The Irish standard., 1901-01-05

Queenstown of one of the ocean liners
bound for America has seen many
sad scenes which will never be eff
faced from the memory. 1t is hard
to part from our dear homes, but the
cruel hand OF tyranny and oppression,
which has ruined the industries of
Ireland and crushed her people, forces
us to leave and seek our fortunes in
distant lands. When we think of the
glorious history of Ireland and what
our forefathers suffered and sacrificed
for faith and fatherland. it is no Won
der that we leave it With a vengeance
and pledge our lives to continually
labor and work increasingly till we
hoist the sunburst of Ireland over
College Green and proclaim to the
world that Ireland is free and i'll
dependent once more. Then will mill
lions of the Irish race now scattered
over the earth return and make our
land happy and prosperous. May that
| day soon come is the fcrvent prayer
of every true and loving child of Erin.
1t was the writer's good fortune to
make a pleasure trip to Ireland last
summer and once more ramble through
her green fields and recall those happy
days which l spent in my boyhood
days. Oh, Ireland, dear, every foot of
thy ground is sacred to me and what
hallowed memories those grand old
ruins of churches and abbeys bring to
my mind.
| What JOY is experienced by the exile
wien he steps on board the Atlantic
liner which is to carry him across the
blue ocean to his home in the Emerald
Isle. l cannot describe my feelings OH
that eventful day, June 10, when
stepped on board the Oceanic to sail
for the land of my birth. What Il
scene l witnessed on that day. The
| memory of it will remain with me for
ever; everyone was SO happy when
| they thought of what beautiful trip
| was in store for them. 1t was truly Il
grand sight to see one of the trans
| Atlantic liners departing from New
York With n full passenger list OF
tourists who are going abroad to spend
Il few months. The trip down the
river until Sandy Hook is reached is
full of interest to all the passengers as
the scene is very pretty. With So
cial lot of passengers the weeks voy-
age can be made very pleasant and
one long to he remembered and such
was my trip. l had the pleasure OF
| meeting II. j. Mccormick and ID. 4.
| Sullivan. of st. Paul, on the steamer.
both members of the Ramsey county
| A. O. H.. and we had a most enjUya-
bic week together. Tuesday afternoon.
June 10. about . p. III. we sighted Ire
land, and ut once Il cheer was given
by those who We're the lucky ones to
| Queenstown after first sighting land
and the grand wild scenery along the
coast of Ireland is something that the
| tourist will always remember. The
many headltlnds that extend out int<,
| the ocean seem TO he like so many
| hands stretching out Il welcome to the
returning Irish exile and recall the
many poetic pieces that we all have
read With deep feeling touching on the
return of our people to the Emerald
Isle. In the words of the poet l said
"Ah, there you are, ashore, macliree,
most charming to behold,
Where l first saw the light of day, be-
meath your green and gold,
Your mountain peaks are now in view.
your hills and valleys fair,
For there's no land throughout this
earth, with you, dear, can COM
I've thought Of you in distant lands
and climes far, far away
And often with an aching heart to God
for you did pray
| After reaching Queenstown and GO
| ing through the customary eXamila-
ton at the customs house | proceed
ell to the city of Cork, the city of my
birth. Cork is the leading city in Nun
ster and has always been most prom
inent in all national movements. IN
the stirring times in Ireland so active
were the people Of Cork that it earned
the title of Rebel Cork" The con-
stitucncy of Cork was represented in
parliament for years by the late Hon.
G. S. Parnell, and the writer's father
was the first man that nominated the
great leader for this Office many years
ago.
Cork sits snugly at tho foot of and
leans her back up against high hills
that shelter her from the north. and
the breeze that blows up from the sea
is fresh and miltlly bracing. From !;
height to the north overlooking the
city an excellent view may be had
Of the city and it's surroundings. TO
the west the eye can easily trace the
river winding it's way to the sea
from it's fountain home over the hills
and far away. 1t has been lillened to
the silver string of rosary to which
the many white villages along the
green banks were as so many pearly
beads, white and shining in the sun