Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-17
Kate KE=ARNE1s COTTAGE, KILLARNEY

fast as the horses. that they may
sell post cards to the pleasure parties.
Then the Americans first pennies take
flight. When Kate kearney's cottage Is
reached every one must have a glass OF
water, milk or ginger ale for few
coppers. Soon the peasants by the road
side become more numerous. One offers
bunch Of heather, another post cards.
another hand-knit socks which are so
heavy that no American could possibly
wear them. Others ask aims. and so
coins are constantly leaving the tourists
pockets. more because of the winning
way in which they are begged than for
the value the traveller receives
OF all those who have wares to sell in
ireland none has more peculiar stock to
offer than the bugler who peddles echoes
to the traveller when they are well with
in the Gap of Dunloe. Those who
patronize this industry throw pennies to
the musician. who transacts his business
on a cash basis. After the horn is
sounded there is a moment of silence
before the echo, which seems miles away.
then those who invested capital feel
more than pleased with the return of
their riotuous spending OF coppers
Farther into the gap barefooted women
with their ever present wooden shawls run
out to meet the tourists and offer them
drinks of milk. Perhaps goats milk is
poured from the jug into the tiny glasses.
but the poteen is relished mostly by the
Irish because it has in it the "rale"
mountain dew made by the peasants. who
delight doubly in the drink because it
contains the spirits which have never
paid the kings sixpence" Far away into
the gap a native of the district dressed
as a Scotch Highlander. with bagpipes.
asks contributions of the pony riders for
his music. which he has the good sense
to play only when the horses are good
way off, for even the bagpiper knows
that distance, highlands and heather are
all that make his music appreciated.
The old soldiers sitting by the roadside
to guard the pass are dressed something
like the pioneer fashion of Daniel Boone.
but their business is only that Of hold-up.
Yes, a hOld-up for more money. for every
one who is then nearly to the lakes wants
to buy some more echoes, but this time
they are to originate from the small can
non or blasting of a rock by the road.
Recently a traveller who had started
through the gap with Is English pennies.
patronized many Of these small enter
prises along the road. When he found
that he had lost his slender bit of
switch which had been provided him he
suade his lazy horse. When at last he
was fortunate enough to see little girl
carrying the article he wanted he reached
to get penny to purchase the switch,
but not one of his coppers remained.
Hints to the little miss were of no avail.
To her a switch was stock in trade. She
knew too we'll that rocks and heather
boys afforded no such articles. and so
her methods were too businesslike to al
low her to part with the whip when she
could not get her price.
~
The traveller who expects great spread
ing bodies of water, like our own Lake
Superior, or even Lake George, is disap-
pointed in the lakes Of Killarney, for
they are small. 1t is for this reason,
though, that one feels that he is right
in the meart Of the lakes. He sees the
rocky margins in all directions and is
master of the beautiful scenery on all
sides. The rover, who recounts legend
after legend Of the district. points out
the Serpent lake, where st. Patrick threw
the last snake Of Ireland. OF the many
rounded rocks that hem in the clear
water one is pointed out as the very
one upon which Colman leaped when he
jumped across the lake pursued by
O'Donaghue.
This seems marvellous. as the lake there
is half mile wide, but with the i'm