The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-08-25
IRISH WELCOME IN The RAIN
CRARLES BiTTELL LOOMS DRIPS
" ~ ON STRANGERS.



LONDONDERRY. Aug. ~. Irish hospitality;
have often heard the term used. but I did
not suppose that ] should get such con-
Vincing evidence OF IL within twelve hours
OF my arrival at this northern port.
This is TO be a straightforward relation
OF what happened to some half dozen
Americans. strangers to each other a week
ago. md strangers TO all Ireland upon
arrival.
In detail il is somewhat unusual. but in
spirit ! am sure il il characteristic OF what
might have befsllen good Americans in
any one Of the four provinces.
To be dumped into the tender that came
down the Foyle to meet the Caledonia at
Neville at the chilly hour Of 2 in the
morning seemed nj the time a hardship.
We had wanted 10 see the green hills OF
old ireland and here were blackuess and
bleakness and crowded humanity =
But the loading process was long drawn
out and when AT last we began our ascent
OF the Foylc there we're indubitable symp-
toms of morning in the eastern skies. and
we saw that our entrance into the tender
wss like the entrance Of early ones into a
theatre before the lights are turned up.
After a while the curtain is lifted and the
scenic glories are revealed to eyes that
have developed a proper amount OF eager
ness and receptivity.
With the first steps Of day a young Irish
man returning 10 bis native and mounted
a seat and recited an apostrophe, -The top
.pf the mornin' 10 ye. and then a mist lifting
suddenly, Ireland, dewily green and soft
and fair. lay revealed before our apprecia-
1.-Two eyes.
The sun when ne really began his morn
In ~btushwork painted the trees and grasses
in more vivid greens. but there was a srg-
g~estivcness Of early spring in the frat soft
tones hat was fully valued by eyes that
had been used to leader skies for more than
half the days % the voyage.
But | arr no poet TO paint landscapes
on newspaper. so we will consider our
selves landed and furnished with a few
hours Of necessary sleep. and anxious to
begin our adventures.
Our party consisted of half a dozen whose
itineraries were TO run In parallels for a
time. There were four ladies' and two
OF us were men. One of the men had
come 10 Ireland on business and he found
he had awaiting him an invitation to lunch
that day with a country gentleman with
whom he had correspondent on business
matters.
As the one least strange to the country
this American had rendered his good Offices,
American fashion. TO the ladies' who would
be travelling without male companions
after we left them, and so he despatched
a messenger Wit a note to the effect that
he must regretfully decline, and stating
his reasons for so doing.
While we we're lunching at the hotel
q return note came to him. this time from
the good mans wife. cordially asking
that we all come for afternoon tea.
Here was a chance to see an Irish house.
hold that was hailed with delight by all.
q delight that was not sppreciative Of the
warmth of the invitation.
We would go to the pleasant country
house but-our trunks had not come.
Would our travelling toys worthily repre-
sent our country
Bur our friend said: Don't let clothes
stand between Ills and this thing. I'm
sure this lady will be glad to welcome us
as Americans. and for my part ! never
reflect credit on my tailor and people never
clamor for his address when they see me.
As for you ladies'. I'd think any tea Of mine
honored by such fetching gowns, IL that's
the proper term. I'm going to write her
that we're coming just as we are
So he tent another messenger out into
the country telephones seemed "a scarce
a. snakes here-saying, well. he used a
good assortment pr words and arranged
them worthily
The two young girls Of the party clamored
for isunting cars. and so two were ordered
for o'clock. One of them had red cushions
and was ~ glittering in its glass and gold
as n circus wagon
My friend on ordering this one said to the
.iarvey" Ohy the way. they call them drivers
here in this art Of Ireland, but iarvey has
always see ned 90 delightfully."- Irish that I
prefer To stick to in. Get another car as
nice as this"
Sure. there's none as nice as this, said
he, pride forcing the confession: but III
GO; n good one"
IL was a lclutiful day except for the ex-
trea,c heat and yet they say it always
rains in ireland | felt that it must be ex-
q 9tioral and said TO the waiter at lunch:
Il surpose tia unusual TO have such
weather as this?'
"Snre. every day is like this, /" said he with
patriotic mcndacity.
When the jaunty jaunting cars drew
up a little lefore 4 o'clock there were por-
teatous black clouds In the sky. but the
jaryics assured us that they were there
more for looks than anything else-that
there might lie a matter of a spit or two,
but that we'd have a fine afternoon.
SO We mounted the sides of the cars and
holding on to the polished rails az we q
been told was the proper fashion we set out
bravely on our way, little whiting what a
wetting all Ireland vas soon to have.
In half an hour or so we would be walking
over Irish lawns and admiring Irish lace,
az they decked the forms Of gaily clad
femininity gathered for sociability and tea
alongside the rhododendrons and fuchsia
bushes.
A few drops of rain fell, but the wind was
south and We seemed TO be going east.
Isn't this ayP" called the young girls
o. we jiggled along in holiday mood.
. Suddenly a silver bolt OF Jagged lightning
cleft the sky to the south and almost in
Simultaneously a PEAL Of thunder that
sounded as if it had been born and bred o
Connecticut hills, 90 loud was it, told us
that the people living to the south OF US