The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1908-09-19
Ex-Mayor Fitzgerald Of Boston, Now in
Ireland, Writes Entertainingly From
Across the Water.
The Public Buildings Are Very Attractive in
Dublin, While the Streets Are
Phenomenally Wide.

Lorus, OF giving an adequate express
sion of opinion on the points Of in
terest in the great British forum.
Sufice it to say that during my three
days stay in London ! talked with
members of the Liberal party and with
members of the Tory party. On every
side I found a seeming willingness to
recognize the demands Of Ireland.
Some of the members, Of course,
went farther than others, but reading
between the lines felt that the men,
oers Of the British Parliament thought
that q crucial situation was likely to
develop at any time between England
and Germany, and that it should be
the policy, Of the British government
to encourage in every way solidarity,
not alone between Ireland and Eng
land, but between all the British pos
ana naost~of-the thinking men in Eng
land believe that they will with.
in few years-the elements that
compose the. Bfitisi empire will move
as one. I do not think that I could
give better impression of the pres
ent state of feeling on the part Of the
average member Of the British Parlia-
ment than by pointing to the words
uttered by Lord Birfell.s chief secre-
tary for. Ireland, few days ago.
students Of Irish history will re-
call that Ireland was able to get her
own Parliament when England was in
trouble with America, to be taken
away again a short time after that
struggle was over, and 1t is my own
opinion that the best friend Of Ire
land today is the English dread Of
war with Germany.
"Our own trip across the Irish sea
was a most pleasant one. Mrs. Fitz-
gerald and my daughters had heard so
much of the troubled waters Of the
Irish Sea that they approached the
steamer with some degree of fear, but
happily, that night was most pleas
ant one and the sea smoother than for
some days. There was not ripple
on the water during the entire pas
sage to Kingstown.
1T was nearly midnight when we
arrived in Dublin, and we were all
surprised at the life upon the street.
The markets and fruit stores were
wide open. On a few Of the largest
streets the people were out in as large
numbers as one would see frequently
at Hanover street or Scollay square
on Saturday night.
by the way, in ali the hotels in
Great Britain that we have visited the
Office work is carried on by women,
who are most gracious In their attend
ance and serve in such an acceptable
manner that. If change were sug-
gested, it would be objected to by
everybody in the British empire.
"The next morning, Sunday morn
ing, we attended Mass at the Pro
Cathedral of ST. Mary in Dublin On
our way to the church We met Mr..
Hayes, the Marathon champion, and
Mr.. Porter, the worlds champion high
jumper.
"The attendance at Mass at church
in Dublin is little short of phenome-
nal. Masses are said every half hour
from 5 o'clock to 12. inclusive. in all
the churches. The result is that con-
slant streams of people Ill the streets
in the immediate neighborhood of the
church, coming and going.
I'm the afternoon. in company with
the Yankee athletes, we visited Mr..
Croker's splendid residence called
'Glencairn.' about eight miles from
Dublin. We were entertained royalty
by him. He showed us every nook
and corner Of his superb estate.
brought us out to the stables and
showed Orby. the Derby winner. and
some younger horses which he said