The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-07-16
LIFE IN KERRY
Revival Of Industry Makes Many
Changes There.
The People are Oontented and
Hopeful for the Future.

"a fine soft evening, thanks be to
God" We We're standing at the EN-
trance of Michael O'Sullivan's cottage.
and the rain was falling in a gentle;
insinuating manner that made what
Mike called fine soft evening. An
impenetrable mist shut out the bold
outline of the Kerry mountains that
had rejoiced our hearts in the morn
ing. Inside his cottage all was bright
and warm. The blue flames Kissed
and cracked round the sods of peat
in the low, long fireplace that opened
wide under the protecting chimney
piece. A lamp in the corner, with a
cracked glass shade, shed Pickering
light over the high dresser, hung with
spotlessly clean cups and saucers, and
the space between the dresser and the
fire was occupied by an old oak settee,
which little girl in a red petticoat
and bare feet was busily scrubbing.
Mike was well-to-do, for there were
two more rooms in his cottage, which
he himself had built on to the crazy
structure and covered with a tin cor
rugated roof that was the envy of his
leighbors. But the last season had been
terribly bad, and if it had not been
for the remittance from America the
O'Sullivans could never have made the
rent.
But now, thanks be. to God" they
need, have no fear about their rent
this year, for Mary and Biddy were
making good money in the lace-making,
and Pat was earning more than he
needed, teaching Irish in Kildare And
there was talk, too, Of two handlooms
being set up in the village, at which
the girls who did not take kindly to
the lace-making might learn to weave
carpets and homespun and help their
father when the crops would not grow.
Mikes family was thus proving good
investment; and although two boys
and girl had already crossed the
sea, there were still seven of them
the Old Country, and six of these were
still at home. 1t had been decided at
one time that they should all go to
America, leaving only the old people
at home; but now that these local in
dustries had been started there was
hope that Mike and Mrs. O'Sullivan
might see their grandchildren growing
up around them.
The case of the O'Sullivans is typi-
cal of many in the poorer parts of Ire
land; and in the development Of local
industries lies the chief hope of stem
ming the tide Of emigration, which is
draining Ireland of her people. The
little village Of Glenbefgh, which we
have made our headquarters, is the
center of one of the poorest districts
in South Kerry, and every year hun
dreds of the younger men and women
leave for America. They receive their
passage money from relations who
went before them to the country where
SO many Irishmen have proved their
grit and perseverance by growing pros.
porous and rich. And it only needs a
very superficial knowledge of the dis
trict to discover how strong the in
ducement for emigration must be.
In our drive from Glenbeigh to Shan
acluan we passed through the most
enchanting scenery. We saw such
stretches of moorland, mountain and
lake, with distant peeps Of yellow sand
and glistening sea, as no landscape in
England can match. But the blight
of terrible poverty lies on it ALL What
perseverance and industry can do to
wrench a living froni the stony soil
and reclaim the barren moorland has
been done. The people are absolutely
heroic in their endurance. Yet, WORK
as they will, in many instances they
cannot pay the rent for their cabins
and in the summer the men must e.
to England harvesting to provide the
means. We talk Of the housing prob
lem and Of overcrowding in the rural
parts of England. But there is nc
landlord in England who would dare
to house his people in the miserable
cabins that dotted the roadside OF
our drive to Shanacluan. There are
rich men who hold high places in the
British peerage who exact their toll
from such cabins, in which they would
be ashamed to house English cattle
They have perhaps never visited theil
Irish estates, and know little an6
think less about them. The wonder is
that the people have not emigratet
en- masse, leaving their mudhuts an6
stony fields for any. other place. The
fact that they remain is an extraordi
nary testimony to the Irishman's love
of the soil and to his passion for his
country.
Meanwhile the government has a,
last awakened to some sense of its
duty to the Irish peasant, and the
Congested Districts Board has beer