer, and it's from
the county Roscommon that come,
sir, and L do bit in the pig jobbing," !"
said the man.
'It's an honorable business, Mr..
O'Dwyer," said his reverence. "And
what was your difference with Jimmy,
sir?" "Faith, and it was no more than
difference of a sixpence all told, Fa-
ther Conn.," said Mr.. Finnigan. "You
must know, your reverence, that when
paid one and sixpence for O'Dwycr's
tea last night, and his bed, and bite
of breakfast this morning.
"Holy fly, a bite-he says Il bite, and
it was four eggs that had for my tea
and six for my breakfast, with cou-
pie Of pounds of ham, and he said
eighteen pence for that!'
"And plenty, too," said Timmy.
stoutly. But says he, two shillings
is the least that I'll pay you says he;
'and that won't more nor pay for the
bacon and eggs says he. One and
six is my CHARGE says I. It's insult
ing of me y'are,' says he. It's well
able am to pay you the two slillings,'
says he. And so one word led to an
other till he goes and calls me Il rob-
Der for charging too little robbing Of
herself and children, he calls it, with a
bOwld face. Sure that was more'n
flesh and blood could stand, Father
Conn.,"
A murmur Of sympathy and acquics-
cence went round the circle, but his
reverence checked it.
'Whist, We rapscallions" he said
and they were whist. Then turning to
the inn-keeper, he shook his head with
an affectation of sadness that was re-
ally artistic. GLOW burst you preshume
to dictate to the gentleman what he
should pay, Timothy Fnnigan?" he
inquired. Its good mind 1 have
this day to make ye take half a crown
from him for your impotence"
"Ah, your reverence wouldn't be that
hard on q boy" protested Mr.. Finni-
gan.
And then Mr.. O'Dwycr, with in
creased magnanimity, tried to explain
that his vindictiveness did not run to
half crown. He would be quite sat-
isfied if his reverence would induce
Mr.. Finnigan to take the two shillings
instead Of the eighteen pence that he
wished to charge. After some delicate
negotiations ON this basis, the good
priest scored q diplomatic triumph,
and the status quo ante bellum was
resumed.
I need not observe that fights for
similar reasons do not occur in other
parts Of Europe.
Altogether my stay in Ireland has
been exceptionally pleasant. Yester-
day spent among the Wicklow hills,
than which there is no more delightful
spot ON earth.