Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-26

grandfather. Sir Robert Adair, dashing
soldier. was knighted by his king on the
held OF battle for the handy way he had
Of amputatinE the heads of his maiesty's
enemies. He afterward became the lieu
tenant general and one of the most IA
NOUS soldiers in the United Kingdom
But what interests us more is that he
was the young gentleman for whom the
song robin Adair" was written by Lady
Katherine keppel. She loved him very
much, they say, and broke her heart for
him.
Vale Of Avoca.
Just beyond the railway station of Rath-
drum is the Acondale estate. the
seat of the family Of the late Charles
s. Parnell. the Irish political leader, which
has recently been purchased by the new
Irish department Of agriculture as a
school for training foresters. Here we
enter that romantic region known as the
vale or Avoca. which has been described
IN pretty ballad by Tom Moore called
The Meeting Of the Waters''-the rivers
Avonbeg and Avonmore. Here was
meeting place of the Druids in ancient
times. Their affairs and seats of judg-
ment remain. and you can see the hurting
stone OF the great Finn McCoul. which Is
fourteen feet long, ten feet wide and seven
rect thick. The story goes that he was
so strong he had no trouble at all In
tossing 1t about like a foot ball.
Gold In Ireland.
A hundred and fifty years ago a poor
schoolmaster. nosing around among the
rocks, discovered gold mine, and when
the news was known there was a great
rush to the spot Several men were made
rich by the ore they took out, but it didn't
last long. There has been gold In many
parts Of Ireland. The quantity Of golden
ants h1r< hn ki no nd
chieftains Is evidence of this. You can
see samples Of them In the British Mu-
scum and in the National Museum at
Dublin, but the mineralogists say that
the veins of gold in Ireland are SO small
and SO widely scattered 1t does not pay
to work them. except occasionally when
a pocket like that found by the school,
master down here is discovered.
Irish shillelagh.
seven or eight miles over very at
tractive road are the woods Of Shillelagh.
which gave their name to the traditional
weapon Of effense and defense, formerly
carried by every Irishman. but long ago
obsolete. You can buy genuine sh.lle-
laghs at the curio stores; those that have
been in actual use and have cracked
many a head" as the dealer will tell
you. You will find them also put away
in the cabins with the other heirlooms;
with the christening clothes Of the gos-
soons and the confirmation dresses of
the colleens. but that interesting and typi-
cal weapon of the Irish peasant has en-
tirely disappeared. It was a blackthorn
stick about eighteen inches long. from
an inch to an inch and half thick with
q knot at one end. The best material
in Ireland was found in the woods that
surround the ancient little village Of Shil-
lelagh-hence the name.
These woods belong to Earl Fitzwilliam,
who has an imposing mansion called
"Coolattin" about three miles from the
village. It is one of the finest places in
Ireland and has ben the scene of much
happiness as well as unhappiness; OF
comedy as we'll as tragedy. and was con-
dscated by Cromwell from Lord Went
ruled ireland in a most despotic manner
in the name of Charles I: trampling on
Protestants and Catholics alike and max
ing himself hated by everybody. STRAIT
ford was recalled by the king, to take
command Of tho army against Cromwelfs
Covenanters, and, after the fail of the
throne was impeached by the house of
commons and beheaded in the Tower OF
London in May. 1b41 It was his tyranny
that caused the rebellion in Ireland of
that year.
Natural Sequence.
Earl Strafford's estates having been
conf1scated, there was no reason why
they should not be given to the Fitz-
william family, who have held them ever
since, and have treated the people of
Ireland very differently from the former
owner.
A book called 1.-THE Worthless Of Eng
land published in 1894. says: "Sir Will
uty Of Ireland, a sufficient evidence of
his honesty and ability. Queen Elizabeth
never trusting twice where she was once
deceived in minister Of state"
His father. Of the same name was
those who are recorded in Burke's Peer
age. He was sheriff Of the city Of Lon
don in 1905. and an alderman Of the
Bread street ward. He came from the
called Sprotberg. One Of his forbears
caused cross to be set up In the highway
of the village with these words printed
upon 1t In large letters:
Whose is hungry and lists to cate.
Let him come to Sprotberg for his meate;
And for one night and for one day
His horse shall have both corn and hay,
And none ask whittier when he goeth away"
Favored by Cardinal Wolsey.
The descendant Of this hospitable
farmer had received favors from time to
time from the great Cardinal Woisey.
the man who said: Had but served my
God as I have served my king, He would
not thus have left me-" Being grateful,
he received the disgraced cardinal in hts
home and sheltered and protected him.
and, when finally de was hailed before the
king to answer for this conduct he stood
up boldly and told his majesty firmly. but
with dignity and respect. that he had
not acted in contempt of the king. but In
gratitude to the fallen minister. who had
been his best friend and was the source
OF his early fortune. Henry VIII. as
everybody knows, was a man of whims.
and so pleased was he with Mr.. Fitzwil-
liam's loyalty to his friend and benefactOr
that he asked: And will you and your
house to be steadfast to me?"
AN we will. your majesty" was the
reply.
The king then babe William Fitzwilliam
kneel at the foot Of the throne and. draw
ing his sword. tapped him gently on the
shoulder and said:
Rise. Sir Knight" and that is the way
the Fitzwilliamses got their title.
Emancipation Of Catholics.
One Of the earls was lord lieutenant of
Ireland under the administration of VIII
liam Pitt. in the reign Of George III.
He was just. liberal and enlightened
ruler. It was largely through his influ-
ence that the emancipation Of the Cath
olics was brought about. for he per-,
suaded the king and the, cabinet that the
Protestant religion was in no danger.
The present earl recently sold all his
farm lands to his tenants. He was one
vantage OF the land act Of 1903, and his
estates 0YohrQcod ~ ho nd