New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-15
LIFE IN IRELAND.
Stories of the Poor Peasants of
County Mayo.

Under CROAGH PATRICK By Mrs William
O'BTien. limo. PIP SOl London: John Long.
When William o'Brien. the Irish Nationalist.
came out OF Galway jail he had a hard time
20 find home place an his own country. Wealthy
Irish landlords had no relish for him ten
ant and small land owners feared 10 offend
their powerful neighbors by serving him. Al last
he solved the problem by buying little cottage
at Westport. County Mayo beneath the shadow
OF 'Patrick's Holy HILL and became his own
landlord. II is OF their life and that Of their
nelghbors IN this poverty stricken corner Of the
Green Isle that Mrs O'Brien writes. She was q
Miss Sophie Raffalovich. of Paris. and had
never lived in the country or kept house before.
Mr.. OBrien naturally looked upon as the
friend OF the Gowntrodden. and from near and
Ear came men and women. the victims of OPP
preston. seeking his counsel and help. Thus his
Wife had unusual opportunities for getting at
the inside of many a pathetic story. She mar
yelled at the patience and piety Of the people
under trouble. Relating one such case OF a man
who not having insisted on receiving the legal
receipt for his rent had lost the advantage Of
some favorable clause IN the Land Act. she says:
It does the poor man good TO tell his story: he
Goes not expect any material advantage will follow
pathy and instead of finishing his tale by oursing
The people who have III treated him. God is good
he says reverenuy.
l.
Kitterick and Mrs. Sammon. who came to be
known as "Mr. OBrien's two widows" are full
Of instances OF indomitable courage and persist
eut determination to obtain justice. Mrs. Sam
mon was known as 1.-THE heroine OF the Land
War" With nine children she had been evicted
because she could not pay the uttermost far
thing OF her rent, overdue through the long and
ntal Illness of her husband. The little farm
wss taken possession OF by a land grabber' in
the pay Of the rent Office, She at once began 10
make life unpleasant for him. and spent many
months in Jail IN consequence. while neighoors
looked after tbs children
There. were days when she made speeches
The judge used to order her TO be silent. Each
S5s saIe eons sep 6e Sb
she cried, her arms stretched out toward her en-
VII WI cali BIN q sTabSsT: a gra6eeF! Thai
The pluck OF Mrs. Sammon had consequences which
one cannot exasgerate. She made the life of her
might have been tempted to grab a neighbors
farm thought twice about It and preferred to live
from his aRd0rd time s IL w which to pay his rent
not profit him anything, for no one would take up
the farm. 1t was better for him to be patient.
agitation was dead: feeling akin to despair was
The Some mo9thi s later Ie
started In Westport II has united in one camp
IL the landlord had listened to my husbands ap-
peal in favor of Mrs. Sammon the
Ganizatton would ever have come 10 lifei
A beautiful character was that Of Honor OF
Kiilinakof whose story Mrs. O'Brien tells. Hav-
ing some seed potatoes left over after the spring
planting. the author asked one of the westport
priests for list Of the poorest families to whom
she could distribute the seed.
Put your list, first OF all. the Of Honor
Of ADMINISTRATIONS is the decentest and poorest
woman 1 know"
Father McDermott sent for Honor and offered
TO supply her with noue asking gardener 10
give her seed potato for her field.
Honor answered. II have only father:
there poorer people than 1. Give the seeds TO
families where there many chilGron.'
Such examples of self-abnegation were not
rare. The local doctor told the author Of an in
stance. one of many similar to it. He had
patient, woman who had only a few months
to live. She asked him if she likely 10 get
we'll.
Because" says she. my people make take
eggs and beef tea They killed fowl for the
other day. IL am 10 get well and be III for work
again, it is all right; bat il there is hope, II
would be pity 10 allow poor children go
10 such unnecessary expense and must put
end TT