The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-06-21
Visit ID The
[AND OF ERIN
Fabian, Harpist of Wichita,
Tells of ireland
STUDY OF ITS MUSIC
Talk with the Real Paddy of
Shamrock
STUDY OF ITS MUSIC


resident of Wichita for three months
and during that time has made many
friends. Fabiani, as he is known in Italy,
has spent great part of his life in trav-
cling, and thus is an interesting talker
When asked Tor good story by an Eagle
Sunday story man, he gave the following.
which described his visit to Ireland:
Many people seem TO share the feel
Ing Lord Beaconsheld expressed: / like
to hear aman talk about himself; It's the
subject he knows most about and |
think he would have added, especially if
he talks of scenes that were brightest.
and friends that were dearest in his past
life
Some of my pleasantest memories car
ry me back TO past journeyings and So
Journings in a country where it rains
sometimes six days in the week. | well
remember a little walk of twenty-nine
miles over the Irish mountains on
July day. during viii IN, from II a. m.
until night such dense sheets of water
poured down that 1 lost my way in the
better attractions than its climate, and
TO find those out you must both live in
It and love it. And certainly l found in
the ancient land of the harp many love-
able people, full of kindly hospitality,
honesty and cleverness. When the spring
came, l thought of which of my friends
l would write to and, according to Gus
tom over there, l wrote Dear Mr.. or Mrs.
-: l am now free to visit your part Of
the country and, if quite agreeable 10 you,
would be glad to spend a short time at
your house They at once considered.
not whether they would receive me, but
whether they could offer me business as
well as hospitality and l was almost sure
OF the invitation which meant not only
profuse hospitality. picnics. etc. but also
pupils in the house at god terms.
and. when there my walks around
filed me With love for the peasantry.
For who else like dear ould Paddy wild
his coat buttoned behond,' could live so
contentedly, ever ready with his charac
teristic glory be to God and retain the
native politeness of true Irish peasantry,
in a mud-foored dog-kennel. deprived OF
the comforts and enjoyments of life, with
out shoes or stockings or a bit Of meat
for dinner; rearing in his dark, damp
cabin fine pig to pay the rint,' and
never tasting any of its meat; manu-
featuring heaven knows how'd a barrel
of sweet, pure butter made in a crowded
close hut amid the reck of the pungent
peatsmoke, yet quite free from its taste
or odor?
How l should like to sketch for you
honest blacksmith Sullivan's mud-fioored
cabin where he his wife. children, pig.
donkey and forge were all huddled to-
gether in admired disorder when running
IN one autumn day out of one of those sud
den showers that pour down uneXpect-
eddy out of an apparently clear Irish sky!
He bid me heartily welcome, though he
had not cen a chair to offer me. Mrs.
Sullivan ran and got me a bowl Of fine
sweet milk. and l tell you that royalty's
presence never embarrassed me as much
as that hospitality amid that squalor,
What was l TO do2 Offer money to a
woman whose conduct was that Of a
lady? a fine little boy-One of those
lovely Irish children l can neither de-
scribe or forget-came near me. so I tried
to give him a silver coin unobserved:
but his watchful mother rushed across to
me. quite excited and gave it back No,
sorr. we don't take money for that" L
can aver that Irish hospitality. among
rich and poor-as l have known tire
duces to practice the dignfied Arabs
polite phrase: My house and all it con-
tains are al your service.
morning at the house of a clerical friend.
whose ambition was 10 be very English,
don't you know, yet they could not help
sharing the native genius common among
a peasantry they but poorly appreciated
and which in the southwest Of Ireland,
has. like their personal beauty. an orr
entail richness. perhaps derived from
Phoenician strain I'm their ancestry. for
the term 'Fenian is but an abreiation
of 'Phoenician
The oldest daughter never instructed
In music. they said. sang to me beauti-
fully that glorious ancient music OF Erin
which bears such obvious signs or having
been written 10 the accompaniment OF
Treisnd's national instrument. the harp.
Her brother came straight in from farm
ing and accompanied her sweet voice with
a manly. well-uned bass. on retiring
to rest after such musical treat what
wonder If my dreams recalled that far
OF epoch OF Er!ns ancient glories. when
I'VE are tod by Calico the great as
tronomers- father. and the poet Dantel
tuneful Italy Itself rich in the ancieni
culture of Greece and Rome. learned the
ha-, from Ia 3S who came from tina,
poor. rain-weshed 'nook-shotten.' vet he
roic green isle in the far west: when TO
great chieftains or sub-king's. banquet
ing hall was complete without the harp
that hung on the wall ready for each
cultured guest To contribute a lay in
honor Of his country, his aid or his lady
love3 The Irish heroes OF that time well
indicated their couHtry's prowess and
culture. by founding many OF the great
est houses in distant countries. notably
Russia.
And We are all familiar with the Irish
names Of some Of England greatest gen
erals. poets and lawyers OF today This
country has done a real service 10 hU-
mainly by afforeinE 10 thousands u II
ishuen an opportunity 10 arise out 81
hopeless poverty and discomfort and de-
velOp here their powers OF usefulness.
That bright sense OF glorious hUmor gen
orally found IN gifted natures has made
the Irishmans quaint drollsry and fern
quite proverbisl and seems given by kind
heaven 10 save him from the melancholy
madness that his surroundings might
drive duIler natures TO. The same rich