The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1903-10-03

Copyright, 1903 by John A. Black)
OF course, / landed at Queenstown
Tor to enter Ireland by any other way
than through Queenstown and Cork
would be going in by back door Ire
land is the front room of Europe; Cork
is the front door of Ireland; Queens
town tends the door, and with a
charming grace bids you come in and
welcome to Ireland
Our hearts had been cheered by the
sight OF ireland several hours before
we reached Queenstown. This sail
along the Irish coast is one of the prin-
cipal attractions of this route to Eu-
rope. After a week of looking out on
rolling. restless ocean, or lying help
less i'm the NAV OF an ocean grey
hound. one is in a state Of mind to ap-
preciate a bit of landscape: and south
eln Ireland has done her best to salts
fy all tastes by spreading out along the
Atlntic coast a fine assortment of land
scapes. Her first display. which is Of
bare, brown hills is so elaborate that
those who never saw her before, began
10 wonder why she is called the Green
Island, till we came in close where
We could see samples of Cork's green
fields spread out on the hillsides.
The day is cold and cloudy, and could
Ireland has no smiles for Us, which
greatly lessons the delights of the fir
tation which always goes on between
the dear old dame and the crowd of
mouotony sick passengers who have
not seen the face of the earth for six
days, and who crowd the rail from the
first sight Of land. I am afraid that
this habit Of frowning so at homesick
travellers who long for a bit of cheer,
has injured lreland's reputation some
what. especially among those who know
1er only from a few hours Irritation
5rom the deck Of a Liverpool steamer
on a cloudy day
We enter Cork harbor amidst such a
confusion Of bags and baggage. and
hotel and tourist agency solicitors who
nfest the lighter that we are in no
temper 10 appreciate the many beauties
)f this noble harbor but we must not
1e selfish. so we meekly give up some
IF our pleasure to the necessities of
heir business, for Ireland must get
more out OF tourists than exclamations
# delight at the entertainment she
furnishes
Spike island. the centerpiece of Cork
Iarbor. though not the most beautiful
part of the scene is, to me. the most
interesting. for it was baptized with a
BART or John Mitchells life of which he
gives an account in his Jail Journal.
And the life of many another poor son
IF Ireland has gone aground here. and
2e1n wrecked in the fierce winds from
across the channel. The island is no
onSer a convict station.
Queenstown knows the art of DosipE.
nd she captivates the hearts of all who
approach her from seaward. as she
cans there against the hill. her feet
-ouching the water. This half-stand-
ng- half-reclining position on the hill
side. displays all her charms to great
advantage and makes her look larger
than she really is. Queenstown re-
'elNed her present name in 1S49 when
Victoria first set foot on Irish soil here.
II is too bad the Well-meaning old town
did not choose something else than her
ancient name, 10 sacrifice on the altar
Of loyalty. on that royal occasion. for |
Cove which has a native flavor. is a
much pTettier name than Queenstown. /
Al the gang plank another pack OF |
hotel runners gather and bark the /
names Of their hotels at us as we file
past them into the custom house. The /
inspector runs his big hand through !
our belongings. stirring them up we'll. /
ana then puts chalk mark on our I!
bags which passes us along to the Off |
Ger at the door who. after taking on. /
names and destination, let's US pass ont /
INTO ireland. But our troubles are not |
ended yet, for there is the jaunting ear
man who must be met and almost /
sWorn' at before he gives up trying to
make bob by taking US to our no.
lel lew steps along the street. All
OF TINS confusion leaves us little time
70 take our pulse. or analyze our first
impression of Ireland But after we
were through with it all. we found
a quiet. restful place. es-
peclally suited TO getting back the
equilibrium of body and mind which
one usually loses at sea.
The main business street of Oueens-
town runs along the edge of the har-
Dor: the homes are mostly uptown"
on the hillside. We overcame some of
the steepness of the uptown" climb
by tacking. which brought us to tbe
great cathedral standing in the mids1
OF the toWn-a picture of true
mother church with the children about
aer TO teach and comfort them.
The view from the tor of the hin
against which Queenstown leans is
worth all Of the stiff climb which i+
iosts. Sloping down from where we
stand to the waters edge. is the nic-
-pfesque old town; before us lies tba
magnificent harbor. four miles long AMI
TWO broad, with wide channel run-