The midland journal., 1903-12-18
KISSED THE BLARNEY STONE.
New Jersey Lad Describes in Graphic
Way How He Accomplished
the Feat.

Two young NeWarkers recently made
n short trip abroad, their first stop hav-
ing been at Queenstown, Ireland, and
one of them, in a letter to friend
here, describes in an interesting and
humorous way how the pair kissed the
Blarney stone, famous in legend and
song, relates the Newark News. The
stone is located on the easterly side
| of the tower of Blarney castle, about
15O feet from the ground. There are
two ways that it may be kissed, both
/ being hazardous to degree. In both
it is necessary for the person who is to
do the kissing to be held by the legs.
There is a third way, but not one per-
son in a thousand attempts it. This is
! to trust the weight of the body to the
strength of the arms while hanging in
midair near the top of the castle.
In Dooley style the letter of the Me-
warker begins:
'Tis me that's lucky omadhoun,
John, foPI kissed the Blarney stone to-
day, and nayther it or the castle fell
down. And be the same token kissed
it twice, full and fair. Sure, twas the
divil's own job TO do it even once. But,
thanks to God, no harm came, ard if l
iver get back to America the proud lad
I'll be. And that's no lie, says 1. y
Then the letter goes on to ask: did
you ever kiss the top stone of win
dow sill on the eighth floor of the Pru-
Dental building while hanging from
the ninth-story window? Do that to-
morrow, and you'll know just how 1t
feels to kiss the famous stone in the
famous castle in the famous county in
the famous country of Ireland. The
Lord loves you, but it's not 'cinch' by
a good deal. My, but it was glorious
treat that we had to-day"
Describing the trip to the castle the
letter continues: cts an ould story,
but tits pleasant to tell. A blue-f1ecked
sky and ideal temperature made the
day perfect Our jarnting car was a
fine rig-it cost us ten shillings and
numerous mugs of ale for the driver.
Leaving Cork, we soon got into the
beautiful emerald hills that extend
along the River Lee, where the bells OF
Shandon sound so grand on. The roads,
smooth, and white, and bordered with
hedges of green, always smiled before
us.
at vas about two hours before we
reached the historic Blarney estate, the
old home of DeTmot Mccarthy, one OF
the early kings of the province of Mum
ster, and y fine man; may the divil fly
away with those who say he wasn't
The magnificent structure erected more
than 500 years was built on the site of
hunting lodge. 1t was pillaged by
the island conquerors and now stands
still fighting-against the elements. We
crawled through the old caves and Sc
cret passages underneath and went into
the thick walls, the latter being seven
feet thick. l visited Aunt AIMS cham
Der in the fifth floor-you know l have
relations by the name of Mccarthy
And then we climber climbed to the
top, more than 200 feet above the rock
on which the castle is built.
"Here we found a group of men, but
all appeared to be a little afraid to
kiss the stone. We lost no time, how
ever, my friend going first. l held
one leg. Another fellow held the 9TH
er, and we all held our b1eaths. l was
next. Then it was that realized that
if they let go of my legs there would
be collision with Ireland, with myself
an active participant"