The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1910-07-23
A Visitor to Ireland Sees a Vast
Change For the Better in
Conditions.
"a Temperance Wave is Fast Spread
ing Over the Entire
Country.
The Beauty Of the Scenery is a
Delight to the Eye of
the Tourist.

II The old tyrannical days which shad-
owed beautiful ireland have become
nightmares of the past. The new land
laws which have enabled the tenant
II farmers to buy the land inNtheir own
names mean a new dawning of hope
for the Irish people, writes James Fee
! ney in the Catholic SUM-
The old days, with their poverty and
helplessness, their rack-rents and pen
al laws need no recording here. Ev-
cry one who has lived in the dis
tressed" country, or who has known
and loved Ireland and its people, must
always remember with indignation
the injustice and the horrors of its
thralldon,. Now, slowly, the people
are looking up, slowly and with eau
ton, for have they not been pressed
b sorely for centuries? Looking up with
"a 3tardy awakening of ambition to the
new day. G4
{. The Irish people are naturally and
characteristically hero worshipeYs.
1 Give them some one upon whom to
lavish 1--we and loyalty, and shall any
other nations love or loyalty shine
mora q s people
John Redmond il the man Of the hour.
With clear sighted Vision and 4 sim
\ ssaness OF purpose, he keeps his eyes
4 hxed steadily on the one point he
wishes to make. In forcing the Eng
h lish government to bring in the bill
reforming the House Of Lords an es-
sential step is taken for gaining home
rule.
In many ways Ireland is showing
q, marked Improvement. In almost ev-
cry town Of note schools of Irish in
dustries are established. Laces, lin
ems and tweeds are produced in many
cities. The Sisters in the various con-,
vents are doing a commendable work
teaching the people the art Of lace
making, and enabling them to earnsa
livelihood. Whoever has visited the
lace schools in Ireland and has seen
the marvellous and f1lmy creations made
by the hands Of the poorer country
women will testify to the beauty and
\ wonderfulness Of the work. In the
little inland town Of Longford there il
a small school instituted by a few
gentle Sisters, who send from there
an amazing amount Of work into many
1 foreign countries South America,
Australia and even Africa have bene-
fited by beautiful creations from the
skilled fingers of the pupils. Not only
lace work, but knitted silk stockings,
wooden stockings and socks and shirts
{ are in the list Of articles made by
these busy workers. The schools are
not well enough known.
s In Balleek5 are factories where is
made the famous Balleek ware, the
Y fairylike, shell shaped china. In Ban
I, try and Barney, Athlone and Donegal
are found factories for the production
of those widely known and justly cell
! ebrated tweeds. But why particular
lie? Those wooden factories are scat
tered all over Ireland. In Belfast and
the other northern cities are made the
most beautiful linens. AS one APP
3proaches Belfast there can be seen
on the meadows and fields miles of
linens bleaching in the sun-and the
rain; for who shall say there is not
some rain in the 'ould Isle?" III
Just at present there is q wide. far
reaching wave Of temperance spread
! ing all through the country. Meetings
B are held. organizations formed, and
the youth Of ireland are working with
{ enthusiastic zeal, This movement is
fostered and upheld by the priesthood
ana hierarchy. And just here would
like to say that Of the churches In 1re-
land many Of them compare very fa-
vorahly with those on the Continent.
1 st Gol1nan,s beautiful cathedral at
Queenstown, overlooking the bay; the
\ beantifui structure ct Armagh, one Of
the show athedra1s OF the country,
\ With Its delicate traceries 4 and mos
sstcs; sSt yincent's church in Cork on
) INC stass 1siverss Iass; q sondon-
IA Y 4 III 4. e. utstuI 81. columb,s
vi