The Washington herald., 1906-12-04
STAY OUTWARD FLOW
Efforts to Keep Irish People
in the Island.
SNAIL GAIN IN POPULATION
Auti-EmigratIon Society Succeeds
I'm stopping the Movement Toward
Canada by Showing HardshiDs in
Lives of Settlers in New Country.
Irish Hams in Favor with King.
s,.-i,l r,,-...,ora.ncs w,.bington Herald.

Special Corssspondencs Washington Herald.
Dublin. Nov. 8.-Canada appears to be
no longer an attractive field for Irish emil
grants. though large numbers have left
our shores this year. They prefer to
patronize the United States. During the
present week the Canadian government
has closed its Irish emigration depot for
want of sufficient support. The Anti
Emigration Society claims to have done
much to frustrate the efforts Of the Ca
madam agents who went about the coun-
try delivering limelight lectures on the
gorgeous opportunities which the Cana
diaa Northwest offered Irish emigrants.
It was pictured as an Eldorado until the
And-Emigration people came along with
lantern slides depicting scenes that sug-
gested misery and hardships in their
worst and most repulsive form.
A few young men, who were induced to
leave Ireland and invest their little sav-
ings in Canadian agricultural develop
ment, with disastrous results, were
brought back TO Ireland and paraded
through the country as an object les
son. Result-the collapse of the Canadian
agents. who have now transferred their
operations TO the Glasgow Office. 1t Is
somewhat significant that the resignation
by Charles r. Devlin Of his seat in Par
lament is practically coincident with this
collapse. Mr. Devlin was before his cleo
ton as a member of the Irish party, the
chief Of the Canadian emigration staff In
Ireland, and John Redmond wGs frequent
ly criticised for inviting an emigration
agent TO join his party at time when de-
termined efforts were being made to stay
the tide of emigration
Population Slightly Increased.
Notwithstanding the exceptionally
heavy emigration this year. an increase
would appear to have taken place in the
population of ireland during the Septem-
Der quarter. The excess Of births over
deaths was 9 9,66S and the emigrants num-
beTed &469 so that the increase was near
ly Iz00. II is a small balance to build
hopes upon. but these quarters with the
balance on the right side are beginning
TO be unusual They afford some indica-
ton that the bottom is being reached IN
the depletion Of Irelands population, and
that a time is coming when the changes
viii be once again on the upgrade.
Sir Thomas Upton can no longer claim
the distinction of being the only perveyor
of pork and bacon upon whom King Ed
ward VII has conferred a title. Sir
Thomas is, OF course, a baronet, but an
other Irishman in the bacon business has
Just commenced to run him close, so that
1t behoOves Sir Thomas to hurry up and
win The Americas Cup if he means to
retain his lead in the contest for titles
Alexander W. Shaw, head of the great
bacon curing firm Of Limerick, has re-
Gently been made a knight. It is stated
that until quite recently King Edward di-
vided his patronage equally between
Shaw and Upton Tor his usual breakfast
'rasher.' but on discovering that at a
recent epicurean contest in Paris a num-
Der OF French gouTmets declared that
Limerick ham had taken the prize. his
majesty immediately transferred his en-
tire patronage to the banks Of the Shan
non. This is declared to be the secret OF
the latest knighthOOd. During the re-
cent visit of the lord mayor Of London
TO Paris the municipal council had bold
j. set out on the dinner menu, "JambOn
de Limerick Renaissance" which clearly
indicates that Irish ham and bacon are
finding favor among a people VINO are
noted for the excellence, luxury. and va
riety OF their dishes.
matchmaking in Tipperary.
One of the most novel suggestions for
the establishment of a new Irish industry
comes from the County Of Tipperary. 1t
would appear that the marriage industry
which was at one time in a fiourishing
condition among the "stone throwers," as
the Tipperary boys are humorousIy de-
scribed, has been, through a combination
of circumstances, allowed TO fall into a
deplOrable state OF decay The old system
of matchmaking still survives among
the peasant population but an effort is
now being made to stamp il out. and to
introduce something on more progressive
lines where there might be an absence
of the pernicious elements that have made
the system a byword among civilized
communities It is said that marriages
are made in heaven. In Ireland it is an
undeniable fact that a large number OF
them are negotiated in saloons. and that
the question of money is a more potent
factor in the transaction than any con-
siderations Of love or affection on the
part of the contracting parties. Il is
maintained that 80 per cent of the un-
happy marriages in ireland can be traced
TO this vicious system. which IS in many
respects survival Of the slave traffic.
The basis on which the industry in its
new form is to be flOated, if not claim
ing much originality, is understood to
commend itself to every Romeo and Ju-
let in the County of Tipperary. A reg
lister Of maTTiageable couples is 10 he
kept in every parish. where il NAV be
consulted by those who are n1atrimoniaIlv
inclined. The local clergyman will assist
every candidate in the choice and selec-
ton Of a partner TO share his or her joys
and sorrows. BY this means the publicity
Of the saloon will be avoided and the sa-
cred contract Of marriage entered into
under more favorable circumstances. It
is asserted that under present conditions
hundreds of eligible young spinsters and
bachelors emigrate rather than expose
themselves to the present system of
matchmaking
T. Y CULLEN