The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-07-24
IRELAND,

Certainly the beauties and charms
 of the Emerald Isle are a revelation
 to us. From the time you get sight
 of land at Queenstown it becomes a
 panorama of lovely sights.
 Strange as 1t may appear the island is steadily losing in population, and
 the last census shows no exception,
 with decrease of 76,s24 during the
 ten years. and there are at present
 nearly twice as many men as women,
 4, ,aso,0o0 men and 2,as5, 900 women.
 Cork, which was formerly called
 och-mor-Mumham,' dates back
 to A. D. S64, when it was a Danish
 settlement. At the present time it is
 nagnfffcient city, growing and pros-
 porous. It is interesting to the ladies
 because 1t is the center for lace mak-
 ing. Here they make needle-point,
 Limirick, Carrickmacross and crochet
 lace.
 Near by, and approached by one of
 the most beautiful drives imaginable, Is Blarney castle. famous in song and story, built in the fifteenth century as the residence of the race of McCarthys, lords and banons of Blarney. The donJoon tower is 120 feet high, and the walls are very massive. A haunting car and vivacious driver are essen t1al features of this fascinating outing Along the banks of the Lee, where the pastoral meadows suggest rural calm, we drive under arched trees, catching glimpses now and then of some elegant manor house on the sum- init, school children trudging to school. donkey carts going to market, and the trim matched cottages, hidden in bow CTS Of roses or masses of rhododend- rons. From an opening we get a | fo oac&11 L. scene of extraordinary beauty. The crumbling walls weave wondrous
 spell,
 That holds us firm and fast,
 And crowdfng to our visions come
 The memories of the past
 The scenic loveliness of the place is enough to attract even, aside from the ,ausmanic eloquence imparting stone.
 It is jewel in bold outlines, en- wlned with graceful ivy and mellowed with soft lichens and moss. It is a airy dell, region of romance and en- 'hantment. The entire locality is alive With legends, traditions, song and tory; and it is not to be wondered at hat longer stay will impart gifts of beech that are plausible and win ling.
 Our driver tells us that Jeremiah, he prophet, brought the Jacobs PiI- ow' and set it up on Tara hill.
 The world-famed stone which is 7orn smooth by the countless lips that ave been glued to the magic spot that nparts the plausible gift of speech, is c lfhcult to approach for the osculating r llgrim. But with the help of four IT -rong men it can be done, and I think c lere are quite a few people in our a ty who have had help. But why t well on Blarney castle, all Ireland is il i've with just such romance-laden a lins. Before leaving Cork we visited j1 Shandon Bells,'' and the genial sex T. n plays .'The Harp That Once Thro' ara's Hall, ' Those Endearing Young F larms," Annie Laurie and ''Swanee iver."
 From the steamer crossing Bantry y to Glergarriffe, you get one of the solutely finest views you ever be- hi Id, magnificent stretch of water tt allowed by bold rugged mountains, St merous picturesque islands, and an co ruin on stormy cliff, and far D. vay towards the ocean graceful sails D 3 bending out to sea. ci 4 coach and four waits at the pier the road leads under arches of a and holly closely bound with ivy, P( few cottages are hidden amid a pro- ex 'fon of flowers. The road winds up- ol I'd through dense forests of oaks, !h dlIiViHS dC the top a panorama
 rare beauty greets the eye. The ,1 7 and islands, the ships at anchor. 1u
 ruins, Cromwell's bridge, and I oss the bay the mountains over ping each other and a wide ver- laed hotel. It suggests peace, ct and beauty. y tally-ho to Killarney gives one fo, splendid opportunity to- view the Is T dscape; in six miles we ascend 1900 no, :. There are the lakes Of course. ds, en all great writers have given lin h unqualified praise, and Sir Wal dir Scott went so far as to say. "It is that
 grandest sight I have ever seen. D FIo are prepared to be impressed, and giv
 are not disappointed It is a Mis uty spot and no mistake. There tun
 the many lakes, the beautiful is- wal l, and the grand old ruins-Muck- fac . Innisfallen, Aghadoe, Ross and one of them we'll worth s Ilgrimage on it's own account. and wht romantic pony rides across the gan II >unloe. rev am surprised that so little is said not e days about these attractive VII WIT es to lure our travelling public in st Ma. ter numbers to see them. Add to w woI e beauties of nature a well-kent ooii beautiful hotel, good fishing in all r. lakes and well-stocked hunting nds as part of your hotel and si,,, nave an attractive stopping place hut