The Irish standard., 1908-07-18

III vegetables, Outter, CnlckenS ana eggs
was paid in kind, measure Of corn
from each sack, pound Of butter from
each f1rkin and one egg from every ~,
which was the origin of the proverb
that eleven eggs make a dozen in Ire
land. The taxes were farmed out to
the highest bidder, who exacted every
penny possible from the farmers and
used every means of extortion that
could be devised to increase his profit.
The most odious of all the Dublin tax
contractors in history was woman
named Kate Strong, and they hated her
so that after her death the farmers
erected gross caricature Of her per-
son holding large toll dish in her
hand. 1t stood for several years.
James street succeeds Thomas street
on the same thoroughfare, and runs
down upon the river quay, where the
enormous brewery establishment Of the
Guinness company begins. The plant
covers 81 acres.
Across the river from the big brew
cry is No. - Arran Quay. named for
the son Of the Duke of Ormonde. where
Edmund Burke was born in 1928, OF \
Protestant barrister and a Catholic
mother. He was educated at a Quaker
school at Ballitore, County Kildare,
and at Trinity College. where in 1747 he
organized a debating club, which still
exists
After finishing his course in 1850 he
went to London ito keep terms at the
Temple"-that is, to finish his law
studies and prepare for his examina-
tions. but suddenly, owing to some dis
appointment, he conceived a strong
distaste for his profession, and he
plunged into a wild career of dissipa-
tion. He was introduced by Cold
smith to that circle Of bohemians which
gathered nightly at the Cheshire
Cheese Inn and similar resorts. He
was a close companion of Garrick. of
johnson and others and became one OF
the many devoted attendants of his
beautiful countrywoman, Peg Woffing-
ton, the famous actress.
His dissipation gave his family great
distress and caused his father to cut
off his allowance. This compelled
him to do something for himself. He
went into politics. and soon made a
reputation as a speaker and writer and
political manager. He wrote q great
deal that was serious and even SUBJ
lime and. mending his ways, secured
the patronage of the Marquis of Buck
ingham, the prime minister. who open
ed the doors of the House of Commons
for him. In a very short time he be-
came the most influential leader of his
party. Then his abilities were fully
recognized and his fame encircled the
world.
He was the ablest friend of the
American colonies in England during
the revolution and harassed Lord
North more than any other man. He
reached the summit Of his influence at
the impeachment of Warren Hastings
for misgovernment and treason while
viceroy in India: and then Burke's sun
began to set. He retired upon a. pen
sion and passed from history with the
eighteenth century. One Of his eulo-
gists has said that MISUNDERSTANDING
some eccentricities and some aberra-
tions he made the tide OF human des-
tiny luminous
Near Burkes birthplace is the oldest
and the quaintest church in Dublin,
built by the Danes before the English
came to Ireland and consecrated to ST.
Michan. a Danish saint. Within it's
walls is the penitential stool, where
open and notorious naughty livers"
were compelled to stand and confess
their sins in public and make pledges
of repentance and reform. The Off
ciating minister. reciting the fifty-f first
Psalm. led the offending sinner from
the altar to the foot of the pulpit
barefooted, bareheaded and draped in
a long, white shetland placed hin,
upon the stool of repentance to hear a
sermon directed at his particular sins
The tower of ST. Michan's dates from
the twelfth century. and is one of the
most beautiful things in Dublin. The
view from the top of 1t includes all the
city, which is divided into two almost
equal parts by the River Liffey. and
spreads over an uneven surface from
the dark green woods OF Phoenix Park
to the dark blue waters of the Irish
Sea.
Handel used to play the organ in St.
Michan's Church. and 1t was there the
public first heard the score Of THE
Messiah"
The most remarkable feature Of st.
Nfjchan's however 10 q y,ecvlion Of