The Globe-republican., 1909-03-25
NOT PEAL BLARNEY
TouRIsTs KISS IMITATION or
FAMous STONE.
Real Thing 40 Get In Wall Of Castle
Forty.Flvs Fest from Ground,
According to Julius Cham
a.Hia#, bers.

An 4 authorized announcement II
made that u piece Of the Blarnc!
stone II IN New York and will be ex
hibited during this week" Only
few days ego I had occasion to speai
to friend who sent q relative In th'
west 4 "just as good" piece OF Plym
outh rock, says, julius Chambers Il
the Brooklyn Eagle. WI
The last time | was returning Z
this country on Cunard steamship
we found that the London mails wer'
six hours late at Queenstown and
friend OF one Of the passengers, ha1
ing a very fast yacht, had come dowr
from Cork to say good-by.
As the voyager happened to b'
known to me, was asked to form
one Of a small party to run up {
Cork, where automobiles, not jauntin
cars, would take us to Blarney castle
about five miles northwest OF Cork
We were guaranteed sure return Z
the Cedric before she sailed and
with three others, took the chance 9
losing our passage money. Therefor
my knowledge of Queenstown harb I
the mails, hasty drink at the Cuaca''
hotel, a chat with the. always p"etti
barmaids-all Of whom recognized ~
NJ friend of the beautiful "Tc,'i
Fitzgerald, who had introduced nei
American millionaire husband to /
Mr.. Dupont-a miles trot In a jaqr
ing car, and a return to the ship
a handful of green shamrock IA
this time everything was different
The Corkonian millionaire's sta...
yacht carried us swift as an arrow "
the eight miles Of bay--it appeare J L
be about the same distance as t.2f
st. George to Whitehall street,
Cork. We landed near the spot VII e:'
Cromwell set up his flag and Maj
borough went ashore In 1890. T.f
autos were in waiting and the five OF
six miles to Blarney castle we're rur
IN a few minutes after we got olsen
tangled ifrom the narrow streets ard
the swafming children. Cork Is a city
of 10000 people and race suicide isn't
ehargeable to any Of the families, as
we'll as aAhasty glance would entitle
me to Judge.
Blarnsy castle wasn't finished In the
Cromwell. days. in all likelihood. |,
isn't much of af"castle" to anybody
who has seen the real thing at stir
ling er xAh 4. dozen places that might
be mentioned. It consists chiefly oi
one tower, with wings. In the wal
ofsfhS facade, about 20 feet from tn.
tSb,s oT.' guess. ls feet. from ths
grSand; Ss stone about .theFsise sfs1
bushel basket protrudes. 's.@.'s =
It H. the real "Blarnoy stone!"
80 far as can imagine, only such
persons as have been lowered IL
"boatswain's chairs" and the wild
birds ever have actually kissed 1t
Yet, have had to cit and listen te
many beautiful and truthful (?) won
en- tell how they knelt to kiss the
Blarney stone. I understand exactly
what they meant. They didn't know
the real from the imposition. The little
village Of Blarney has nothing to com
mend 1t to the attention of travellers
except this castle. Therefore, "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 1t is only an Ivy.
clad ruin, centered about battle.
mented keep. The famous stone, as
have said, in the face of the wall, is
said to bear the name of the founder
but l could not discern it, although
moss and ivy may have covered it.