Omaha daily bee., 1911-04-16
IRELAND SHORT ON CHILDREN
Alarming Decrease in Birth Rate is
Reported.
COST OF LIVING IS THE CAUSE
Many Men and women Continue TO
Avoid Marriage Through Fear
of Inability to support
Family.
by RnRERT EMMETT.


History has shown again and again that
a nations greatest asset is a reliable stock
OF sound, healthy citizens. and the picture
of chlldess ireland Is the strongest argu-
ment that can be adduced for a change in
the system which has brought about such
a disastrous condition.
In the report of the Commissioners of
National Education in Ireland for 19o9-10.
Just issued is the statement that there are
places in Sligo where there are no chill
dren. The senior inspector of the Sligo
education circuit says
Those who in the past did not emigrate,
but remained at home. have grown up. and,
CONFRONTED by the difficulty Of subsistence,
have never married.
within a radius of two miles there are
sixty-three houses, and i'm forty mine there
are no children.
I'm other places young men and women
emigrate year after year. and there are
none left to help on the farm. except the
children. who are therefore kept away from
school"
Fun I'm Court.
There was a constant roar Of laughter
at the recent hearing of the charges made
by the master of the Lisnaskea work
house against Porter p. Mccormick. who
made charges against the master.
The porter alleged that the master az
saulted him. and denied the charge Of
drunkenness The master saw the porter
was destroying his moral fibre" by drink;
Mccormick said he didn't know what that
meant lie might have left his room by
the window at night on a couple of oc-
casions, but that was because there was
fresh paint on the door
The porter told of card parties I'm the
workhouse when the guests stayed till
after 10 p. m. The master sometimes sup
plying the drink. The master often drank
wtness-whisky.
The Protestant chaplain said he never
saw the porter drunk.
The master related that when the porter
was In drink he shouted so as to be heard
for miles. A queer thing was that he
could walk and even scale a wall. ano
not know what he was doing when drunk.
He could cross walls as quick as a dog.
although wild with drink Qaughter).
bank stock Low.
There has of late been a marked depres-
sion in Bank Of Ireland stocks, which has
fallen TO 2se this being the lowest price
touched for years. Most of the recent
heavy selling is attributed to English
holders, who are nervous as to the conse-
quences OF the promised home rule.
Upon the passing of the act of union the
splendid structure in College Green sold
to the Bank OF ireland. In the event of
home rule being granted to Ireland. the
question is. will the Bank Of ireland be
called upon to surrender the College Green
premises for the Irish. Parliament When
Ireland had parliament the body met in
that building
Priest Leads Rescue.
Tho schooner Teaser went ashore last
Saturday morning on Curragh rocks. Ard
more bay. Father O'shea, the Catholic
curate, made an effort to reach the wreck,
but the heavy sea prevented him from
launching the only available boat A boat
was eventually brought mile and half
overland, and this. manned by Father
o'Shea and five others. put off to the
wreck and brought the bodies of three
sailors ashore.
Big Dry Dock Finished.
What is regarded as the largest dry dock
In the world has been constructed at Bel
fast for the reception Of the 5000 ton
White Star Line Olympia
Work on the dock commenced seven
years ago. Delays, however, occurred, and
twice work was suspended owing to the
embankment of the adjoining Alexandra
dock giving way The undertaking cost
N,750,0OO and the dock has been entirely
excavated on land reclaimed from the sea
The dock is $50 feet long, and when the
caisson gate has been placed on the outer
face the length is SS7 feet It is 100 feet
wide. The concrete floor is seventeen and
one-haif feet thick. and vessels drawing
between thlrty-three and thirty-four feet
can be accommodated.