Omaha daily bee., 1907-01-06
RUINED HOMES In IRELAND
Omaha Visitor Sketches fosus Of Do
msstio LeSolAtion.
H;ARTLEss GREED OF ALIEN LANDLORDS
Evictions Becoming Fewer Ne People
Secure Title to Land-Dawn of
Brighter Days for che
Emerald Isle.

Far across the deep broad Atlantic there
Is little land Of sunshine and cloud, OF
everlasting green hills, romantic wales and
uncovered ruins. The brush of the artist
has attempted 10 give US the wonderful
colorings Of those Irish hills with the cloud
shadows and the sunbeams playing upon
them OF the weird picture OF those ruined
abbeys and round towers standing out in
the moonlight like some strange warning
spectres The wonderful beauty of Ire
lands lonely lakes. its rugged mountains
and storin-tossed coasts has found a place
on the canvas Of many a painter.
But 1 saw q picture in Ireland lately
that no artist has yet put down in colors.
1t was q pathetic picture Of homeless sor-
rowan old Irish mother wandering around
the ruins of her evicted and deserted home.
Such sights were not uncommon In Ire
land few years ago. and even yet are not
unfrequent. The green hills and lovely
valleys of Erin are studded with the ruins
and wreckage of eviction days Around
these sad scenes OF former home and family
evicted and aged men and women have
been found wandering until death took
them to a better home.
Attachments of Home.
No place Is dear TO every mothers
heart as home No word can stir up the
tenderest emotions of the childs heart as
that one word nor send the tear-drops
more quickly TO the eye than that one
word-home. II recalls the noblest and
sweetest memories of a lifetime. 1t is the
refr2 shing well-spring of endless longings
W.. IN deep seas separate us from home, or
worse still when home has faded into a
dim picture Of the past. 1t is the grandesi
word we can cling to. The sight Of a
hn, 81 dos ut a
home is sufficient to enkindle within us
the most active and generous OF sympa-
thies.
With such thoughts let me present a plct
ure of a frafl white-haired old woman gag
ing upon the scenes of happier days. How
shall / describe this picture? viii human
words tell of her broken heart or pen
picture the memories of a once happy home
which constantly float before her? Such
grief is beyond human narration. l can
only tell of her white hairs, wrinkled
cheeks and tear-dimmed eyes as she pointed
out to me what was once her home.
Picture of Ruined Homes
The ruins were situated I'm one OF the
widest and most beautiful valleys in Ire.
land. surrounded by soft green fields and
heather-covered hills. In this bright green
spot stood the skeleton walls Of once
peaceful nome, Inc winters rain now
poured through the open roof, while the
winds moaned through the sashless win
dows and the walls blackened with
smoke, were tottering for their final fall
The door, broken and battered, lay ajar
but from within no sound Of human voice
responded; only the moaning wind and the
steady drop of damp moisture fell upon ouI
ears. The chimney, as II in mockery held
it's mouth to the skies, but no rings OF
smoke assembled upwards, telling of warmth
and comfort within. In the garden, over
grown with long, gaunt weeds, an empty
kennel told where a faithful pet KEEP
watch. but now strangers passed through