The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-11-09
A VERBAL DUEL
Encounter Of Daniel o'connell and
ejddy Moriarty.

Every once In While g. subscriber
wants the Irish Standard to give the
famous scolding match between Dam
lei OConnell and Biddy Moriarty. We
are glad to. comply with the request
of our seattls friend to give it once
more. Here 1T Isl ..s
One of the drollest scenes of vitup-
Grafton that O'Connell ever figured
in took place In the early part of his
life. Not long after he was called to
the Bar, his character and peculiar
talents received rapid recognition
from all who were even casually ac-
quafnted with him. His talent for
vituperative language was perceived,
and by some he was, even in those
days, considered matchless az a scold.
There was, however, at that time in
Dublin, certain woman, Biddy Nor
iarty. who had huxter's stall on one
of the quays, nearly opposite the Four
Courts. She was a virago of the first
order, very able with her fist, and still
more formidable with her tongue.
From one end of Dublin to the other.
she was notorious for her powers of
abuse, and even in the provinces Mrs.
Morlarty's language had passed into
currency. The dictionary of Dublin
slang had been considerably enlarged
by her and her voluble impudence had
almost become proverbial. Some of
OConnelrs friends, however, thought
that he could beat her at the use of
her own weapons. OF this, however,
he had some doubts when he had lis
tened himself once or twice to some
ih'hor specimens Of her Blllingsgate.
1t was mooted once whether the
young Kerry barrister cound encoun-
ter her, and one of the company Gin
OConnelPs presence) rather too freely
ridiculed the idea of his being able to
meet the famous Madame Moriartv.
O'Connell never liked the idea of be-
Ing put down, and he professed his
readiness to encounter her, and even
backed himself for the match. Bets
were offered and taken-it was de-
cided that the matter should come off
at once.
The party adjourned to the hui ter's
stall. and there was the owner her
self experimenting the sale of her
small wares-a few lounsers and
ragged idlers were hanging round her
stall-for Biddy was "a character I"
and, in her way, was one of the sights
of Dublin. III
OConnell was very confident of
success. He had, laid an ingenious
plan for overcoming her, and with all
the anxiety of an ardent experiment.
altst, waited to put. it into practice.
He resolved to open the attack. At
this time O'Connell's own party and
the loungers about the place formed
an audience quite sufficient to rouse
Mrs. Moriarty, ON public provocation.
to a due exhibition Of her powers.
OConnell commenced the attack:
Whats the price of this walking
stick. Mrs. What's-your-n
"Moriarty, sir Is my name, and a
good one it is: and what have YOU to
say agen It? And one-and -sixpence's
the price Of the stick. Troth it's chape
as dirt-so it is"
Observation-Disclosures for walking
stick: whew! Why, you are no better
than an imposter, to ask eighteen
pence for what cost you two pence"
t Two pence, your grandmother" re-
Piled Mrs. Biddy; do you name to
say it's chatting the people I am? I'm
poster, indeed!"
"Ay, imposter: and it's that I call
you to your teeth" rejoined O'Con-
nell. r. ),
Come, cut your stick, you cantank-
erous jackanapes."
Keep a civil tongue in your head.
you old diagonal" cried O'Connell,
calmly.
Stop your Jaw, you pug-nosed bad
ger, or by this and that" cried Mrs.
Moriarty, "rll make you go quicker
nor you came"
Don't be in passion, my old rad
1us-anger will only wrinkle your
beauty"
by the hockey, If you say another
word of impudence, I'd tan your dirty
hide, you bastely common scrub; and
sorry I'd be to soil my fists upon your
carcass"
"Whew! boys, what a passion old
Biddy is in; protest, as I'm a gen.
tleman-"
"Jintleman! jintleman! the likes O,
You jintleman. Wisha, by gor, thai
bangs Banagher. Why, you potato.
faced pippin-sneezer. where did a
Madagascar monkey like you pick ur
enough of common Christian decenc,
to hide your Kerry brogue?"
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