St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-10-05
IRISH HOSPITALITY
Party OF Americans Attest Its
Real Worth.
NO ICE BREAKERS NEEDED
Ride Through Rain and Hail Storm
Causes CONSERVATION Which ls
Turned Into Gladness by the De-
lightful Welcome of CountryfoIk.
BY CHARLES RATTELL LOOMS

p1tality." l have often heard the term
used but did not suppose that |
should get such convincing evidence
OF it within II hours of my arrival at
this northern port.
This is to be straightforward re-
lation OF what happened to some half
dozen Americans, strangers to each
other, week ago, and strangers to
all Ireland upon arrival
In details it is somewhat unusual
but in spirit I am sure it is character
istic of what might have befallen good
| Americans in any one of the four
provinces.
To be dumped into the tender that
| came down the Foyle to meet the Cal
edonia at Neville at the chilly hour of
two in the morning seemed at the
time a hardship. We had wanted to
see the green hills of old Ireland and
here were blackness and bleakness
and crowded humanity!
But the loading process was long
drawn out and when at last we be-
gan our ascent of the Foyle there
were indubitable symptoms of morn
ing in the eastern skies, and we saw
that our entrance into the tender was
like the entrance of early ones into
theater before the lights are turned
up. After awhile the curtain is lifted
and the scenic glories are revealed to
eyes that have developed a proper
amount of eagerness and recept1Yity.
With the first steps of day a young
lrishman returning to his native land
mounted seat and recited an apos-
trophe, 'The top of the mornin to
ye," and then mist lifting suddenly,
Ireland, ,deWily green and soft and
fair, lay revealed before our appreci-
alive eyes.
The sun, when he really began his
morning brushwork, painted the trees
and grasses in more vivid green's but
there was suggestiveness of early
spring in the first soft tones that was
fully valued by eyes that had been
used to leaden skies for more than
half the days Of the voyage.
But | am no poet to paint land
scapes on newspaper so we will con-
slider ourselves landed and furnished
with few hours of necessary sleep,
and anxious to begin our adventures.
Our party consisted of a half dozen
whose itineraries were to run in paral-
lels for time. There were four
ladies and two of us were men. One
of the men had to come to Ireland on
business and he found he had await
ing him an invitation to lunch that
day with a country gentleman with
whom he had correspondent on bust
ness matters.
AS the one least strange to the coun-
try this American had rendered his
good offices, American fashion, to the
ladies who would be travelling with
out male companions after we left
them, and so he dispatched a messen-
ger with a note to the effect that he
must regretfully decline, and stating
his reasons for SO doing.
While we were lunching at the hotel
a return note came to him, this time
from the good mans wife, cordially
asking that we all come and have aft
ernoon tea.
Here was chance to see an Irish
household that was hailed with de-
light by all, delight that was not
unappreciatiVe of the warmth of the
invitation.
We would go to the pleasant coun-
try house but-our trunks had not
come. Would our travellers togs
Worthily represent our country?
But our friend said, Don't let
clothes stand between us and this
thing. I'm sure this lady will be glad
to welcome us as Americans and @r
my part l never reflect on my tailor
and people never clamor for his ad-
dress when they see me. AS for you
ladies I'd think any tea of mine hon
ored by such fetching gowns, if that's
the proper term. I'm going to write |
her that we're coming just as we |
are"
So he sent another messenger out |
into the country-telephones seemed |
as scarce as snakes here-saying,
well, he used good assortment of |
words and arranged them Worthily.
The two young girls of the party
clamored for jaunting cars and so two
were ordered for four o'clock. One OF
them had red cushions and was as
in its glass and gold as a
circus wagon.
My friend on ordering this one said
to the "jarvey" (by the way, they call
them drivers here in this part of Ire
and, but jarvey has always seemed SO
delightfully."- Irish that prefer to stick
TO it,, Get another car as nice as
his"
Sure, there's none as nice as this"
said he, pride forcing the confession;
but I'll get good one"
1t was beautiful day except for
he extreme heat-and yet they say
t always rains in Ireland. felt that
t must be exceptional and said to the
waiter at lunch, Il suppose it's I'M
Usual to have such weather as this ?"
Sure, every day is like this" said he
With patriotic mendacity.
When the jaunty jaunting cars
rev Up little before four O'Clock
here were portentous black cloa4s in
he sky but the jarvies assn. el us
hat they were there more foi looks
han anything else-that there might
De a matter of spit or two, but that
we'd have fine afternoon.
So we mounted the sides of the cars
lad holding on to the polished rails
Is we had been told was the proper
ashton we set out bravely on orr way,
title voting what a wetting all Ire
and was soon to have.