The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1910-12-17
IRELAND REVISITED.
CONTINUED from Page ~

turer OF GUINNESS Stout beverage OIL SAFE Ill Cttlt
Lake as well as in Dublin. What does not belong
to Guinness is owned by Lord Kenmare. The town
of Rush, some fifteen miles from Dublin. belongs
entirely to Lord Palmer There are approximately
a thousand people in the little town. do not I'M
derstand how these large demesnes are retained IN
the absolute control of these men, but by some mys
terious operation the large demesnes throughout
the island are exempted from the operation of the
land act. The people, however, seem to be happy
and in most places the children enjoy the advan-
tages of a Christian education.
Everywhere | went, [ met men and women who
had friends and relatives in America Indeed
hardly man, child is to be found who
does not claim an uncle aunt, brother sister, or
at least an acquaintance who has emigrated to
America. Inquiries frequent if we had hap
pened to meet this that woman IN
America, but it explained that America IS
a very large country and we had not met the loved
one, a shadow of disappointment overspread the
countenances of the eager inquirers. There is,
however, very good understanding of the condi-
tons in America, of the opportunities for gaining
independence by work, yet among the older people
there is little desire to leave their beloved homes.
Among the younger folks however, there is long
ing for America, and eagerness to know OF tho
great country, which indicates the emigration fig
ures will not be reduced materially in the next
decade.
One thing is certain, if they seek greener pas
lures than those of Ireland, America cannot be
other than disappointment to them. For the
greenness of Ireland can be found nowhere else
earth, at least place in America. When we
left the island in November it was as green as it
was In September, and the green is comparable
only to the greenness of the lawns in Salt Lake
when the last SHOWS of the spring disappear and
the fresh young grass has gust begun to grow. And
that greenness is almost everywhere.
Throughout ireland in the schools the old Gaelic
language is being taught, although it is not the
language of the people. Gaelic is Greek to me.
The study seems to be waste of time, but the
tmental for its being taught too strong
to oppose. Some children sang several of the old
Irish melodies in the old tongue, but the words
were entirely unintelligible The music of Ireland
however, was delight There has been little inn
portation of the ragtme tunes of America, but the
old melodies, "The Harp That Once Through Tara's
Hail." Remember the Days of DID," "The Last
Rose of Summer" and "The Minstrel Boy" are
still popular In the city of Ballaghedern there
a wonderful chime of bells that plays some of the
old Tom Moore melodies. Oh how it touched our
hearts the clear and sweet tones of the bells
were carried to the long stretches of fiat
bog land-the old sweet songs-old yet ever new!
Perhaps my musical education has been neglected
during the past twenty-five years, but the chimes
of Ballaghederin furnished for me the sweetest
music [ ever heard. Perhaps it was not the music
much as the old associations and memories which
the simple airs awakened but-whats the odds?
That experience alone was worth the price of the
trip.
Throughout the center of ireland are vast
stretches of bog land, from which the farmers cut
turf for fuel. To nearly every farm a piece of
this bog land is attached. To my recollection had
never seen bog land before, and the sensation of
standing upon piece of bog is comparable only
to standing upon piece of very stiff jelly-if you
have ever done that. The bog will shake very sim
ilarly to jelly when freshly emptied from the glass.
The farmers in this region very generally have
couple of cows and donkeys, together with few
pigs. The donkeys are preferred to horses because
of their lighter wei ht a consideration of impor
lance in the bog country. The feed for the cattle
is largely mangel-wurzels a crop of which usually
can be raised Ill addition to a crop of potatoes
from the same land. The potato crop this year was
not up to the standard, and it is feared that not
only the people, but their pigs, will suffer from the
shortage. The pig is a very important personagr
in Ireland and Irish ham and bacon, account
of their superior flavor, command a higher price
in the English market than the American product
This flavor is undoubtedly a result of the greater
care bestowed upon the growing pig He is given
a feed of potatoes and milk but the potatoes are
boiled and mashed and the milk is always warmed
for him. His pigship is reputed to be discriminate
ing his tastes, though [ am not prepared to vouch
for the truth of that statement. little pig, like
those sometimes found markets about
Christmas time, will bring around $40 in the Eng
lish market.
But while I enjoyed every minute of my stay
in my native land it was necessary for me to como
away again. And it was with an entirely different
feeling that | once more embarked for America
Whereas in that first voyage twenty-five years ago
was bound for strange land and strange adj
ventures was alone so far as responsibility was
concerned now when time for departure arrived,
gathered my wife and family about me, and with
tears yelling up in eyes we bid farewell to
father and mother, now grandfather and grand
mother to my children, and as the boat cleared the
j. l. for