The Globe-republican., 1909-02-04
NOT PEAL BLARNEY
TOURISTS KISS IMITATION or
FAMOUS STONE.
Real Thing 10 Set In Wall Of Castle
Forty.Flvs Feet from Ground,
According to Julius Cham
bers,

An authorized announcement II
made that "a piece Of the Blarn"!
stone is In New York and will be OK
hibited during this week" Only 8
few days ago had occasion to spea'
to a friend who sent relative IN the
west a "just as good" piece OF Plym
outh rock, says julius Chambers y
the Brooklyn Eagle.
The last time l was returning U
this country on a Cunard STEAMSHIP
we found that the London mails were
six hours late at Queenstown ana t
friend of one Of the passengers, haH,
ing very fast yacht, had come dow
from. Cork to say good-by
As the voyager happened to Dc
known to me, was asked to fol-
one Of a small party to run up K
Cork, where automobiles, not 1auntin
cars, would take us to Blarney castle
about FIVE, miles northwest OF Cork
We were guaranteed a sure return t
the Cedric before she sailed and J
with three others, took the chanc' OF
losing our passage money. Therefore
my knowledge Of Queenstown harh"r
the mails, a hasty drink at the Que"" 4:
hotel, chat with the always pretty
barmaids-all of whom recognized 10
as a friend of the beautiful "Toi:it
Fitzgerald, who had introduced he'
American millionaire husband to h2f
Mr.. Dupont-a miles trot in a jaun
ing car, and return to the ship W.
a handful Of green shamrock, BIZ
this time everything was different
The Corkonian millionaire's' stea.l
yacht carried us swift as an arrow IT,
the eight miles of bay-it appeared y
be about the same distance as from.
st. George to Whitehall streot--tc
Cork. We landed near the spot wherc
Cromwell set up his flag and Ma
borough went ashore in 1890. TIC
autos were in waiting and the five CT
six miles to Blarney castle were run
In a few minutes after we got diae1.
tangled from the narrow streets d
the swarming children. Cork is a city
of 10000 people and race suicide isn't
chargeable to any of the families, as
well as a hasty glance would entit!e
me to judge.
Barney castle wasn't finished in the
Cromwell days, in all likelihood. II
isn't much of castle" to anybody
who has seen the real thing at Stir
ling or half dozen places that might
be mentioned. 1t consists chiefly OF
one tower, with wings. In the wall
of the facade, about 20 feet from the
top, or, at a guess. As feet from the
ground, stone about the size of
bushel basket protrudes.
1t is the real "Blarney stone!"
So far as | 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
Barney stone. understand exactly
what they meant, They didn't know
the real from the imposition. The little
village of Barney has nothing to com.
mend 1t to the attention of travellers
except this castle. Therefore, a "just
as good" Blarney stone has been
placed in the courtyard Of the castle
and for a trifling matter Of sixpence
you and may go into its sacred
presence and press our lips upon its
rough, clammy surface. 1t isn't worth
the money, because one isn't getting
that for which he or she bargained
The rock Is 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 Irishmen Of the place. AS
one sees 1t to-day It is only an ivy
clad ruin, centered about q battle
rhented keep. The famous stone as
| have said, In the face of the wall. Is