The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1901-03-15

RUINS OF THE OLD MONASTERY
eight years before a book entitled
"The Life and Purgatory of St. Pat
rick" had been printed in Spain, and
this is what gave the dramatist his
materials.
In this day of Spanish study in AM
erica there is the beginning of re-
vival of Spanish literature and doubt
less Calderon will become more famil-
lar to American readers. No other
drama from his pen will prove so in
terestlng to American readers. The
author perpetrates an anachronism by
making Sir Owain (whom he calls
Enjoy a contemporary of the Irish
saint. Otherwise he adheres closely
to the accepted accounts of the lives
Of both. In the drama Patrick and
EMO are both wrecked upon the Irish
coast and brought before the king
the former receives only contempt
while the latter is favored by the mon
arch. EMO elopes with and murders
the kings daughter, while Patrick con-
verts his hearers to the Christian faith
The impious king demands an ocular
demonstration of heaven, hell and pur-
gatory, and enters the cave in the islet
Of Loug Derg, from which he never
emerges. EMO, returning to Ireland
CATER his flight therefrom) to commit
a murder, is prevented and tormented
night after night by a mysterious fig
hoo11i1yy c1na 1-o1 Wi ~,
whom the wicked knight proposes, at
last, to fight. The latter finds, how
ever, that his sword only cuts the air,
He pursues the figure, and tears off its
cloak, only to find a skeleton, while
spectral voice exclaims: II, alas
am EMO. Howsdost thou fail to recog-
nize thine own self?"
After this the unique adventure, sc
suggestive of the later known Rubaiyat
of Khayyam, EMO is penitent, and
seeks the saints in the cavern. On his
way. he meets the kings daughter, re.
stored to life He enters the cavern.
from which the impenitent never re.
turned. But tosthe joy of all he again
comes forth purified from all crime
and relates the strange scenes through
which he has passed in the neither
world. -~r----'-s~-...~
:;;.s.s:.-.. .st ::.es s,s3.ss:a
l. The drama is one Of great power, anc
of absorbing interest. >: It will repay. q
perusal,s even in the imperfect transla:
lions now to be found in the market.
1t is claimed that the original mon.
astery on Saints. island was erected
BY St, Daveog, a disciple of st. Pat,
rick. This was destroyed by;3 thu
Danes an the:'ninths: century. In tbs
Thirteenth esntalTysthe Island was, al.
ready very fameus.s.s In ,1497s the; placss
i'WRs- devastated by. eEder OF Pope Alex:
ander vi, but it was restored, BY order
of Pope Plus III. Twice has the sane
by .laWz==Qnce III
1882 and again in 17O4. However, nc
claw has been ableeto lessen, the inter.
est III this ~singular fascinating spot:
with It's strange history and; assqcia.
tions. At the eseFt tTpe about 4,o0l
xFopae viegeSt ion 12s2s1 annually. ! Ii
bd yar i and sixty,broad,
ein] VI ssaps|ak j. ben tow:
of sixty bedrooms, and six lodging
hofses: Aear by, con.
tains the ruins of the old, old monas.
fft t asstE9Yal. I'M tt,s. The cavern r.
likewise, was H3stroSed. ~ III
iloas 1E.-. g f / q. a.
f3ns consequence Of emigratibd there
HI sfater prepon defance OF women
II Norway than, In almost: ant other
country IN, Europe. The census %
91asat shoFsd mat: III ere was q. excess
OF women over men Of almost 10000.
while In 1876 this excess only amount
ed to $4,000.