The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1909-01-23
PAYDAY INCIDENTS.
Three Deaths Are Recorded-The
Humors of the AGED.

Many patriotic, amusing. and in one
or two cases tragic, incidents occurred
in connection with the distribution OF
the pensions.
A sad event occurred in Kilkenny
An old lady of 80, who was eagerly
awaiting her pension, died rather sud
denly in the morning.
At NeWtoWnbutler a man named
Tummon, after receiving his order
book, died a few hours after.
An eX-gunner of the Royal artillery
named Cleary, died suddenly at Bish-
ops, Stratford, after signing his pen
sion papers with cross.
An old lady named Thompson fell
dead at Horncastle while leaving home
to fetch her old age pension.
The first person to receive a pension
in Dublin was a very old lady who ar
rived at Princes street shortly after
a. m. and presented her check for !
shillings. A bright crown was handed
to her when the formalities We're com
pleted. and she left the building in high
spirits. Then a regular stream of old
ladies made their appearance, display
ing the blue orders books-evi-
dence that they had been declared en-
titled to the maximum pension under
the act
An old lady of 50, accompanied by
two grandchildren, called early at Dub
lin head office, and having got her 5
shillings, proceeded to gladden. the
hearts of the little ones by presenting
each with a bright sixpence as a New
Years gift out of her newly-acquired
wealth. The look of pleasure on the
lady's face was reflected in the joyous
countenances of the youngsters
In one of the Dublin sub-offices a
pepsioper, evidently imbued with a su-
preme idea of thrift, banked his 5
shillings Immediately after receiving it.
A merry old couple, each close on 80
years of age, called at Dame street
office in the best of spirits. Its the
welcomest New Years gift l ever got"
said the old lady, and she would have
danced for joy but for the "rheumat-
les, Both she and her "old man" left
the office blessing the postmistresS, the
government and the world in general.
When an old lady at Sumner hill
who was unable to sign her name was
told she would have to procure a wit
ness. she was much perturbed. Glory
be to God. we won't get paid at ALL she
said, anXiously. but a passing friend
witnessed the paper for her, and she
was handed her pension.
More than one old lady exhibited a
fair knowledge of the procedure One
was surprised to be asked for a witness
to her mark. 4 didn't read anything
about that in the papers, she said. Put
the official assured her it was neces-
sary, and she believed him.
The first arrival at Amiens street Of
flee was an old lady who drove up to
the door in cab. She was unable to
a oh Ln
postmaster very kindly went out and
took her signature and gave her the
amount of her installment while she re-
manned seated in the vehicle.
At Ringsend two claimants, both 80
years of age, made personal application
for their pensions.
The head postnan at Kingstown,
who has forty years service, and is
said to know almost everyone in the
township, was on duty all day at the
counter of the principal office. filling in
the orders for the majority of the hold
ers. who, it appears, were unable to
write.
The Gort postoff1ce became so over
crowded with pensioners at one period
of the day that police had to be re-
questioned to maintain order.
James Magennis, Letterbreen. and his
wife, whose joint ages are 10 years,
walked FIVE miles to EnniSkillen Office
and were the first in that district to
receive their pensions.
From some rural district of Ros-
common, kindly neighbors conveyed old
women in carts to the postoff1ces. Hav-
ing received their pensions, they were
driven home again. rejoicing. leaving
behind them many blessings and Hap
Ply New Years" to the courteous Off
Gals.
blind man conducted by his dog
was paid in one office in Dublin.
In Galway an applicant of so wanted
to know if she would get her back time,
and was disappointed at d negative re-
ply.
In Derry feature of the mornings
work was the inability of the pension
erS to write, not 10 per cent being able
to sign their names.
A centenarian in the Newbliss dis
trict, a man named Michael Deighan,
who gave his age as 1O9, was unable to
go to the office at Latnamard, and had
to get his pension by an agent.
At Castelar, one of the big rooms
of the court house was thronged with
some of whom were over
100 years. One old woman aged 80
while venerable looking man aged 1O4
walked two miles to the same place.
AS a book was given out to one old
she created much laughter by
telling him that she would meet him in
heaven. The pensioners afterward re-
paired to the postoff1ce for their money.
Winnie Forde, an old but agile lady,
was the first pensioner at Galway CEN
trail postoffice, arriving some minutes
before the doors opened. There is a
dispute as TO whether she or a man
named Fleming from College road, got
their pension order cashed first
1t is believed in Galway that the dis
Of the pensions will tax the
resources Of the officials to a much
greater degree than was at first antici-
oated, and will prove an impeachment to
he public business. In the summer time
when tourists bring increased work On
he officials at the country offices, it will
De absolutely necessary that special and
provision shall be made for the
pensioners.
IF L take the IS from you now, must |
ny son join the army?" one old pen
'ioner was heard to ask at Galway |
1ostof1lce yesterday morning. It has |
been stated very perSistently locally |
hat the king has offered the pension as
bride, and that those who accept it |
Ire committed to send their sons to the
lrmy. Many of the old people actually |
believe this absurd canard, and it is
Dnly on the emphatic assurance ,,f tha