The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-08-31

landlords and of their families. To
dig they are not able, to beg they are
ashamed, and some of the class have
not had the gunption of the steward
mentioned in the gospel.
The worst thing that have to say
against the landlords is that in their
day they gave bad example to the
people. The virtues which may have
been theirs were eclipsed by their
vices, and many tenants initiated them
and unconsciously fell into idleness and
extravaganza, neither of which the
farmer could afford. They learned to
borrow without the hope of paying.
But it is all over now. Not, indeed,
that there is to be easy sailing for the
tenants who have bought out their
farms with the aid of money voted by
parliament for that purpose. Now the
money, together with the interest and
taxes. must be promptly paid on the
date when it is due. Since much of the
soil in Ireland is light soil and much
of it is also worthless, and since, more
over the Irish spring is often cold and
uncertain, the Irish farmer has before
him a problem whose solution will
be watched with intense interest by
friend and foe. Without additional
aid 1 feel certain many of them can
never work out the proposition.
However, there has been made a
step in advance, and there u.s. or there
should be, both power and magic in
the thought and In the fact of owner
ship. The ownership of even a small
thlng has its influence on the possess
or and pray why should not the own,
ership Of ones home affect his life and
his whole nature? There has been a
peaceful resolution. and I can not bet
ter describe the conditions which now
obtain in Ireland as they appear to me
than by saying the country is in a.
transition state.
Here IN Munster at least the people
are not without hope, although they
nave not much left them apart from
the beautiful scenery and their love of
classic learning. Yes, Munster is as
beautiful as Switzerland or Italv is
ana when the lamp of learning went
out in other parts Munster taught the
classics and the higher mathematics
at home and supplied the rest of Ire
land with teachers and priests, It
was here Father Matthew began his
work, and the movement which he in
augurated has spread beyond the seas.
Both in Dublin and in Cork there are
fine statues erected to his memory:
and l have read with satisfaction that
only last week another jealous priest
administered the total abstinence
pledge to 10000 on the top of Croash
Patrick, which is in the west. At the
foot of the south wall there is anoth-
er monument of different kind which
has been erected o commemorate the
'9S. 49, Sc and 81 men. Evidently
the spirit of Rebel Cork is not dead
No more is Ireland dead. It was Rich
ard Golden who said that his own
countrymen, the English. were the
Chinese Of the west. Indeed thew are
good sailors, but the South African
war showed them to be stupid soldiers
-stupidly welded to Anticipated meth
DDS of warfare. Even the Dublin cor
ner boys shouted "Oom Paul" at the
regiments as they marched Bly, The
officers We're tin soldiers and it was
not until Roberts. who is an Irish
man, was sent out to Africa that Lon
don got sleep. Morally, the South AZ
rlcan defeat in struggle with hand
full of Dutch farmers, has done more
real injury to the empire and to thu
English name than anything which has
happened since the war of Indenend.
ence. Following new lines. soldiers
are now camped and drilled in the
widest and most inaccessible places
among the mountains of Ireland. So
that in the solitudes made holy by the
presence and the prayers of SITS, Kelvin
and Lawrence O'Toole the hoono;,r 80
cannon may be heard from daylight un-
til dark. The red tunic is being dis
carded also and in its stead the men
are wearing uniform of Khaki.
which. if not so attractive, at least
suggests that there are more brains in
the Var Office.
A ROMANTIC TALE,