The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1908-02-20
NOT REAL BLARNEY
TOURISTS KISS IMITATION OF
FAMOUS STONE.
Real Thing ls Set In Wall Of Castle,
Forty.Five Feet from Ground,
According to Julius Cham
hers

An authorized announcement is
made that "a piece Of the Blarney
stone Is in New York and vrlI be ex-
hibited during this week Only a
few days ago | had occasion to speak
to friend WHO sent relative In the
west a Just as good" piece OF Plym-
outh rock says julius Chambers In
the Brooklyn Eagle.
The last time | was returning to
this country on Cunard steamship
we found that the london mails were
six hours la'e a. Cr 3en5town and a
friend OF one OF the passengers, hav'
ing a very fast scht. had come down
from Cork TO say good-by.
As the voyager happened to be
known to me. was asked to form
one OF a small party to run up TO
Cork, where automobiles. not 1aunting
cars, would take MS to Blarney castle,
about Ave miles northwest OF Cork.
We were guaranteed a sure return to
the Cedric before she sailed and |,
with three others, took the chance OF
losing our passage money. Therefore.
my knowledge OF Queenstown harbor
the mails. a hasty drink at the Queens
hotel, a chat with the always pretty
barmaids-all of whom recognized me
as a friend OF the beautiful "Tottie"
Fitzgerald, who had introduced her
American millionaire husband to her,
Mr.. Dupont--a miles trot in a jaunt-
ing car, and a return to the ship with
a handful Of green shamrock. But
this time everything was different.
The Corkonian millionaire's steam
yacht carried us swift as an arrow up
the eight miles of bay-it appeared to
be about the same distance as from
st. George to Whitehall street--to
Cork. We landed near the spot where
Cromwell set up his flag and MARI
borough went ashore in 1890. The
autos we're in waiting and the Ave OF
six miles to Blarney castle we're run
IN few minutes after we got Olsen
iaugled from the narrow streets and
the swarming children. Cork is a city
Of 10000 people and race suicide isn't
chargeable to any of the families. as
we'll as a hasty glance would entitle
me to Judge.
Blarney castle wasn't finished in the
Cromwell days, in all likelihood. II
sn't much of a castle" to anybody
who has seen the real thing at Stir.
ling or half dozen places that might
Je mentioned. II consists chiefly Of
one tower, with wings. In the wall
II the facade, about 20 feet from the
top, or, at guess, 45 feet from the
ground, stone about the size of a
bushel basket protrudes.
Il is the real "Blarney Btone!"
So far as I can imagine, only such
persons as have been lowered in
"boatswain's chairs" and the wild
birds ever have actually kissed It.
Yet. have had to sit and listen to
many beautiful and truthful (?) WON.
en- tell how they knelt to kiss the
Blarney stone. | understand exactly
What they meant. They didn't know
the real from the imposition. The little
village of Blarney has nothing to com
mend IL to the attention OF travellers
except this castle. Therefore, a lust
as good" Blarney stone has been
placed in the courtyard OF the castle
and for a thfling matter OF sixpence
you and | may go into It's sacred
presence and press our lips upon it's
rough. clammy surface. II isn't worth
the money. because one isn't getting
that for which he or she bargained.
The rock 10 high In the wall, and any
other Blarney stone is much the same
as duplicate Of Plymouth Rock would
be. set up In Riverside Park or Bowl.
ing Green. The castle was built by
the Cromack Mccarthy about 1916.
or three years before Cromwell slaugh.
tered the lrishmen OF the place. AS
one sees 1t to-day II is only an Ivy.
cad ruin, centered about a battle
mented keep. The famous stone, as /
have said, in the face OF the wall, Ia
said TO bear the name Of the founder
but | could not d scern It, although
moss and ivy may have covered 1t.