Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-02
DUBL1N's GREAT MUSEUM.

around the interior of the fence where
several gentlemen take their exercise on
horseback in the morning.
Sir Walter Scott was entertained IN
what he writes was "a very large and
stately house in Stephens Green. which
l am told is the most extensive square IN
Europe" and writing to his wife, he said:
1.-The streets contain a number of public
buildings of the finest architecture l have
seen anywhere in Britain
Merton Square.
A few blocks away from S-ephen's
Green is another large park known as
Merton Square, which is a private in
closure like many of the small parks in
the city Of London. and is accessible only
to the residents of the neighborhood. who
understand. purchased the land and
made it into park two or three hundred
years ago so that the public has no
rights there. Each of the lease holders
who are entitled to it's privileges Is re-
quired to pay S. year for maintaining
it and half a crown for a key to the
gates" as / was informed by policeman
on that beat. 1t is a pretty place, with
deep lustrous turf such as you seldom
zee outside Of the British Isles and find
in Ireland smoother and richer and green
er than anywhere else. There are pond
and several tennis courts. cricket and
croquet grounds. which are occupied
every afternoon by the rich families in
the neighbOrhood, and 1t makes you feel
a little resentfu to see the children of
the poor, who need that breathing space
more than the owners, peeking through
between the iron pickets.. 1t is said that
this square plot of ground, which is equal
to four ordinary squares in area. was
formerly a pond. and that the Duke of
Leinster in early days used to sail a
yacht upon it. Leinster House is in the
neighborhood But it was drained two
hundred years ago or more and the spen-
did great trees that are growing there
now were then planted.
The residences around st. Stephens
Green and Merton Square are built Of
ugly brown brick, but are spacious in
their proportions, were intended for large
families of ample means and the aristoc-
racy have always occupied them. The
Duke of Rutland has one OF the largest.
and in Merrion street, just around the
corner. at No. 81, in large house now
occupied by the land commission, the
great Duke of Wellington was born. 1t
was the town residence of the Earl of
Mornington. his father. and her ladyship
came in from Dangan Castle, twenty-four
miles outside the city and the country
residence of the family. few days before
the event, which occurred April % 1869.
There is nothing either in the castle or in
the town house to interest people today.
the home of one of the greatest of Irish
men, and his fellow countrymen have
raised shaft similar to that at Washing
ton in Phoenix Park in his honor.
National Gallery of Ireland.
Across from Merrion Square is the Ma
tional Gallery of Ireland. which was built
in 1864 and contains a fine collection of
paintings numbering about 500. which
time to time. All of the old masters are
well represented and the Dutch school is
especially strong. Attached to the gall
lery is the Metropolitan School of Art,
which Is literally supported by the Brit
ish government and has a large number
of students. Corresponding to the Art
Gallery on the opposite side Of quad
rangle known as Leinster Lawn. formerly
the garden of the Earl of Kildare. Is the
Science and Art Museum and the Museum
of Natural History. Both are we'll arrang-
ed and full of inter esting things particu-
larly Irish antiquities historical relics and
examples of Irish industries. The most
precious object is an iron bell shaped like
an ordinary COW bell and riveted on each
side. which, 1t is said, st. Patrick I'd to
carry about with him and ring to cal the
people together to hear mass. 1t Is ac-
companied by a silver Shrine or case for
its protection. made in the year 100 at the
expense Of Donald O'Laughlan. King of
Ireland from 1901 to 1105. The Annals
Of Ulster" written in the year j52 refer
to this precious object as 1.-The bell of the
WILL and its history Is known from that
date. 1t came into possession of the
Archbishop OF Armath in 1914 and was
among the relics of the cathedral there
until it was brought to the museum in
1869. No one here seems to coubt that
1t is genuine.
In the adjoining case is another
Shrine as the case or covering for
sacred relics is called, that contains