The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-08-23
A MARKET DAY IN IRELAND
ADVENTURES OF TWO NEW YORK
GOODS AT BALLYSHANN0N.

ch.e
and Something Unexpected Feminist
B!u8rsHANNoN, Aug. l2.-There are mar
kst DAYS the world over. from our own New
England town to Bombay-and further, 1
you wish, to the land Of the little brown Japs
But stop half way-old Ireland 10 half way
isn't tt?-and view market day here In thu
land OF shamrocks and fairies and potter
and you will find something 'twioe the sizt
and three times as hearty as q cabbage st
the saying goes. There are market days
and market days, even In Ireland. and the
rarest and the fairest you will find In the
north. Say County Donegal, and. 10 be
more explicit, say Ballyshannon.
Now. 1t happened that two American col
lege girls drifted into Ballyshannon q week
a~go-drifted in-on an accommodating mar
row gauge toy train en- route for Beleek and
tho pottery works. They found Bally-
shannon enveloped In the mystery and
magic OF a market day. From thet Eoah's
Ark railway station they spied the sunbaked
roads filled with lines OF slow moving calves
and their drivers.
There were big calves, little calves, brown.
white, mustard and black calves. mild eyed
and malicious, sleek and unkempt calves.
db many dInu an SdtACu % tAC tobo "e ~
tain Hamelin town.
what Is it?' said the Columbia coed to
the New York University coed. "A stam-
pede or a roundup
1T Is a COW baby show, said the Columbia
coed. Lets CO.
They climbed into the nearest jaunting
car, on either side Of a veteran jarvey, who
turned out to be symmetrically deaf and Pc
culiariy picturesque.
where to, me leddy7' he inquired i'm
partially OF both.
-what's that9' demanded the New York
University girl waving her hand toward the
calves
st does be q CALI said the jarvey.
:Of COURSE" said she. while the Columbia
cod Uttered. ANY one knows o Ii a
calf. but what Is 5Oo. all unrelated and all
going the same wayf'
The tarvey looked puzzled. very puzzled.
we want to see whatever il sharpening
shouted COMMUNICATIVE. cows, every
thing . p
Still looking puzzled the jarvey lashed
his horse INC started toward the town.
wherever we're going" said the New
York University coed to her from Columbia,
smaysEood luck attend us. Here's three
cheers for Ireland and the COW baby show.
Together now. Erin 60 bragh!' n they
both clasped hands behind their jarvsy.
sIt's market day in Ballyshanney.' he
ventured at last, as he guided his piebah
horse into the main street toward the Dia-
mond. r.
Diamonds. by the way. are always
squares. They settle themselves COM
fortably in the middle Of Irish towns and
take up: all the room there IL to spare. They
are second cousins to Spanish plazas and
New England village green's. and l believe
they are constantly related to u WI
Central Park.
1t was filed to-day to bursting. and
the four roads leading into 1t like Knight
OF Malta cross were packed with the inflow
Of calves. ,Nr -
Its q grand city; Ballyshannon. and q
grand day this" dubbed out the Columbia
coed In youthful exuberance. "Jarvey
man. Ithink well get out and mingie with
the marketers. Please stop the oar
They descended. but disgust filed the
soul OF the New York University girl.
There's nothing but calves to buy
said she. Il thought Ireland abounded
In pigs 1t just shows that you cannot
depend on railway guides and geographical
readers. There's not q pig In sight
The pigs are at home. being made into
Irish bacon. Don't find fault. dear. There
are two goats and q cow coming over the
bridge, and look. there's a cartful OF sheep!'
And the Columbia girl pattcd her sister
co~nsolingly on The arm.
sWhat good will that do us2 We can buy
neither sheep nor goats. nor calves. for that
matter. I want to find somebody who has
something small and portable. and not
alive. TO SELL
They linked arms and walked of.
GROUPS Of men were gathered around
isolated, homesick calves. piDching their
ears and taking notes regar ding their
family trees. Onlookers' stood In the door
ways Of public houses and talked Of weather.
weddings and wakes. Women In their
best lined the sidewalks n chatted to
zach other in sweet. soft voices. and On the
outerfrtnge OF all things stood the donkeys.
big eyed, big cared. little fed and patient.
each iharnessed TO q cart sixteen times
bigger than himself. D.
A newcomer shambled into the Diamond
under the very noses OF the college girls.
drawing a cart and a family. There were
eight in the family. the donkey drawing
them with fortitude born Of long use.
'Bless my soul" quoth New York Uni
versity. See the wee gray one and the
children Of Mammon! Oh. for an Esop
or the soul Of q fable writer
The wes gray one stopped. and as the
family got Cd the Columbia coed called the
roll and marked them OF with her fingers.
There's Michael, the father she said
softly to her companion. 'and Bridget.
his worthy spouse; and there's Paddy.
who's the granddad himself. Now comes
big son John and middle son Barney and
wee son Peter OF the Many Airs-for he
certainly looks proud. think it's daughter
Mary@who is coming now. No. she's not
Mary, but q Bridget. and bless my soul.
what Is the last bundle?'
The bundle in question, half shawl and
half petticoat. rolled out Of the back Of
the cart, then righted itself. stood up
straight and turned slowly toward the
girls. 1t was a typical North Of Ireland
grandmother with a white frilled cap under
a plaid shawl which was both hood and
cap, and from but OF the cap peeped a face.
wrinkled like a russell apple. but full with
sweet contentment.